The number of U.S. vehicles with outstanding recall repairs has fallen over the past year, according to data compiled by Carfax, which credits an awareness campaign it’s conducted with automakers.

The approximately four million-vehicle drop, or 7%, still leaves nearly 55 million recalled autos with at least one unaddressed remedy each, according to the vehicle data provider.

Carfax teamed with automakers through the Alliance for Automotive Innovation trade group in 2018 to create the free Vehicle Recall Search Service to identify vehicles with outstanding recall repairs. The program works with state motor vehicle, public safety, and inspection departments to pinpoint such vehicles and has identified millions, Carfax said.

So far, DMVs in eight states and Puerto Rico have signed on to the initiative: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Texas and Washington.

Auto consumers can check their vehicles’ recall status on the websites of Carfax and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as on most automakers’ sites.

In its auto recalls research, Carfax also noted a surge in the most pressing recalls, known as do-not-drive events. Over the past year, those jumped 65% to 725,000. The recall category covers vehicle issues deemed too dangerous for driving until they’re repaired.      

WHAT DEALERS CAN DO: RECALL RECONNAISSANCE