PITTSBURGH — There are nearly 2.5 million recalled cars in the U.S. that have never been repaired and may be on the roads, according to a study by company CARFAX.

The recalls for these cars aren’t a problem with the GPS or sunroof but are of potential life and death consequences.

“These are urgent,” says Carfax’s Patrick Olsen about the defects. He adds, “One of the startling things is that many owners and consumers have failed to get this work done.”

Carfax also found that Pennsylvania has 106,000 such cars, with 29,000 of them in the Pittsburgh area alone.

“There are a variety of car makers and causes at play here,” says Olsen.

The list includes 20 manufacturers such as Dodge, Ford, Chevy, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, and many others. In all, it comes to 200 different makes of vehicles that fall into one of two categories.

The first is called “Do Not Drive,” and Olsen says it is what it sounds like.

“Literally the automaker, the federal government, is telling you park this car, and we will have it towed to the dealership, get it fixed for free and return it to you.’”

Many of the cars that come under this category do so because they have a Takata Air Bag.

Federal transportation authorities have found that some Takata bags can open so explosively, that they actually create shrapnel. They found that the bags involved resulted in the deaths of nearly 20 U.S. drivers and 400 injured.

The other recall category that Carfax focused on is called “Park Outside.”

For these vehicles, says Olsen, “the fire risk is so great that not only should you not park it in your garage, we don’t want you to park it next to the garage.”

Fitting in this category are many models of Hyundai and Kia, which have been linked to 3000 spontaneous fires nationwide, Olsen said.

If you want to check if your car is on the Carfax recall list, you can look over the list below. You can also go to Carfax.com where you can enter your plate number or Vehicle Identification Number at no charge and Carfax will tell you if you have had any kind of recall.

Olsen also says it doesn’t stop there.

“Anytime a new recall is issued for your car. So that may be 3 years from now, 5 years from now, 8 years from now. As long as you still own that car, we will let you know anytime (the government) issues a new recall for your car.”

Finally, we asked Olsen why the recalled cars they discovered in their report hadn’t been fixed yet.

“I want to be clear that we’re not blaming consumers,” he said. “They certainly are not the reason these cars are being recalled.”

Instead, he said, it is a variety of reasons including some car owners need their vehicle to make a living and can’t give it up for the time the repair would require.

He also pointed out that on average, cars change ownership multiple times over the life of the vehicle, so the current owner may have no idea there’s been a recall.

Another problem? Olsen says: “Recall notices by law are delivered through 1st class mail and that is not the primary means of communication for anyone these days.” Plus, he says, the recall cards sometimes get mistaken for junk mail.

But Olsen added one last possibility. “Unfortunately”, he said,”I think a lot of drivers think ‘It’s been months or years since I received the first recall notice, so I must be in the clear’. Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth.”

For more information go to: Do Not Drive: Urgent Car Recalls You Need to Know About - CARFAX

Full lists from CARFAX:

