How to Check if Your Car Has an Open Recall

Every year, manufacturers issue millions of safety recall notices. A recall means the manufacturer has identified a defect that could affect safety, and they are required by law to fix it for free. But a recall only helps if you know about it.

Why recalls go unfixed

Most people never find out about recalls. The manufacturer sends a letter to the last known owner, but if you bought the car used, that letter goes to the previous owner. The average vehicle on the road today has at least one open recall, and many owners have no idea.

The problem gets worse as vehicles age. A 2018 study found that recall completion rates drop below 50% for vehicles older than five years. That means half the cars with known safety defects are still on the road with those defects unfixed.

How to check (3 methods)

Method 1: Use your VIN

The fastest way is to look up your Vehicle Identification Number. You can find it on the dashboard near the windshield (driver side), on the driver side door jamb, or on your vehicle registration. Enter the 17-character VIN at verifythevehicle.com/vin-decoder and you will get a list of every open recall for your specific vehicle.

Method 2: Browse by make and model

If you do not have your VIN handy, you can browse recalls by manufacturer. Go to verifythevehicle.com/recalls, pick your make, then your model and year. You will see all recalls ever issued for that vehicle, with clear labels showing which ones are still open.

Method 3: Check NHTSA directly

You can also search at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The NHTSA database is the official source. Verify the Vehicle pulls data directly from this database and adds plain-language summaries to help you understand what each recall means.

What to do after you find a recall

If your vehicle has an open recall, call any authorized dealer for that manufacturer. Tell them your VIN and ask them to check the recall status. They will schedule a repair appointment. By law, the repair must be free, including parts and labor.

Some recalls are marked "Park Outside" or "Park It." These are the serious ones. If your recall has either of these warnings, do not ignore it. A "Park Outside" recall usually means a fire risk. A "Park It" recall means the vehicle should not be driven at all until the repair is made.

One more thing: check complaints too

Recalls are not the only safety data available. NHTSA also collects consumer complaints. If a vehicle has a high number of complaints about a specific component, that can be a warning sign even if no recall has been issued yet. You can search complaints at verifythevehicle.com/complaints.