How to Check If Your Car Has a Recall

Vehicle recalls happen when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, tire, car seat, or equipment creates an unreasonable safety risk. Checking for recalls is free and takes less than a minute.

Method 1: VIN Lookup on NHTSA.gov (Recommended)

The most reliable way to check for recalls specific to your exact vehicle:

1. Find your 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It is printed on the driver's side dashboard near the windshield, on the driver's door jamb sticker, and on your registration and insurance documents.
2. Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN.
3. NHTSA will show any open (unrepaired) recalls for your specific vehicle, including the recall campaign number, defect description, and remedy.

Method 2: Search by Make, Model, and Year

If you want to see all recalls that have ever been issued for a specific vehicle type (not tied to your VIN), you can search by make, model, and year:

• On this site: Use the search bar on our homepage or browse by make to find your vehicle. Each vehicle page lists all recalls with descriptions and remedy status.
• On NHTSA.gov: Visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and use the search-by-vehicle option.

Method 3: Contact Your Dealer

Any authorized dealer for your vehicle's make can check for open recalls using your VIN. Recall repairs are always free of charge to the vehicle owner, regardless of the vehicle's age or mileage.

What Happens After a Recall?

• The manufacturer is required to notify registered owners by mail within 60 days of a recall.
• Recall repairs are performed by authorized dealers at no cost to the owner.
• If you paid for a repair that was later covered by a recall, you may be eligible for reimbursement from the manufacturer.
• There is no expiration date on recall repairs — manufacturers must fix the defect regardless of vehicle age.

NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline

You can also check recalls by calling NHTSA's toll-free hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153). Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time.