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Is my car under recall? How to find out

Safety recalls are common, and many owners never hear about them. Here is the quickest way to find out whether yours has one.

Step 1: Get your VIN

The 17-character VIN is on the driver's-side dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the driver's door-jamb sticker, and on your registration, insurance card and title. VINs never contain the letters I, O or Q.

Step 2: Check open recalls for that VIN (free)

Enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's lookup lists open recalls the manufacturer has reported for that exact vehicle. Many manufacturers also have an owner-site recall lookup. Note that a "0 recalls" result only covers recalls reported so far for that VIN; check again every few months.

Step 3: See what recalls exist for your model and year

Not sure what to look for? Our recall pages by make, model and year show the NHTSA campaigns on file for popular vehicles, and the free VIN decoder on this site tells you your car's year, make and model from the VIN.

Important: the recalls in our report are listed for the vehicle's make, model and year, so not every campaign applies to every car. The most reliable free way to see whether a specific VIN has an open (unrepaired) recall is NHTSA's own VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What to do if your car has an open recall

Read the notice for the risk and the remedy.
Call an authorized dealer for your brand to book the repair. Safety recall repairs are generally done free of charge.
If the notice says "do not drive", follow it.
Keep the paperwork from the repair.

Open recall vs. completed recall

A recall can exist for your model without applying to your car (different trim, engine or build dates), and a recall that did apply may already have been repaired by a previous owner. Only a VIN-level lookup tells you whether yours is still open.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check if my car is under recall for free?

Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It is free and shows open recalls reported for that VIN.

Do I need my VIN to check a recall?

The most reliable check uses the VIN. You can also browse recall campaigns by make, model and year, but those apply only to certain vehicles.

Does a recall mean my car is unsafe to drive?

It depends on the recall. Read the notice and contact a dealer; some recalls carry a "do not drive" warning.

Is the repair free?

Safety recall repairs are generally done free of charge by an authorized dealer.