Guidance

Recall vehicles, parts or accessories in the UK

How vehicle manufacturers, producers and suppliers should run a safety recall in the UK.

• From: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
• Published: 18 July 2013
• Last updated: 1 October 2021
  Show all updates

  1. 1 October 2021

     Replaced RAPEX (Community Rapid Information System) notification form with DVSA product safety notification form.

  2. 9 May 2014

     A poster version of the UK safety recalls scheme message from DVSA has now been added.

  3. 14 April 2014

     Additional forms have been attached which manufacturers should use when notifying DVSA that they intend to issue a recall or non-coded action.

  4. 23 December 2013

     The 'UK safety recalls scheme: message from VOSA' leaflet has been replaced with a more user-friendly version.

  5. 8 November 2013

     The term 'manufacturer, producer or supplier' has been changed to 'producer or distributor' in line with the GPSR 2005. There has been a change to the wording of the section on RAPEX, and to that on 'fleets, leasing and rental companies'. There have also been changes to the notification forms and a RAPEX notification form has also been introduced. An "Important message from VOSA" leaflet has been introduced, and, following a review of the codes, there is further clarification of the definition of a safety defect .

  6. 18 July 2013

     First published.

Documents

Manufacturers’ guide to recalls in the UK automotive sector

PDF, 3.74 MB, 55 pages

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The UK safety recalls scheme: message from DVSA (leaflet)

PDF, 287 KB, 2 pages

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The UK safety recalls scheme: message from DVSA (poster)

PDF, 178 KB, 1 page

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Notification of intention to recall a registered product

MS Word Document, 775 KB

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Notification of intention to recall a non-registered product

MS Word Document, 774 KB

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Notification of intention to recall a non-coded action

MS Word Document, 770 KB

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DVSA Product safety notification form

ODT, 46.4 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

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Details

This guide provides ‘best practice’ advice on how automotive manufacturers, producers and suppliers should run a safety recall in the UK.

DVSA has a specific team called the Vehicle Safety Branch (VSB) responsible for safety recall work and it adheres to the following codes of practice:

• Code of practice on vehicle safety defects and recalls
• Code of practice on safety defects and recalls: vehicle aftermarket

The supporting safety recall leaflet should be sent out by manufacturers when issuing a recall notice to consumers.