Get automatically notified if your vehicle is recalled

If you're concerned with auto safety, the government now has a notification e-mail system that will alert you to recalls for your specific make, model and year of car.

There are recalls of cars all the time. Some serious, like braking and steering issues, or sudden acceleration; and others that are just kind of nagging little problems that you'd like to get around to taking care of -- but you never really do!

When a car is recalled for serious safety issues, I've heard that some 35% to 40% of cars are never brought in for the free repair. That's a dangerous game of roulette that you don't want to play.

Without obsessing over it, there's an automatic and easy way for you to know if there's a serious issue with the car you own. SaferCar.gov offers a recall notification email system for free. If a recall happens on your specific car, you'll get an email. Otherwise, they won't bother you.

So log on today and set up a recall alert. Motorcyclists can even enter their make and model of bike or helment and get alerts.