What Is a Vehicle Recall and What Should You Do?

What Is a Vehicle Recall?

A vehicle recall is an official determination by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or a vehicle manufacturer that a specific vehicle model has a safety-related defect or does not meet minimum federal safety standards. When a recall is issued, the manufacturer is legally required to fix the problem for free.

Recalls are not optional suggestions. They are legally binding actions under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Manufacturers must notify all registered owners and provide a free remedy.

How a Recall Happens

Recalls originate from two sources:

Manufacturer-initiated recalls: Manufacturers discover defects through their own testing, warranty data, customer complaints, or field reports. They notify NHTSA and issue the recall. The majority of recalls are manufacturer-initiated.

NHTSA-initiated recalls: When the agency identifies a safety defect through consumer complaints, investigations, or other data, it can order a manufacturer to issue a recall. If the manufacturer disagrees, NHTSA can hold a public hearing and compel the recall.

The typical process works like this:

• A potential defect is identified through complaints, investigations, or manufacturer data
• NHTSA or the manufacturer determines the defect is safety-related
• A recall campaign is created with a unique campaign number
• The manufacturer develops a remedy (repair, replacement, or refund)
• Registered owners are notified by mail
• Owners take their vehicle to an authorized dealer for free repair

How to Check for Recalls on Your Vehicle

There are several ways to check if your vehicle has open recalls:

Use our VIN decoder: Enter your 17-digit VIN on our homepage. We show all recall campaigns associated with your vehicle's make, model, and year, including the campaign number, affected component, summary, consequence, and remedy.

NHTSA website: Visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN.

Dealer inquiry: Any authorized dealer can look up open recalls by VIN.

We recommend checking for recalls at least twice a year, as new recalls are issued regularly.

What Happens After a Recall Is Issued

Once a recall is issued, the manufacturer must:

• Notify NHTSA with details of the defect, affected vehicles, and planned remedy
• Notify all registered owners by first-class mail within 60 days
• Provide a free remedy — this can be a repair, replacement of the defective part, or in rare cases, a full vehicle replacement or refund

You do not need to wait for the mail notification. If you discover a recall through our VIN decoder or any other source, you can contact your dealer immediately to schedule the repair.

Getting Your Recall Repair

The repair is always free. This applies regardless of:

• The age of the vehicle
• How many miles are on the odometer
• Whether you are the original owner
• Whether the vehicle is still under warranty

To get a recall repair:

• Check if your vehicle has open recalls using our VIN decoder
• Contact any authorized dealer for your vehicle's make
• Schedule an appointment and mention the recall campaign number
• The dealer performs the repair at no cost to you

Some recalls require parts that are not immediately available. If this happens, the dealer will inform you and you may need to wait until parts are in stock. In some cases, NHTSA requires manufacturers to provide loaner vehicles or rental car reimbursement while you wait.

What If You Already Paid for the Repair?

If you paid out of pocket for a repair that later became the subject of a recall, you may be entitled to reimbursement from the manufacturer. Contact the manufacturer's customer service department with your repair receipts and the recall campaign number.

Common Types of Recalls

Recalls cover a wide range of safety issues. Some of the most common include:

• Airbag defects — Including the massive Takata airbag recalls that affected millions of vehicles
• Fuel system leaks — Risk of fire
• Steering and suspension failures — Loss of vehicle control
• Brake defects — Reduced stopping ability
• Electrical system issues — Risk of fire or loss of critical functions
• Seat belt defects — May not properly restrain occupants in a crash
• Software issues — In modern vehicles, software bugs can affect safety-critical systems

How Serious Are Recalls?

Recall severity varies dramatically. Some recalls address minor issues with simple fixes, while others involve life-threatening defects. Every recall notice includes two critical pieces of information:

Consequence: This describes what could happen if the defect is not repaired. Examples range from "increased risk of a crash" to "may result in a fire."

Remedy: This describes what the manufacturer will do to fix the problem. Most recalls involve replacing a defective component or updating vehicle software.

Read both carefully when checking your vehicle. Even a recall that seems minor deserves attention — it was issued because a federal agency or the manufacturer determined it poses a safety risk.

Recall Completion Rates

Not all recalled vehicles get repaired. NHTSA data shows that recall completion rates vary widely, with some campaigns achieving only 50-70% completion even years after being issued. This means millions of vehicles on the road have unrepaired safety defects.

Do not be one of them. Check your VIN today.