How does the NHTSA know exactly how many potential units (automobiles) really are affected by a safety recall?

Is it possible there are more vin numbers affected for a particular recall than they originally estimated? What if the dealership refuses to fix a problem I think is part of a safety recall? The vehicle is already past all warranties & mileage coverage but I really think it has something wrong that is a part of a safety recall that affects almost 80,000 other autos same yr make & model. wiring could cause crash! I am not the original owner though. Can anybody help me? Also I have already paid ALOT of money to a dealership for repairs that I think stem from this recall.

NHTSA bases their facts on the year or years the vehicle is affected along with motor vehicle registration facts…ie: blah motors says vehicles from 2002-2004 with a certain size motor are affected…NHTSA then scans all CURRENT motor vehicle registered owners and forms an amount of potential units affected. if ur having troubles based on a safety recall, then if u still have ur owners manual, someplace in there is an 800# to call for making this complaint. if u don’t still have the manual, google ur states “lemon law” and read up on what u should do to file a complaint.

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