by Buying a car online has long ceased to be something unusual and has become an everyday practice. The retail giant Amazon has transformed into an important platform not only for ordering new cars of certain brands but also for selling thousands of used cars from dealers across the country. This process has become very convenient for buyers, however, it has raised serious concerns among a group of U.S. senators regarding consumer safety.
The Problem with Unresolved Recalls
Senators addressed a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, pointing to specific certified used cars being sold by Ford dealers through the company’s website. They name the main problem as the lack of clear information about whether a car listed has unresolved safety recalls. This leaves potential buyers unaware of possible serious malfunctions.
We urge Amazon to immediately cease listing for sale on Amazon Autos any vehicles with an unrepaired safety recall
As examples, senators cited specific cars, such as a 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands, which had two open recalls, one related to the risk of sudden engine stalling, as well as a 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, which had not been repaired for a known issue that could lead to a fire.
Legislative Initiative and Platform Responsibility
Senators insist that Amazon should not simply refer buyers to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website for self-checking, but on the contrary – clearly display the recall status directly in the description of key characteristics of each car. It is worth noting that the car dealerships themselves place listings on Amazon Autos, so the problem is not unique to this platform alone.
The same senators are the authors of the “Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act” bill, which aims to prohibit dealers from selling used cars with unresolved recalls. However, in their opinion, Amazon should not wait for this law to be passed and can already voluntarily implement restrictions on the sale of such vehicles on its platform.
This situation points to a broader problem of regulating the rapidly growing online car sales market, where the convenience of purchase can sometimes take precedence over safety guarantees. Increased legislative attention to the activities of giants like Amazon could become a catalyst for establishing new, stricter transparency standards for the entire industry. It is telling that the discussion revolves around certified cars, which are traditionally positioned as the most reliable and verified, which further sharpens the issue of trust. The future will show whether this pressure will lead to real changes in the company’s policy or in legislation, but it already forces buyers to be much more careful when choosing a car online.
