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2014 set a record for the number of vehicle recalls around the globe. Automotive manufacturers in the United States issued more than 550 recalls for over 52 million vehicles, according to the Associated Press. This means that one out of every five vehicles currently on U.S. roads has been the subject of a recall.

In spite of the record year in recalls, the New York Times reported in January, 2015 that 2014 was "the best sales year in nearly a decade" for new vehicles. They further reported that nearly one million more vehicles were sold in the United States last year than in 2013. Autodata, a tracking company, reported that 16.5 million new automobiles left showrooms, surpassing the prerecession days of 2006. Ten automobile manufacturers have been affected by recalls.

One would expect that when buying a new vehicle, the vehicle would not leave the dealer's parking lot or showroom with unrepaired safety recall issues. But that is not always the case. ABC News investigators uncovered a problem. Hundreds of new vehicles have been sold across the United States with open safety recall issues. On March 17 they reported on Good Morning America that there are nearly 17 million new cars sold in the United States. Under federal law these cars are to be free of potential safety defects which includes recalls. The ABC News investigators found that there were vehicles sold with open recalls at over 100 dealerships across the U.S. Most of the sales occurring in the second part of 2014.

General Motors told ABC News that it "instructs its dealers to complete all open recalls on new and used vehicles prior to sale and delivery to customer." They further stated that they have a completion rate of 86 percent, that means that 402 thousand of 467 vehicles with safety recalls have been fixed, leaving 65 thousand vehicles with unfixed safety recall issues.

In November 2014 Good Morning America also reported "Do Used Car Dealers Know About Open Airbag Recalls?" When going undercover and visiting nine used car lots in New York, New Jersey and Alabama, ABC News investigators found that salespeople in five of the used vehicle dealers said "they did not know if there was an airbag recall on the car, while four of the dealers told the producer that there was no such recall."

"This is a potential problem for the unsuspecting vehicle buyer. There is a reason we have a safety recall system. It is to protect drivers, their passengers and the general public from severe accident injuries or deaths because of defective vehicles," said Lee, Collier and Charlotte County Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A."This is another case of 'Buyer Beware'. We recommend that if you are buying a vehicle from a dealership, or anyone, that you be proactive and check the VIN (vehicle identification number) for potential recalls."

With technology today, customers who are shopping for a new vehicle can use their iPhones or Androids and go to MyCarFax mobile application or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's database  NHTSA’s database.

"If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a vehicle with unfixed safety recall issues, please contact us for a free consultation," said Attorney Spivey.

Lee, Collier & Charlotte County Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.