Car recalls are not rare events that happen to other people. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 982 vehicle safety recalls in 2025 alone, covering more than 30 million vehicles, and millions of those vehicles are still driving around unrepaired.
The good news: checking takes about two minutes, it costs nothing, and the fix is free. Here is how to check your car, your tires and your child’s car seat, what the results actually mean, and what to do next.
What a Recall Is, and Why It Matters
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA decides that a vehicle, tire, car seat or other piece of equipment poses an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum federal safety standards. NHTSA says common problems include defective air bags, brakes, steering systems and electrical components.
Recalls often start with ordinary drivers. When NHTSA receives similar complaints from several people about the same model or product, it may open an investigation, which can end with the agency recommending a recall to the manufacturer.
Manufacturers are legally required to fix recalled safety defects free of charge. NHTSA says the remedy can be a repair, a replacement, a refund or, in rare cases, a repurchase of the vehicle.
Step 1: Find Your VIN
Your vehicle identification number (VIN) is a 17-character code that is unique to your car. You can find it in three places:
- On the lower left of the windshield, visible from outside the car on the driver’s side.
- On your vehicle registration card.
- Often on your auto insurance card.
Snap a photo of it with your phone so you have it handy the next time you need it. You can also search by license plate number instead.
Step 2: Search NHTSA’s Recall Tool
- Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Choose the Vehicle tab.
- Enter your 17-character VIN or your license plate number and run the search.
- If you just want a general picture, you can also search by year, make and model.
If you manage several vehicles, such as a family fleet or a small business with company cars, NHTSA lets you search up to 100 VINs at once.
Step 3: Read the Results Carefully
A VIN or plate search tells you whether that specific vehicle has a safety recall that has not been repaired yet. If it is clear, you will see the message “0 unrepaired recalls associated with this VIN.”
A year, make and model search is broader. It shows recalls, investigations, complaints and manufacturer communications for that model in general, not your particular car.
What the VIN Search Won’t Show
NHTSA lists several gaps worth knowing about:
- Recalls that have already been repaired on your car.
- Some brand-new recalls, because manufacturers add affected VINs over time. That is why it pays to check again later.
- Recalls more than 15 years old, unless the manufacturer offers longer coverage.
- Recalls from small manufacturers, including some ultra-luxury and specialty brands.
- Non-safety campaigns, such as customer-service programs.
- Recalls on vehicles built for other countries.
If the Plate Search Shows the Wrong Car
License plate data comes from state motor vehicle departments. If a plate search brings up a car you no longer own, NHTSA suggests contacting your state DMV to update the record and searching by VIN in the meantime.
Step 4: Get the Repair Done
If your search turns up an open recall, call a dealership authorized by your car’s brand and book the repair. NHTSA says recall repairs are always free at authorized dealerships, including both parts and labor.
- Mention the recall when you call. Have your VIN and the recall number from the search results ready.
- Ask about parts. For large recalls, dealers sometimes need time to get parts, so ask how long the wait is and what to do in the meantime.
- Take “Do not drive” seriously. Some defects, such as certain air bag and brake problems, can cause serious injury or death. If your recall notice says not to drive the vehicle, NHTSA says to follow that instruction immediately.
- Keep the paperwork. Save the repair order showing the recall work was completed. It is useful when you sell the car.
Why You Might Not Get a Recall Letter
Manufacturers must mail recall notices to registered owners by first-class mail within 60 days of notifying NHTSA. But letters go to the owner on record, and that is not always you. NHTSA notes that people who buy used cars may not be receiving notices at all.
If you bought your car secondhand, moved recently or never updated your address, do not rely on the mailbox. Instead:
- Sign up for NHTSA’s recall alerts by email.
- Download NHTSA’s free SaferCar app for iPhone or Android. Enter your vehicle, tires or equipment, and the app sends a phone alert when it finds a safety recall for something you entered.
- Check the recall tool yourself at least twice a year. NHTSA suggests making it part of your regular maintenance routine, because recalls can hit vehicles of any age, including new models.
Don’t Forget Your Tires
Tires get recalled too, and a tire recall will not show up when you search your car’s VIN. To check them:
- Find the Tire Identification Number (TIN) on the sidewall. It may be printed on only one side, so check both.
- Note the last four digits, which show the week and year the tire was made. For example, NHTSA explains that “0308” means the third week of 2008.
- On nhtsa.gov/recalls, choose the Tire tab and search by brand and tire line.
Knowing the date code is useful even without a recall, since it tells you how old your tires really are.
Register Your Child’s Car Seat
A car seat maker can only contact you about a recall if it knows you own the seat. Safe Kids Worldwide calls registration “the single best way” for parents to learn about a recall. Yet it reports that while 80% of parents think registration cards are important, only 42% send them in.
Registering takes a few minutes:
- By mail: Fill out the registration card that came with the seat. It is already printed with the seat’s details, and no postage is needed.
- Online: Register on the manufacturer’s website or through NHTSA. You will need the model number and date of manufacture, both printed on a label on the seat.
To check an existing seat, choose the Car Seat tab on nhtsa.gov/recalls and search by brand and model. Safe Kids says recall fixes for car seats, such as a replacement part, are free to the parent.
Other Equipment
NHTSA’s recall search also has an Equipment tab for other motor vehicle equipment you may have bought separately from the car. If you added aftermarket parts or accessories, it is worth a quick look.
Spotted a Problem? Report It
If your vehicle, tires, car seat or other equipment has what looks like a safety defect, file a complaint through NHTSA’s “Report a Safety Problem” page. NHTSA says these reports help it spot patterns that can lead to investigations and recalls. Complaints go into a public database after personal information is removed, so you can also search what other owners have reported about your model.
Quick Checklist
- Find your VIN and save a photo of it.
- Search it at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or search by license plate.
- Book any open recall with an authorized dealer; the repair is free.
- Follow any “Do not drive” warning right away.
- Check your tires’ TIN and search the Tire tab.
- Register your child’s car seat.
- Sign up for alerts or install the SaferCar app.
- Set a reminder to check again in six months.
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