‘Do Not Drive’ Vehicles

2005-2007 Chrysler 300

2005-2010 Chrysler 300 Touring

2008-2009 Chrysler 300 LX

2008-2010 Chrysler 300 Limited

2010 Chrysler 300 S

2005-2010 Chrysler 300C, SRT-8

2008-2010 Dodge Challenger SRT-8

2009-2010 Dodge Challenger R/T, SE

2010 Dodge Challenger Mopar Edit R/T

2006-2007 Dodge Charger SE/SXT

2006-2010 Dodge Charger R/T, SRT-8

2008-2010 Dodge Charger, SXT

2010 Dodge Charger Rallye

2005-2007 Dodge Magnum SE

2005-2008 Dodge Magnum R/T, SXT

2006-2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8

2008 Dodge Magnum

2023 Ford Bronco Base/Big Bend

2013 Ford Escape SE, SEL

2014 Ford F-150, Super Cab, SuperCrew

2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty

2021 Ford F-450 Super Duty

2021 Ford F-550 Super Duty

2021 Ford F-600 Super Duty

2006 Ford Ranger, Super Cab

2023 Ford Ranger XL/XLT/Lariat

2019 Freightliner Sprinter 3500/4500

2008 Honda Element LX

2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS/GT

2015 Hyundai Sonata SE, Sport/Limited

2005 Hyundai Tiburon, GT

2008 Infiniti EX35/Journey

2009 Infiniti FX35

2009 Infiniti FX50

2021 Jeep Cherokee Limited

2022 Kia Carnival EX, LX, SX Prestige

2021-2022 Kia K5 GT

2011 Kia Optima EX/SX

2011-2015 Kia Optima LX

2011-2016 Kia Optima SX

2012-2016 Kia Optima EX

2016 Kia Optima SXL

2020-2021 Kia Rio LX/S

2021 Kia Rio S

2012 Kia Sorento Base/LX

2012-2021 Kia Sorento EX

2013-2015 Kia Sorento LX

2016 Kia Sorento SX/SX Limited

2016-2017 Kia Sorento LX/L

2021 Kia Sorento SX/SXP

2022 Kia Sorento SX, SX Prestige

2011-2016 Kia Sportage EX/SX

2012-2023 Kia Sportage SX

2014 Kia Sportage/LX

2014-2023 Kia Sportage EX

2014-2023 Kia Sportage LX

2023 Kia Sportage SX Prestige, X Line, X-Pro/X-Pro Prestige

2023 Kia Telluride EX/EX X-Line, LX, S, SX/SX X-Line/SX

2006 Mazda B2300

2006 Mazda B3000, Cab Plus

2006 Mazda B4000 Cab Plus

2022 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG

2022 Mercedes-Benz S 500 4matic

2009 Nissan GT-R/Premium

2021 Ram 1500 Classic SLT

2020 Ram 1500 Classic SSV, Tradesman, Tradesman/EX, Classic Warlock/SLT

2021 Subaru Impreza, Limited, Premium, Sport

2016 Subaru Legacy 2.5i, Limited, Premium

2016 Subaru Legacy 3.6r Limited

2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i, Limited, Premium

2016 Subaru Outback 3.6r Limited

2023 Subaru Solterra Premium/Limited/

2023 Toyota Bz4x XLE/Limited

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE

2021 Volkswagen Atlas S

2018 Volkswagen Beetle S/Coast, S/SE/Coast

2000-2001 Volkswagen Golf GLS, GLS TDI

2018 Volkswagen Golf S/SE

2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen S, S/SE

2018 Volkswagen GTI S/SE/Autobahn

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan S, SE/SEL 4motion, SEL Premium

Park Outside Vehicles

2004-2007 BMW 525i

2006-2007 BMW 525xi

2008-2010 BMW 528i

2008-2010 BMW 528xi

2004-2007 BMW 530i

2006-2007 BMW 530xi

2006-2007 BMW 530xit

2008-2010 BMW 535i

2008-2010 BMW 535xi

2004-2005 BMW 545i

2006-2010 BMW 550i

2004-2005 BMW 645ci Automatic

2005 BMW 645ci

2006-2010 BMW 650i

2006-2010 BMW M5

2006-2010 BMW M6

2006-2007 Buick Rainier CXL

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV LT, Premier

2020-2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV

2020-2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV LT, Premier

2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV 1LT, 2LT

2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT LS/LT

2006-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS/LT, SS

2017 Chrysler Pacifica E-Hybrid Premium, Touring

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Limited Hybrid

2018-2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Tour Plus

2018-2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited, Touring L

2019-2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Touring

2022 Cruise Cruise AV

2001-2002 Ford Escape XLS, XLT

2021 Ford Expedition King Ranch, LTD, Platinum, XL, XLT

2021 Ford Expedition Max King Ranch, Limited, Platinum, XL, XLT

2019-2021 Genesis G70 Sport

2017-2018 Genesis G80 Base/Premium/Ultimate

2018 Genesis G80 Sport

2019-2020 Genesis G80 Base/Sport/Ultimate

2006-2007 GMC Envoy, Denali

2006 GMC Envoy XL, Denali

2015-2016 Hyundai Genesis 3.8L

2015-2016 Hyundai Genesis 5.0L

2019-2020 Hyundai Kona Limited, SEL, Ultimate

2019-2021 Hyundai Nexo Blue, Limited

2020-2022 Hyundai Palisade Limited, SE, SEL

2021-2022 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy

2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited, Night, SE, SEL, SEL Premium

