US recall guide
How to check recalls by VIN
A VIN identifies the car. Checking recalls well takes two passes: list every NHTSA campaign for that model year, then confirm which ones (if any) are still open on your specific VIN. This guide covers both, free and without a signup.
Sample reports:2023 Ford F-1502022 Chevy Silverado2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee2021 BMW X32003 Honda Accord
Four steps
Find the 17-character VIN
Read it from the dashboard plate through the windshield on the driver’s side, from the certification label on the driver’s door jamb, or from the title, registration or insurance card. A US VIN is 17 characters and never uses the letters I, O or Q.
Run a free model-year recall check
Enter the VIN on Car Codebook’s recall check (or any NHTSA-based tool). You get every safety recall campaign NHTSA has published for that year, make and model, plus owner complaints by component. That answers “what was this model recalled for?”
Confirm open recalls on your specific car
NHTSA’s public APIs are model-year based, not VIN-repair status. To see whether a campaign is still open on your VIN, use NHTSA’s VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls and the manufacturer’s own recall lookup. Both use data the manufacturer supplies.
Schedule the free remedy if anything is open
Under federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety recall free of charge at a franchised dealer (with age limits for the free-remedy duty). Do not ignore park-it or park-outside warnings.
Under federal law (49 U.S.C. 30120) the manufacturer must fix a safety recall free of charge. The obligation does not apply if the vehicle was first sold more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice (five years for tires).
Where to find the VIN
- Windshield, driver’s side
- A plate on the dashboard, readable from outside through the lower corner of the windshield (49 CFR 565 requires it to be visible there on cars and light trucks).
- Driver’s door jamb
- The federal certification label on the door edge or door pillar next to the driver’s seat carries the VIN, the build month and year, and the weight ratings (49 CFR 567).
- Paperwork
- Title, registration card and insurance card all print the VIN. So do purchase contracts and loan statements.
Not sure what a character means? The VIN decoder explains each position for US-market vehicles.
Which recall tool to use
| Tool | Best for |
|---|---|
| Car Codebook recall checkRecall check → | Every NHTSA campaign and complaints for the model year, plus a full VIN report with sticker and build-sheet routes. |
| NHTSA VIN searchnhtsa.gov/recalls → | NHTSA’s VIN search shows safety recalls left unrepaired on that vehicle from the past 15 calendar years, using data supplied by the manufacturer. |
| Manufacturer lookupBrand guides → | Open/closed status plus some non-safety service campaigns. Each brand guide lists the official URL. |
| Recalls by make / modelAll makes → | Browse campaigns without a VIN when you are researching a model before you buy. |
Official manufacturer recall links were last checked 2026-10-17. Car Codebook is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.
Recall-check FAQ
Can I check recalls with only year, make and model?
Yes. Year/make/model is enough to list every NHTSA campaign for that model year. A VIN is better when you also want a decode, a window-sticker link, or VIN-level open/closed status from NHTSA or the manufacturer.
Does a Car Codebook report say my car was already repaired?
NHTSA’s VIN search shows safety recalls left unrepaired on that vehicle from the past 15 calendar years, using data supplied by the manufacturer. Our pages list campaigns for the model year and always link to NHTSA and the manufacturer so you can confirm the open/closed status on one VIN.
Are recall repairs free?
Under federal law (49 U.S.C. 30120) the manufacturer must fix a safety recall free of charge. The obligation does not apply if the vehicle was first sold more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice (five years for tires). Repairs are done by a franchised dealer of the brand.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign the manufacturer or NHTSA has opened. A complaint is an unverified owner report filed with NHTSA. Clusters of similar complaints can lead NHTSA to investigate.
Where does Car Codebook’s recall data come from?
From NHTSA’s public Recalls and Complaints APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), cached up to 24 hours. Manufacturers must report US safety recalls to NHTSA. We never invent campaigns.