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How to check if your car has a safety recall

Check for open recalls with your VIN on NHTSA’s site in a minute. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Here’s how it works and what to do next.

Updated November 14, 2026 · By the AutoEase team

Quick answer

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows any open safety recalls on your car that haven’t been repaired. If there is one, call a dealer for your brand: recall repairs are free.

Check your car in two minutes

  1. Find your VIN. It’s on the driver’s door jamb sticker, on the dashboard through the windshield, and on your registration and insurance card. (Where to find your VIN.)
  2. Search NHTSA. Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN.
  3. Read the result. It shows any open safety recalls on your exact vehicle that haven’t been repaired, or “0 unrepaired recalls”.
  4. Book the repair. Call a dealer for your car’s brand. Give them your VIN and ask them to do the recall work.

Recall repairs are free

When a safety recall is issued, the manufacturer must fix the problem at no cost to you, through its dealers. There are limited exceptions, such as vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall is announced, but for most cars on the road the repair is free. You don’t need to be the original owner, and you don’t need to have bought the car from that dealer.

Some recalls come with a “park it” or “do not drive” warning, usually for fire risk or airbags. If yours does, follow it and ask the dealer about a tow or a loaner.

How you’re normally told

Manufacturers mail recall notices to the registered owner. If you bought your car used or moved, the letter may never reach you. That’s why it’s worth checking yourself every so often, especially when you buy a car.

How AutoEase checks for recalls

When you open AutoEase or come back to it, it checks NHTSA’s recall database for your car’s make, model and year and shows a banner if there are any. You can also pull down on the Garage to check again. It’s a live check, not a saved list. Because this search is by model and year rather than your exact VIN, a recall it shows may not apply to your car (for example, if it covers certain build dates or trims). Tap the banner for details, then confirm with your VIN on NHTSA’s site or with a dealer.

Common questions

Are car recall repairs free?

Yes, in nearly all cases. The manufacturer must fix a safety recall at no charge through its dealers. Limited exceptions exist, such as vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall is announced.

How do I check for recalls by VIN?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It lists any open safety recalls on your vehicle that haven’t been repaired.

Do recalls expire?

Safety recalls don’t expire just because time has passed. If your car has an open recall, a dealer can usually still do the repair.

I bought my car used. Am I covered?

Yes. The free recall repair goes with the car, not the original owner.

Let AutoEase remember for you. Scan your VIN once and AutoEase tracks your services, reminds you before they’re due and checks for recalls. Free, no account. Get AutoEase.

More guides: Where to find your car’s VIN · How often to service your car