No matter how well they're made, vehicles in Troy, Michigan will have design or manufacturing problems.

And when the government thinks a problem is really serious for people in Troy, Michigan, they require the manufacturer to issue a recall notice and fix the car free of charge. The manufacturer then tries to contact everyone in Troy, Michigan who owns that type of car to get the recall work done. Perhaps you have received a postcard notifying you of a recall issue on your car.

Because these recalls always affect safety, Rochester hills auto owners should take them seriously. This isn't difficult to do because it's easy to see if a vehicle's being recalled.

The government has links on its websites, or just visit AutoNetTV for links.

There are many websites with free recall information and searches. There's CarFax, AutoByTel and the DMV.

Recalls are serious, but not all that common. But sometimes there are less significant issues, and for these, manufacturers issue a Technical Service Bulletin, or TSB, that tells service centers like Gary Knurek GoodYear how to repair a frequent or difficult problem.

The pros get updated information through subscription plans, also available in consumer versions for a reasonable cost.

So when manufacturers recalls occur, get the work done, and keep you and yours safe.