Recalls are certainly nothing new, but with today’s technology—if something goes wrong- it often requires more than a simple fix. And as headlines have shown– recent issues have generated a “larger than normal” number of recalls.

The latest is the GM ignition switch debacle, which has evolved from a simple recall into a raging, legal battle. And, it will undoubtedly have lingering effects on the company and industry as a whole.

Another pressing issue has been the Takata airbag recall, which has entangled Honda, Mazda, and many other brands, due to faulty component design and production.

Fuel leaks are a common recall issue as well. And their severity can be great due to the risk of fire.  A recent list names Nissan/Infiniti, and BMW-including their i8 plug-in hybrid.

And, within the past month other issues have prompted recalls of the “brand, new” Acura TLX and the Jaguar F-Type.

Now it’s important to remember that these are often isolated incidents, and generally affect only a small number of makes and models. But staying on top of the latest news can be overwhelming.

Luckily, there’s a relatively, easy way to get up-to-date information. Simply go to the recalls.gov website.

With information provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, you can check to see if your vehicle is on a recall list. All you need to do is search by make and model, or more specifically-- type in your car’s VIN number.

If a recall is indicated, the report will include the nature of the problem, explain how to fix it, and let you know whom to contact for more information. There are even additional tabs for investigations…customer complaints…and service bulletins.

It’s definitely much safer than having you or your vehicle at risk. And that’s it for this week’s MotorNews.