Why most recalls fail — and how not to be the household that misses one

Consumer Reports found that America’s recall system leaves dangerous products in homes for years. Recall completion rates are often under 10%, per the CPSC, and a recalled product can stay in use long after the notice goes out.

The core problem is awareness: nearly 70% of Americans haven’t heard about a recall for a product they own within five years, and only about 21% report hearing about and acting on one. Registering products and checking recalls.gov and the CPSC recall list are the simplest defenses.

The gap is rarely that people refuse a free fix — it’s that they never learn the recall exists. OwnWise closes that gap by checking your appliance and its fault against active recalls and warranties, so a remedy you’re owed doesn’t slip past you.