Vehicle Recall Checker (VIN)

Free vehicle recall checker. Enter your VIN or make and year to see open safety recalls from the NHTSA database, what the fault and risk are, and how to get the repair done free at a dealer.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

Your VIN is on your dashboard by the windscreen, the driver's door frame, and your registration documents.

Uses the free US NHTSA database, so it covers vehicles sold in the United States. In the UK check gov.uk vehicle recalls, and in the EU the Safety Gate portal.

Check your car for safety recalls, and fix them free

Car makers issue safety recalls when they find a dangerous defect, faulty airbags, brakes, fuel systems, steering, and they must repair it for free. But many owners never find out, and used cars change hands with recalls still open. This free tool checks your vehicle against the official recall database and shows you any open recalls, the risk, and how to get the repair done at no cost.

How to use it

Enter your VIN (the 17-character number on your dashboard and door frame), or just the make, model and year.
See any open recalls, with the affected part, what is wrong, the safety risk, and the free remedy.
Book the free repair at a franchised dealer, quoting your VIN and the campaign number.

Recall repairs are always free

This is the key point owners miss: a safety recall repair costs you nothing, no charge for parts or labour, no matter how old the car is or how many owners it has had. Take it to a franchised dealer for your make, give them your VIN, and they will carry out the recall work. If a dealer ever tries to charge you for a recall, that is wrong; escalate to the manufacturer.

Why check a used car before you buy

A previous owner may have ignored a recall, leaving a genuine safety defect in the car you are about to buy. Running the VIN first tells you whether there are open recalls you can then have fixed for free, and gives you a fair point to raise with the seller. It takes seconds and can matter a great deal.

Coverage and honesty

This uses the free US NHTSA database, so it is most accurate for vehicles sold in the United States. In the UK, use the vehicle recalls service on gov.uk; in the EU, the Safety Gate portal or your national authority. Databases can lag and may not list every regional campaign, so always confirm with a franchised dealer or the manufacturer using your VIN. This is part of ClaimBack, tools for claiming what you are owed, including free repairs you are entitled to.

Good to know

Vehicle Recall Checker (VIN), frequently asked questions

How do I check if my car has a recall?

Enter your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), or just the make, model and year, and this tool looks up open safety recalls in the free NHTSA database. For each recall it shows the affected part, what is wrong, the safety risk, and the remedy. Recall repairs are done free of charge, so it is worth checking whenever you buy a used car or once a year.

Where do I find my VIN?

Your VIN is a unique 17-character code. You can usually see it through the windscreen on the driver's side dashboard, on a sticker in the driver's door frame, and on your registration and insurance documents. It never contains the letters I, O or Q, to avoid confusion with 1 and 0.

Are recall repairs really free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are carried out free of charge, with no cost for parts or labour, regardless of the vehicle's age or how many owners it has had. Take the car to a franchised dealer for your make, quote your VIN and the recall campaign number, and book the work. If a dealer tries to charge you for a recall repair, that is not correct and you should escalate to the manufacturer.

What is a safety recall?

A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or the safety regulator finds a defect that poses a risk, such as faulty airbags, brakes, fuel systems or steering. The manufacturer must notify owners and fix the fault for free. Recalls are serious: the Takata airbag recall, for example, affected tens of millions of vehicles. If your car has an open recall, get it repaired promptly.

Does this cover cars outside the United States?

This tool uses the free NHTSA database, which covers vehicles sold in the United States, so it is most accurate for US-market cars. If you are in the UK, check the vehicle recalls service on gov.uk, and in the EU use the Safety Gate portal or your national authority. A VIN from another market may not return results here.

Why should I check a used car's recalls before buying?

Previous owners do not always get recall work done, so a used car can still have an unrepaired safety defect. Checking the VIN before you buy tells you whether there are open recalls, which you can then have fixed for free, and it is a useful bargaining point if the seller has ignored them.

Is it free?

Yes, free with no signup. It queries the public NHTSA recall database.

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