How to Know Your Car Is Recalled

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By Joey Solitro and Kelley R. Taylor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Question: How do you know if your vehicle is being recalled? And how frequently do recalls happen?

Answer: Manufacturers regularly monitor car safety and function issues to alert drivers of necessary repairs. You can check for manufacturer recalls of any models at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Vehicle recalls are common.

One of the latest recalls involves Toyota, which issued an urgent “Do Not Drive” advisory for about 50,000 vehicles that urged owners to obtain an air bag safety recall repair. The recall, which is free, affects certain model years 2003 to 2004 Corolla, 2003 to 2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004 to 2005 RAV4 vehicles nationwide that are equipped with Takata air bags.

“Due to the age of the vehicles, if the air bag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said in a statement. “Owners should not drive these vehicles until the free safety recall repair has been conducted.”

Toyota urged these car owners to contact a local dealer instead of driving the vehicle to the dealership for repairs. The dealers can provide several free repair options such as mobile repair at the vehicle’s current location, towing to the dealership, vehicle pickup and delivery, or other alternate transportation options, Toyota said.

Toyota said it is notifying known owners of affected vehicles every month through a variety of communication channels. Owners can also contact Toyota customer support directly by calling 1-800-331-4331. To check for recalls of any Toyota model, you can also visit the company’s safety recall website at https://www.toyota.com/recall.

Whether you search for recalls on the NHTSA or Toyota website, you’ll need to enter your vehicle identification number or license plate information to perform a search.

Question: Do seniors get a bigger standard deduction on their federal tax returns?

Answer: Yes. When you turn 65, you become eligible for an additional standard deduction on top of the regular standard deduction. However, the amount of this extra deduction can vary based on factors like filing status and whether you or your spouse are 65 or older. Whether you or your spouse is blind is another factor.

For 2023 (tax returns typically filed in April 2024), the regular standard deduction amounts are $13,850 for single and for those who are married, filing separately; $27,700 for those married filing jointly and qualified widowers; and $20,800 for head of household. At 65 and older, the additional standard deduction is $1,850 if you are single or file as head of household. If you’re married, filing jointly or separately, the extra standard deduction amount is $1,500 per qualifying individual.

If you are 65 or older and blind, the extra standard deduction is $3,700 if you are single or filing as head of household. It’s $3,000 per qualifying individual if you are married, filing jointly or separately.

©2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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