Have you checked your vehicle for defective airbags?

It’s a move that took many by surprise. In the wake of the largest automotive recall in history, AutoNation, the country’s largest auto retailer, announced it would no longer sell any vehicle subject to a recall until repairs to its airbag have been completed.

But safety experts know why AutoNation took such a big step. Defective airbags are dangerous. That’s why anyone who owns a car with airbags should check Safercar.gov to see if the vehicle is on any recall list. If it is, schedule to have repairs done as soon as possible. There is no charge for fixing a defective airbag. But due to the scope of the recall, it may take time before defective airbags can be replaced.

To check your vehicle, you’ll need your vehicle identification number (VIN), found in the lower driver-side corner of your car’s windshield. Input the VIN into NHTSA’s online VIN-lookup tool to find out if your vehicle is affected. And don’t forget: Before you buy any used vehicle, make sure that any recalled items on the car have been fixed or replaced.