Guides

How to check if your car has an open recall

Updated 2026-10-27

A recall list for your car’s make, model and year tells you which problems have been found in that model — but it does not tell you whether your car is affected, or whether it has already been fixed. Recalls are issued for vehicles built in a specific date range, at specific plants or with specific parts, so two cars of the same model year can have different recall status.

Use your VIN

Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character code unique to your car. You can find it:

  • on the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, visible from outside;
  • on the sticker in the driver’s door jamb;
  • on your registration card, title or insurance card.

Enter it in NHTSA’s free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or in your manufacturer’s own owner website. The search covers recalls from the past 15 years from major manufacturers.

What the results mean

  • No open recalls — either your car was never included, or the recall repair has already been done.
  • Recall incomplete — your car is included and the repair has not been recorded. Contact a dealer of that brand to book the free repair.
  • Remedy not yet available — the manufacturer has confirmed the problem but parts or a fix are not ready. You will be notified by mail; follow any interim safety advice in the notice.

Recall repairs are free

Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealers, even if you bought the car used and even if the warranty has expired. If you already paid for a repair that later became a recall, the manufacturer’s reimbursement plan may cover it — keep your receipts.

Pay attention to “Do Not Drive” and “Park Outside”

Some recalls carry an advisory telling owners not to drive the vehicle at all, or to park it outside and away from buildings because of a fire risk. DecodedCars highlights these recalls in red on each model-year page. If your VIN shows one of these, contact the dealer before driving.

Recalls are different from complaints

Owner complaints are reports filed with NHTSA by drivers. They are not verified and do not mean a defect exists, but a cluster of similar complaints is one of the ways NHTSA decides to open an investigation, which can lead to a recall. DecodedCars shows complaint counts by component so you can see which systems owners report most often.

DecodedCars is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Always confirm recall status with your VIN.