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How car recalls work
A short guide for owners: what a recall is, how to find out whether your own car is affected, and how to get it fixed for free.
The four steps
- Find your VIN. It is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield (read it from outside the car), on your registration card, and usually on your insurance card.
- Check that exact car. Enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It lists recalls that are still unrepaired on your vehicle. A recall often covers only part of a model year, so the VIN check is what counts.
- Read what the recall means. Look up your model on this site for a plain-English explanation of each recall, how serious it is and whether the notice tells owners to stop driving or park outside.
- Book the free repair. Call any franchised dealer for your brand, say you have an open safety recall and give the NHTSA campaign number. You do not have to use the dealer that sold the car.
Common questions
Does a recall repair cost anything?
No. Safety recall repairs are free. The manufacturer must fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund or, in rare cases, repurchasing the vehicle.
How will I find out about a recall?
Manufacturers notify registered owners by first-class mail within 60 days of telling NHTSA about a recall decision. Letters go to the address on the registration, so a car bought used or a recent move can mean the letter never reaches you. NHTSA suggests checking your VIN twice a year.
I bought the car used. Am I still covered?
Yes. A recall follows the vehicle, not the owner. Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair, whoever owns the car and wherever it was bought. See our used-car pages for what to check on a particular model year before you buy.
The NHTSA VIN search shows nothing. Am I in the clear?
Not always. The VIN search does not show recalls that were already repaired, some newly announced recalls where the manufacturer has not yet identified every VIN, recalls more than 15 years old, or recalls from some small manufacturers. If a recall for your model was announced recently, check again in a few weeks.
The dealer says parts are not available yet. What now?
That is common in the first weeks of a recall. Ask the dealer to put you on the list and follow any interim guidance in the recall notice, such as parking outside. If the notice says not to drive the vehicle, ask the dealer or the manufacturer's customer service about towing or a loaner. Phone numbers are on each of our recall pages.
The dealer refuses to do the repair or wants to charge me.
Call the manufacturer's customer service line first. If that does not solve it, report it to NHTSA at 888-327-4236 or at nhtsa.gov. NHTSA monitors each recall to make sure owners receive a free and effective remedy.
I already paid to fix this problem before the recall was announced.
You may be able to get that money back. Manufacturers run reimbursement programs for owners who paid for a repair that a later recall covers. Keep your receipt and ask the manufacturer's customer service how to claim; the recall letter usually explains the process.
How do I get alerts about new recalls?
NHTSA's free SaferCar app sends a phone alert when a recall is issued for a vehicle you enter, and NHTSA also offers email alerts. On this site, every make has an RSS feed, and the latest recalls page lists everything from the last 60 days.
My car has a problem but there is no recall.
Report it to NHTSA. Complaints from owners are how most defect investigations begin, and a pattern of similar reports can lead to a recall. Our watchlist shows model years with many complaints in an area that has no recall.