Vehicle Safety Guides
Practical, data-driven guides about vehicle safety, recalls, and buying decisions.
Each guide shows when it was published and, where it has been re-read and corrected since, when that happened. A review date only appears if the content actually changed. How we work is set out in our editorial policy.
Your Car Has an Open Recall: What to Do Next
Booking the free repair, what to do when parts are not ready, getting reimbursed, and who to call when a dealer says no.
Published 2026-10-22
Over-the-Air Recalls: How Software Updates Fix Safety Defects
More recalls are now fixed by a download instead of a dealer visit. How OTA recalls work and how to confirm yours installed.
Published 2026-10-22
How to Report a Vehicle Safety Problem to NHTSA
What to include in a complaint, what NHTSA does with it, and how complaints become investigations and recalls.
Published 2026-10-22
Buying a Used Electric Car: Recalls, Battery and Charging Checks
The checks that matter more on a used EV than on a gasoline car, and the recall history to look up first.
Published 2026-10-22
How to Spot a Flood-Damaged Car Before You Buy
Flooded cars get dried out and resold. The paperwork checks and physical signs that give them away.
Published 2026-10-22
How to Read the EPA Fuel Economy Label
City, highway and combined MPG, MPGe for electric cars, annual fuel cost and the smog score, explained line by line.
Published 2026-10-22
Do-Not-Drive vs Park-Outside Recalls: What Each Warning Means
Two NHTSA recall warnings mean act today. What each asks of you, why, and how to get the free repair.
Published 2026-10-10
How to Read NHTSA Complaint Data Without Being Misled
Owner complaints are unverified and not adjusted for sales. What they can and cannot tell you about a vehicle.
Published 2026-10-10
Free Vehicle Check vs Paid History Report: What Each One Covers
What you can check about a used car for free, what only a paid history report shows, and what neither replaces.
Published 2026-10-10
How to Check if Your Car Has an Open Recall
Step-by-step guide to finding unfixed safety recalls on any vehicle using official NHTSA data.
Published 2026-07-26
Recall vs TSB: What is the Difference?
Safety recalls are legally mandated. TSBs are not. Here is what each one means for you.
Published 2026-07-26
How to Decode a VIN (and Why You Should)
Every character in a VIN means something. Learn what each position tells you about a vehicle.
Published 2026-07-26
Buying a Used Car: Complete Checklist
Step-by-step checklist covering mechanical inspection, paperwork, and safety checks.
Published 2026-07-26
What NHTSA Investigations Mean for Your Safety
When NHTSA opens an investigation, it does not always lead to a recall. Here is what the process looks like.
Published 2026-07-26
Understanding NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
How crash tests work, what the ratings measure, and why a 5-star rating is not the whole story.
Published 2026-07-26