GM warns that recall website may be faulty

This April 3, 2012 photo shows the 2013 Buick Enclave as it is unveiled at a news conference ahead of the New York International Car Show, in New York. General Motors and the U.S. government are warning vehicle owners that GM's recall website may not be listing all the cars that need to be recalled. (AP/Mary Altaffer, File)

DETROIT -- The government and General Motors are warning vehicle owners that GM's recall Web site may not be listing all the cars that need recall repairs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday that GM's vehicle identification number, or VIN, look-up system has been incorrectly telling some owners that their cars aren't involved in recalls if parts for the repairs aren't ready. The system should say which cars are under active recalls even if the parts aren't ready.

The agency said it asked GM to fix the problem.

GM said Friday evening that it is making the necessary changes to the site so customers can identify which vehicles need to be repaired. Until the update is complete, customers should call the phone numbers listed on GM's customer-service website if they want to confirm that their vehicles are being recalled, the company said.

GM has issued 60 recalls covering 29 million vehicles this year. The company disclosed in February that it took more than a decade to recall small cars with faulty ignition switches. Since then, it has conducted a safety review that has resulted in dozens of recalls.

Starting Aug. 20, all automakers must have systems that allow owners to search recall information by VIN, NHTSA said.