Vehicle safety recall campaigns

When a manufacturer discovers or determines that a vehicle presents a serious risk to people’s health or safety, it must act immediately. This applies to category M, N, and O vehicles that have already been placed on the market, registered, or put into circulation in Italy or in the European Union. In these cases, the manufacturer is required to adopt appropriate corrective measures, meaning technical interventions or repairs that remove the defect and ensure that the vehicle no longer presents that risk.

It is not enough to fix the problem only from a technical point of view. The manufacturer must also inform the owners or users of the affected vehicles in a precise and diligent way. This information must reach the persons identified in the official vehicle registers, so that anyone using the vehicle knows there is a safety problem and that the necessary repair must be carried out. In practice, a safety recall campaign serves both to repair the vehicle and to make sure the owners are properly warned.

If, despite the start of the recall campaign and the information activities, a vehicle has still not been corrected after twenty-four months, the manufacturer has an additional obligation. It must enter the data of that vehicle into a telematic list established at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and must keep the information updated. This list is used to identify vehicles for which the safety recall has still not been completed.

The law treats these obligations very seriously. If the manufacturer fails to adopt corrective measures, fails to inform owners, or fails to enter and update the data in the telematic list when required, it is subject to a very significant administrative fine for each omitted measure. This shows how important it is for road safety that recalls are properly carried out and followed up.

The telematic list of vehicles that have still not been corrected can be accessed according to procedures established by the competent authority. Authorized operators, police authorities, and users may consult it under the rules set by the Ministry. In this way, it is possible to check whether a vehicle is still affected by an incomplete safety recall campaign.

A very important point to remember is that it is not allowed to circulate freely with a vehicle that appears in this telematic list. Anyone driving a vehicle included in the list is subject to the same penalties provided for vehicles that have not undergone the required periodic inspection. This means that an uncompleted safety recall can have real consequences on the legal use of the vehicle.

For the theory exam, it is important to understand that a safety recall is an official procedure used when a vehicle has a serious defect that may endanger people. The manufacturer must correct the problem, inform the owners, and, if the vehicle is not repaired within two years, place it on a telematic list. A vehicle included in that list can no longer be considered fully regular for road circulation.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is vehicle safety recall campaigns?

Vehicle safety recall campaigns is regulated by Art. 80 bis of the Italian Road Code, within the chapter "III. Vehicles". You'll find the complete explanation above with all the essential details to pass the Italian driving theory exam.

In which chapter of the Italian Road Code is Art. 80 bis?

Art. 80 bis of the Italian Road Code is in the chapter III. Vehicles. You can read the original article on the official ACI portal at this link.

Is this topic important for the Italian driving licence exam?

Yes, all articles of the Italian Road Code may be subject to questions in the theory exam. To practice with real quiz questions on this topic, access our platform with 7,000+ official questions.