Sacramento, California (NAPSI) - Bad news can sometimes be good news, particularly when it involves an open recall on your car.

An open recall is when a manufacturer identifies a problem with a particular model and agrees to fix it at little or no cost to the owner or potential buyer.

Recalls can affect a car’s performance, safety and resale value. You’re doing yourself and others on the road a favor by having them fixed.

Open recalls can be an excellent opportunity to help ensure the purchase of a well-performing car. However, problems arise when neither buyer nor seller knows an open recall exists. It’s estimated that 3.5 million vehicles with open recalls were for sale online in 2013.

Fortunately, you now can easily find out about open recalls or other reported problems by shopping for used cars at www.carfax.com. Every car has a free Carfax Report to help you find the right car with the right history.