Free tool
Vehicle recall check
Check open safety recalls on any vehicle by VIN, or browse by make and model. Free, using official NHTSA data.
A vehicle recall check tells you whether a car, truck, or SUV has an outstanding safety defect that the manufacturer is obligated to fix — for free. Recalls are one of the most overlooked steps in buying a used vehicle, yet they’re among the easiest to check and the most consequential: an open recall can mean anything from a faulty airbag inflator to brakes or wiring that don’t meet safety standards. Enter a VIN above to see open recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test ratings in seconds, at no cost.
What is a vehicle recall?
A recall is issued when a manufacturer or a safety regulator determines that a vehicle — or a component in it — has a defect that creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet a federal safety standard. The manufacturer must notify owners and provide a remedy at no charge, which usually means a repair, replacement part, or in rare cases a refund or buyback. Recalls can be tiny (a mislabelled warning sticker) or serious (an airbag that can deploy with too much force). Either way, the fix is free.
Why check recalls before buying a used vehicle
When a vehicle changes hands privately, nobody is obligated to have completed outstanding recalls. The previous owner may never have received the notice, ignored it, or sold the car precisely because a repair was pending. Because the remedy is free at a franchised dealer, an open recall you discover before buying is really an opportunity — but only if you know about it. Checking takes under a minute and can flag safety issues that a test drive never would.
How to check recalls: by VIN vs. by make and model
There are two ways to check, and they answer slightly different questions.
- By VIN. The most accurate method. A VIN check can reflect whether a specific vehicle’s recall repairs have already been completed, so it tells you what’s still outstanding on that car. Enter the VIN in the box above.
- By make, model, and year. Useful for research before you have a VIN — it shows which recall campaigns applied to that vehicle in general. Browse by make below to explore recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for specific models and years.
Recalls in Canada vs. the United States
This is where a lot of buyers get caught out. Vehicle recalls are administered separately in each country. In Canada, recalls fall under Transport Canada; in the United States, under the NHTSA. The same manufacturing defect is frequently recalled in both markets, but not always on the same timeline, and Canadian-market vehicles can be subject to campaigns a US database won’t list. Our free check surfaces NHTSA recall and complaint data, which covers the overwhelming majority of models sold in Canada — but if you’re buying an out-of-province or imported vehicle, it’s worth cross-checking Transport Canada’s own recall database directly for any Canada-specific campaign.
Are recall repairs really free?
Yes — and this surprises a lot of used-car buyers. A safety recall repair is carried out at no cost by a franchised dealer for that brand, regardless of whether you’re the original owner or bought the vehicle second-hand. The one practical catch is parts availability: high-volume recalls (the Takata airbag campaigns are the classic example) have at times had waiting lists. Before you rely on a fix, confirm with a dealer that the parts are in stock.
Recalls, technical service bulletins, and complaints
Three related terms get confused. They aren’t the same thing:
- Recall: a safety defect with a mandatory, free remedy.
- Technical service bulletin (TSB): guidance from the manufacturer to dealers on a known issue and how to repair it — not free, and not safety-mandated.
- Complaint: a problem an owner reported to a regulator, which may or may not lead to a recall. A cluster of similar complaints is an early-warning sign worth heeding.
What to do if there’s an open recall
- Note the recall campaign number and the affected component.
- Call a franchised dealer for the brand with the VIN and confirm the repair is available and parts are in stock.
- Have the repair completed — before purchase if you can negotiate it, or promptly after.
- Keep the completed-repair paperwork; it reassures the next buyer too.
Browse recalls by make
Explore recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for a specific vehicle:
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a car has an open recall?+
Enter the vehicle’s 17-character VIN above. We check it against NHTSA’s recall database and show any open safety recalls, along with owner complaints and crash-test ratings. Checking by VIN is the most accurate method because it can reflect whether a specific vehicle’s recall work has been completed.
Are recall repairs free?+
Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no cost to the owner by a franchised dealer for the brand, even if you bought the vehicle used and aren’t the original owner. Confirm the required parts are in stock, as some recalls have been delayed by supply shortages.
What’s the difference between a recall and a complaint?+
A recall is issued by the manufacturer or a regulator when a defect affects safety or fails to meet a standard, and it comes with a free remedy. A complaint is a problem reported by an owner that has not necessarily led to a recall. Both are worth reviewing before buying.
Do recalls in Canada differ from the United States?+
Often the same defect is recalled in both countries, but recalls are issued separately: Transport Canada administers recalls for the Canadian market, while NHTSA covers the US. A US-market recall database won’t always list a Canadian-specific campaign, which is why an out-of-province or imported vehicle deserves extra checking.
Can I check a recall without the VIN?+
You can search by make, model, and year to see which recall campaigns applied to that vehicle generally, but only a VIN check can indicate whether a specific vehicle’s recalls are still outstanding or have been fixed.
How do I get a recall fixed?+
Contact any franchised dealer for the vehicle’s brand, provide the VIN, and book the recall repair. There is no charge. Keep the paperwork — proof that recall work was completed adds value when you later sell.
What should I do if a used car I’m buying has an open recall?+
An open recall isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, since the repair is free, but factor it in. Confirm parts are available, and ideally have the recall completed before or shortly after purchase. Multiple serious open recalls, or a seller who won’t discuss them, are reasons to be cautious.
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