The Motor Ombudsman’s vehicle recalls online search tool has seen an 80% boost in consumer interest between January and April, with an additional 49,000 page views.

The portal, which allows users to search for any outstanding safety recalls on a specific car, based on the VIN number, is now one of the most heavily used assets on the automotive dispute resolution provider’s website.

Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “The Vehicle Recalls portal has consistently proved a popular page on our website as it’s a one stop resource for motorists and businesses where all the essential information can be found quickly and easily at the touch of a button.

“However, the ultimate aim of this tool is to help keep motorists safe by alerting users to any outstanding recalls and where repairs are necessary for a specific vehicle, which should always be completed as a priority.”

First introduced in 2015 as a voluntary initiative by the motor industry aimed to increase the safety and peace of mind of UK consumers, The Motor Ombudsman’s Vehicle Recalls portal logged 109,000 page views between January 1 and April 30 and is now on course to surpass the 240,000 views seen during the whole of last year.