( CNN ) -- As Toyota recalls millions of cars , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that an average of 25 percent of U.S. consumers who get recall notices do n't follow through and fix their vehicles . The CNN Fact Check Desk wondered : Is there a way to ensure compliance with auto recalls ? Most vehicle recalls involve free fixes for the consumer . • Clarence Ditlow with the Center for Auto Safety , a consumer watchdog group , says there is not a process to ensure that auto owners comply with recalls . The center says vehicle insurers have an incentive and a method to reach car owners who have n't complied fully with recalls . `` Insurers have the VIN [ vehicle identification numbers ] , and they could contact the insured drivers who have failed to comply , '' Ditlow says . Because states are responsible for issuing a vehicle 's registration , Ditlow sees an opportunity for state governments to force compliance . He says that states could refuse to renew registration until the manufacturer 's fix has been made . However , he says , no states have taken this step so far . • According to Edmunds.com , some states do require owners to make the requisite repairs before they attempt to sell the affected car . • Jeanne Salvatore , with the Insurance Information Institute , says that auto insurers will pay damage claims caused by the current Toyota defects , then go after Toyota for reimbursements . • CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis says that new car dealers are prevented from selling a defective car . • If recall communications are deemed insufficient , the NHTSA can require further efforts from the manufacturer . But there is not a mechanism at the federal level to ensure that drivers comply . • Bottom line : If the NHTSA 's 25 percent noncompliance figure is any indication , there could be many affected Toyota models that do not get the requisite fix under the current recall . Although there have been suggestions for how to better enforce recalls , there is no mechanism in place to force drivers to make the change . CNN 's Jen Haley and CNNMoney 's Peter Valdes-Dapena contributed to this report .
Most recalls involve free fixes , but Ford says 80 percent of consumers do n't comply . Consumer watchdog group says there 's no process to ensure that auto owners comply . Insurers could use VINs to find drivers , or could refuse registration to ensure compliance . At federal level , there 's no process to ensure that drivers comply .