U.S. EPA recall program for light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks

A recall program remains one of the most powerful tools to ensure that in-use vehicles remain in compliance. With many countries now thinking about the compliance and enforcement aspects of their standards, one relevant question is how to handle a recall once it is decided. The lessons and actions discussed in this review of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recall program could assist other governments that wish to establish or improve their own recall programs.

This briefing reviews the structure of EPA’s emission recall program for light-duty vehicles and trucks (LDV and LDT) and its effectiveness over time. The goal is to explain the recall authority, procedures, and coordination among offices in the EPA recall program. This briefing does not attempt to discuss data sources used by EPA to target vehicle classes in the Agency’s compliance program that lead to recall decisions.

Staff contact: Hui He