Car Recalls? There's an App for That

[rickaren]

Car Recalls? There's an App for That


Jul 12, 2010

When you're shopping for a new or used car, it's important to do your research -- especially where recalls are concerned. Luckily for consumers, the federal government has just released a new smart phone app that tracks recalls, so you can find out if the car you're considering has any recalls right from the dealer lot.

The federal government writes, "The Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Agriculture monitor the safety of thousands of products and issue hundreds of recall announcements each year of millions of products." They continue, "Now, those recalls are right at your fingertips, thanks to the new RECALLS.GOV mobile application. Whether you’re at your child’s day care center or a yard sale, whether you’re at a store or at home, you can now type a product’s name into your phone and learn immediately whether that product has been recalled because of a safety concern. You can also see photos of recalled products and learn what to do with recalled products in your homes."

The recall app is part of a slew of new apps the government has released to better serve consumers. The Washington Post says, "Smartphone addicts rejoice: Are you counting calories? Concerned about unsafe toys? Worried about tan lines or airport security lines? There's a (government) app for that." Other just-released government apps include apps to track the calories and other nutritional information of over 1,000 foods, UV index and air quality rates, and the security wait times at airports.

Still, the recall app isn't perfect. "The one downside is it’s available only on Android phones, which we find strange because other government apps are available on the iPhone," reports Kicking Tires. There's no word on when the app may be available for other phones. You can download the recall app, as well as other government apps, at USA.gov.

LINK: Car Recalls? There's an App for That - U.S. News Rankings and Reviews