Recall Parts Not Available? What to Do While You Wait
You got the recall letter, called the dealer, and heard: "the parts aren't available yet." This is common, especially for recalls covering hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Here is what that means and what you can reasonably ask for while you wait.
Why parts take so long
A manufacturer must notify owners within 60 days of filing a recall, but nothing forces the replacement part to exist by then. When a recall covers a large population, suppliers have to design or validate the fix, build tooling, and produce enough parts — sometimes millions. Dealers then receive them in batches, often prioritised by region or by the vehicles most at risk.
When the fix is not ready, the manufacturer sends an interim notice first, then a second letter when parts arrive. The interim letter is important: it usually says what you should do in the meantime, such as avoiding a certain feature, watching for a warning light, or not driving at all.
Step 1: Read what the notice says about driving
Recalls fall roughly into three groups while you wait:
- Do not drive. The manufacturer says the vehicle should not be used until repaired. Our do-not-drive list shows every current advisory. In this case ask the manufacturer directly about towing, alternate transportation or a loaner.
- Park outside. The defect can start a fire even when the car is off, so it should be parked outside and away from buildings. See the park-outside list.
- Everything else. Most recalls describe a risk that exists under certain conditions. The notice will often name warning signs, like a dashboard message, a smell of fuel, or a change in how the brakes feel. If you notice those signs, stop driving and contact the dealer.
The explanation on each recall page here summarises what the official notice says on this point, and the full notice text is shown alongside it.
Step 2: Get on the list
Ask the dealer to record your VIN and contact details for the recall. Some dealers keep a waitlist and call owners as parts arrive. It also helps to check with more than one dealer, since parts are allocated per dealership. Any franchised dealer for your brand can do recall work, not only the one that sold you the car.
Step 3: Ask about a loaner or rental
No federal law requires a manufacturer to provide a loaner car during a recall. Many do offer one when the notice says not to drive the vehicle, or when the wait is long, but it is up to the manufacturer and sometimes up to the dealer. The best place to ask is the manufacturer's customer service line, which is listed on every make and model page on this site, rather than only the dealer's service desk. Keep a note of the date, the name of the person you spoke to and what they said.
Step 4: Escalate if it is going nowhere
- Manufacturer customer care. Give them the NHTSA campaign number and explain how long you have waited and any symptoms you have noticed. Ask for a case number.
- Another dealer. A dealer in a different area may have a different allocation.
- NHTSA. If the remedy is unreasonably delayed or a dealer refuses to perform recall work, you can report it through NHTSA's online complaint form or the Vehicle Safety Hotline (888-327-4236). NHTSA monitors how recalls are carried out, and owner reports are how it finds out about problems with the remedy.
Step 5: Keep your receipts
If you have to pay for a related repair before the official fix is ready — for example, a tow after a failure the recall describes — keep the invoice. Manufacturers are required to have a plan for reimbursing owners who paid for the recall repair themselves within a certain window. See how recall reimbursement works.
Should I sell the car instead?
An open recall does not stop you from selling a car privately or trading it in, and the recall stays with the vehicle — the next owner can still get the free repair. Be honest about it with buyers; they can see it with a VIN check anyway. Our article on buying and selling with an open recall covers what dealers can and cannot do.
Checklist while you wait
- Read the interim notice and follow any do-not-drive or park-outside instruction.
- Learn the warning signs the notice describes.
- Get your VIN on the waitlist at one or more dealers.
- Ask the manufacturer (not just the dealer) about a loaner if the wait is long.
- Write down dates, names and case numbers.
- Keep receipts for anything you pay that relates to the defect.
- Follow your model's page here, or its RSS feed, for updates.