How to Handle a Vehicle Recall: What You Need to Know and What You Need to Do

1. Understand what a vehicle recall means.

A vehicle recall means the manufacturer (or the federal safety agency) has identified a defect that may impact safety, emissions, or reliability. As a result, they are offering a free repair. It’s not just a suggestion—it’s a safety action.

For example, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently expanded its probe into about 286,000 vehicles from General Motors over a possible engine failure issue. This case illustrates the severity of recalls and the importance of swift action.

Watch or listen to this podcast to learn more:

2. Check if your vehicle is affected.

First, visit the manufacturer’s recall site or the NHTSA website and enter your VIN (vehicle identification number) to see if your vehicle is listed. You can also contact us at Good Works Auto Repair, and we can help you check. Then, be sure to sign up for alerts or notifications for your model year, make, and engine type.

3. Stay informed and act quickly if your vehicle is affected by a recall.

Staying informed is critical to your ability to continue driving safely. If you get a vehicle recall notice in the mail, act quickly and don’t ignore it. And if you’ve moved since purchasing a new vehicle, or if you purchased your vehicle used, make a point to check for open recalls on the NHTSA’s website periodically.

Watch or listen to this podcast to learn more:

4. Understand your rights and what a recall repair should cost.

Because vehicle recalls are for safety, the manufacturer must repair or replace the affected parts free of charge (or provide an approved remedy) for eligible vehicles. You should not be charged for the recall repair itself.

Be aware of what’s covered: parts, labor, towing (sometimes), and rental car expenses might be involved, depending on manufacturer policy. Also note that in some cases, you may have your vehicle repaired at your local auto repair shop, only to discover later that a recall should have covered the issue. In this case, check with the manufacturer to see if you can get reimbursed for repairs already made.

5. Choose the right service provider.

Recalls will typically direct you to have repairs completed at an authorized dealer, a shop that you may not regularly go to for service. This way, manufacturers can accurately track which vehicles have been fixed under the recall. For extra peace of mind, there’s nothing wrong with taking your vehicle to your trusted mechanic for a follow-up inspection after the recall repair.

At Good Works Auto Repair, we can:

• Confirm that the recall repair has been correctly performed
• Check for any related issues (e.g., collateral damage)
• Let you know if there are any other immediate repair or maintenance concerns

6. After the recall repair: follow-up maintenance

Once your vehicle has been fixed under recall, it’s still smart to monitor it:

• Keep service records and proof of the recall fix
• Let your trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle periodically for engine, transmission, or other systems that may have been stressed by the defect
• Stay alert for any new problems: strange noises, performance loss, warning lights, etc.

7. Why it’s especially important to pay attention to vehicle recalls if you live in Tempe or the Phoenix metro area

Here in the Tempe-Phoenix region, the stress of heat, driving conditions, and mileage is real. A defect left unrepaired in a hot climate can deteriorate more rapidly. At Good Works Auto Repair, our Tempe mechanics understand local conditions and can help you navigate the recall process smoothly, allowing you to continue driving safely and efficiently.

8. Bottom line — Don’t ignore a recall.

When your vehicle has a recall, don’t ignore it—your safety, and the safety of others, is at stake. Use your VIN to check for open recalls, act promptly, understand your rights, and select a trusted service provider. At Good Works Auto Repair, we’re ready to help you through each step, from checking recall status to ensuring the repair is completed correctly and maintained.

Schedule an appointment with us today if your vehicle needs service or if you’ve received a recall notice and want a second opinion.

The post What to Do When Your Vehicle Has a Recall: A Step-by-Step Guide appeared first on Good Works Auto Repair Tempe.

Here, we’ll help you decode common strange car sounds, what they likely mean, and when you should schedule an appointment at your local auto repair shop (hint: sooner is often better).

Related podcast: What’s That Noise? Your Guide to Spooky, Scary Car Sounds (and What to Do About Them!)

5 Strange Car Sounds: What You Hear and What the Sounds Could Mean

1. Squealing or high-pitched whine when you start up or accelerate

What you hear: A high-pitched squeal right after you start the engine or upon acceleration, especially when cold.

What it might mean:

• A slipping accessory belt (serpentine belt) or worn belt tensioner
• A failing alternator bearing or other pulleys

Why it’s important: Most belt or pulley noises start small, but if ignored, they can lead to belt breakage. Unfortunately, this can leave you stranded with no power steering, no charger, or worse.

When to call your mechanic: If the squeal happens repeatedly, gets worse when accelerating or turning on accessories (AC, lights), schedule an inspection sooner than later. Your mechanic can check the belt condition, tensioner, pulleys and potentially prevent a roadside emergency.

2. Clunking or banging when you hit a bump or turn

What you hear: A heavy “thud”, clunk, or banging sound when going over speed-bumps or negotiating a turn.

What it might mean:

• Worn suspension components—ball joints, tie rods, struts/shocks
• Steering rack or mounting issues

Why it’s important: Suspension/steering issues can escalate quickly. They impact handling, tire wear, and in the worst case, safety.

When to call your mechanic: If you can replicate the sound at low speeds, such as when turning into a driveway or hitting a small bump, bring your vehicle to your preferred auto repair shop. Your mechanic can test the components, check alignment, examine steering links, and recommend repairs before things get worse.

3. Grinding when braking

What you hear: A harsh, metallic grinding sound when you brake, especially at the end of the pad life or if a pad is failing.

