Owners of almost any car might, understandably, worry about hidden mechanical problems that could prove inconvenient or even life-threatening.

A new web site created by the federal government is designed to help car owners find out everything they need to know about a car’s recall history. Users who enter a car, truck or motorcycle vehicle identification number (VIN) into Safercar.gov will get a list of recall repairs for that vehicle.

The free service uses automobile companies’ weekly recall records, identifying which repairs were needed and which ones were actually made for the vehicle. Owners can then take their vehicle in for any recall repairs that should have been made. The web site relieves consumers of the responsibility of figuring out the exact year, make and model they own and then researching which recalls may have applied to it. Simply by entering a VIN, owners can find out about recalls going back 15 years. After 10 years, a repair needed because of a recall may no longer be free.

Smaller-volume car brands, such as Bentley, are exempt from the system. Technical service bulletins are also not searchable. But owners of new and used vehicles still get valuable information about what has been done, and what needs to be done, to make their cars roadworthy.

Dealers who fail to disclose car defects may be engaged in fraud or other deceptive business practices. In addition, if your new car cannot be fixed after repeated attempts or is not drivable for long periods of time, you may be entitled to a complete refund or replacement vehicle under your state’s lemon law.

If you believe that your automobile is a lemon, don’t hesitate to contact a reputable Lemon Law attorney for a free consultation today!

Timothy Abeel & Associates is a national law firm that handles lemon law claims across the country. Reviews can be seen on AVVO, Google, Glen Mills Yelp, Roseland Yelp, & Pittsburgh Yelp.