Repairing Every Car to Avoid Lost Lives Act or the RECALL Act

This bill declares that a state is in compliance with safety recall requirements if the state agency responsible for motor vehicle registration ensures, by a motor vehicle identification number search of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recall database, that each registered owner of a motor vehicle registered in the state is notified of all recalls issued by the vehicle's manufacturer by certain deadlines, depending on when the vehicle is registered.

A state must also require that owners complete all recall remedies as a prerequisite for motor vehicle registration renewal, with the following exceptions:

• the owner had not been notified of the recall before being notified of the need to renew;
• the manufacturer, through a local dealership, has not given the owner reasonable opportunity to complete a recall remedy because of a shortage of parts or qualified labor; or
• the owner demonstrates to the state that he or she has not had reasonable opportunity to complete the recall remedies, in which case the state may grant a temporary registration for 60 days during which time the owner must complete the recall remedies.

The Secretary of Transportation shall withhold 5% of federal highway funds from a state that is not in compliance with these requirements.