2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

2016-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe SE Ultimate/Limited

2016-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SE

2019-2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited/Ultimate

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited/Hybrid

2021-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe Blue, Calligraphy, Limited

2021-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL, SEL Premium

2019-2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL/SEL Plus

2022 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL/XRT

2023 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL SE, SE Ultimate

2014 Hyundai Tucson GLS/Limited/SE

2014-2015 Hyundai Tucson GLS

2015 Hyundai Tucson SE/LTD

2016 Hyundai Tucson LTD/Spt And Eco/SE

2016-2021 Hyundai Tucson SE

2017 Hyundai Tucson LTD/Spt Eco/SE/Nig, Limited/Sport/Eco/SE

2018 Hyundai Tucson SEL/SEL Plus, Sport, Value/Limited

2019 Hyundai Tucson LTD/SEL/Sport/Ultimate/Value

2020-2021 Hyundai Tucson Limited/SEL/Sport/

2021 Hyundai Tucson LTD/SEL/Sport/Ultimate

2006-2009 Kia Sedona EX/LX

2007-2009 Kia Sorento EX/LX

2008-2009 Kia Sedona

2010 Kia Sedona EX, LX

2016-2018 Kia Sorento LX/L, SX/SX Limited

2016-2023 Kia Sorento EX

2019 Kia Sorento EX/EX Sport, LX/S, SX/SXL

2019-2020 Kia Sorento L/LX

2020 Kia Sorento EX/S, S/LX

2020-2022 Kia Sorento SX

2021-2022 Kia Sorento LX, S, SX/SXP

2022 Kia Sorento SX/X-Ln SX Prstge

2022-2023 Kia Sorento SX Prestige

2023 Kia Sorento SXP

2008-2009 Kia Sportage EX/LX

2008-2022 Kia Sportage LX

2017-2022 Kia Sportage EX, SX

2020-2022 Kia Sportage S

2018 Kia Stinger Premium

2018-2021 Kia Stinger, GT

2018-2019 Kia Stinger GT1

2019 Kia Stinger GT2

2020-2022 Kia Telluride EX, LX, S, SX

2021 Lincoln Navigator, Black Label, Reserve

2021 Lincoln Navigator L, Black Label, Reserve

2017 Porsche Panamera 2/4

2017-2020 Porsche Panamera Turbo, Executive

2017-2021 Porsche Panamera 4S, Executive

2018 Porsche Panamera/4

2018-2020 Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo

2018-2021 Porsche Panamera 4 Executive, Sport Turismo

2018-2021 Porsche Panamera 4S Sport Turismo

2019-2021 Porsche Panamera Base/4, GTS, GTS Sport Turismo

2021 Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Executive, Sport Turismo

2021-2023 Ram Laramie

2021-2023 Ram 2500 Big Horn

2022 Ram 2500 Big Horn/Lone Star

2021-2023 Ram 2500 Limited, Longhorn, Tradesman

2023 Ram 2500 PowerWagon

2021-2023 Ram 3500 Big Horn, Limited, Longhorn, Tradesman

2022 Ram 3500 Big Horn/Lone Star

2021-2023 Ram Chassis 3500

2021-2023 Ram Chassis 4500

2021-2023 Ram Chassis 5500

2004 Saab 9-3 Arc

2005-2006 Saab 9-7x Arc

2005-2006 Saab 9-7x Linear

2007 Saab 9-7x 4.2i

2007 Saab 9-7x 5.3i

2019-2022 Subaru Ascent, Limited, Premium, Touring

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