What it might mean:

• Brake pads worn down to the metal backing plate
• Rotor damage or caliper not releasing properly
• Why it’s important: The longer you wait, the more damage to rotors, and possibly the caliper, which increases repair cost significantly.

When to call your mechanic: If you hear grinding even once, don’t wait. Schedule brake service so your mechanic can measure pad thickness, check rotor condition, inspect calipers and guide you on whether a pad-replacement or a full brake job is necessary.

4. Knocking or tick under the hood, especially when the engine is cold

What you hear: A tapping or ticking sound coming from the engine area after start-up, sometimes fading once warm.

What it might mean:

• Low oil pressure or low oil level (especially if engine was run low)
• Worn valvetrain components (lifters, camshaft) or exhaust manifold bolts

Why it’s important: Engine knock or excessive ticking can indicate internal damage. Ignoring it can lead to major engine failure.

When to call your mechanic: If the sound persists past warm-up, or if you notice performance loss or oil light issues, schedule an engine diagnostic right away. Early intervention may be cheaper than full engine repair.

5. Hissing or whistling while driving or accelerating

What you hear: A consistent hissing (sometimes high-pitch) emanating from under the hood or near the wheel wells.

What it might mean:

• Vacuum leak in the intake system
• A leak in a turbo or supercharger (if you’re driving a boosted engine)
• A failing exhaust gasket or cracked intake manifold

Why it’s important: Vacuum or exhaust leaks affect engine efficiency, emissions, and may trigger check engine lights. They also can increase fuel consumption or cause driveability issues.

When to call your mechanic: If you hear this hissing especially on acceleration or while idling, schedule an appointment for a diagnostic. Your mechanic will pressure-test the system, find the leak source, and repair it before it causes a bigger issue.

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Strange Car Sounds

At Good Works Auto Repair, we believe listening to your vehicle and acting sooner rather than later can save you money, frustration, and time. That’s because strange car sounds often start out as something small but can escalate very quickly into bigger, more expensive repairs.

Here’s what to expect when you bring your vehicle to our Tempe auto repair shop after hearing odd noises:

• A technician will listen to and/or replicate the sound you heard (bring a video or recording of the sound if you can).
• We’ll inspect the likely source of the sound (belts, brakes, suspension, engine, etc.).
• You’ll receive a clear explanation of what’s going on and an estimate of repair urgency.
• We’ll help you prioritize (what must be fixed right away vs. what can wait), so you get safe and reliable driving without surprise auto repair bills.

The bottom line is that if your car starts making strange sounds or doing something you’ve never heard before, don’t dismiss it as “just age.” Your vehicle uses sound to communicate trouble. Whether it’s a squeal, clunk, grind, knock, or hiss, each has a likely cause and a correct time to act.

At Good Works Auto Repair, we’re ready to help diagnose and fix those strange noises before they become major headaches. Give us a call or schedule an appointment today — it’s worth your peace of mind and driving safety!

The post Don’t Ignore That Noise: What Strange Car Sounds Mean appeared first on Good Works Auto Repair Tempe.

What Does Your Cooling System Do?

Your cooling system keeps a certain standard temperature for the engine. It does so by circulating coolant (a.k.a. antifreeze) through your engine to your radiator, taking heat away from the engine while it works hard. Today’s engines are pretty tough, but when the temperatures go above normal, they can begin to fail. When failures start to happen, it could mean permanent damage to your engine, gaskets, hoses and even seals that are all part of the system that keeps your engine running.

Actions to Take If Your Engine Overheats

Maybe you notice the dashboard warning lights. Maybe it’s the strange smell coming from the engine. Or, maybe you see smoke coming from under the hood or your vehicle is not performing like usual. In any of these situations, follow these steps to stay safe and prevent major damage to your vehicle.

1. Pull over to a safe area and assess the situation calmly.
2. Turn off the vehicle. You won’t want to keep driving with an overheating engine as this could cause permanent damage.
3. Keep moving ONLY when necessary. Find a safe, clear place to come to a complete stop. If you can’t do this, keeping your car moving slowly may still allow a constant airflow around the motor to help with natural cooling. Leaving your car at rest or idling could actually worsen the problem and create more heat.
4. Turn on the heat. When the vehicle is still in motion, turning off the air conditioning and increasing the heat to high may help to pull additional heat away from the engine.
5. Open the windows. Your goal is to release as much heat as possible. Rolling down and opening as many windows as possible is another way to allow heat to flow out of the vehicle.
6. Call for help. You can call for roadside assistance from a local towing company, AAA, or another carrier.
7. Do not try to open the hood until the vehicle has cooled down plenty. To see if it has cooled down, monitor the temperature gauge in your vehicle as it moves from HOT to COOL. This may take upwards of 30 minutes. Remember not to start the engine – in this situation, only activate the ignition to the “on” position to read the temperature gauge.

Why Do Engines Overheat?

We get this question a lot at our Tempe auto repair shop. There are some common reasons which include but are not necessarily limited to:

• Too little or no coolant, causing a cooling system failure.
• Cooling system leaks
• A broken water pump
• Radiator problems or issues with their fans not removing heat
• Oil level too low so engine temperatures increase
• Thermostat failure
• Belt and hose issues
• A plugged heater core

Schedule an appointment to see one of our automotive technicians here at Good Works Auto Repair for routine services or inspections. Most importantly, if you are in this situation, remember to pull over in a safe place, turn off the vehicle and have your vehicle towed to us where we can work to get your vehicle performing once again.