How to check your car for open recalls (and get them fixed free)

A model-year recall list tells you what might affect your car. Only a VIN check tells you whether your car still needs the fix. Here is how to do it in two minutes, what the government search can miss, and what happens next.

Updated November 13, 2026. Facts checked against NHTSA and federal law.

Quick answer

Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your 17-character VIN or your license plate. If it shows an unrepaired recall, call a dealer for that brand and book the repair; safety recall repairs are free. If it says “0 unrepaired recalls associated with this VIN,” you are clear for now, but check again every six months.

Step 1: Find your VIN

Your vehicle identification number (VIN) is 17 characters long. NHTSA says to look at the lower left of the windshield, on your registration card, or on your insurance card.

Step 2: Search NHTSA’s recall lookup

At nhtsa.gov/recalls you can search by VIN or by license plate. Either search tells you whether that specific vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall. A plate search pulls vehicle details from your state DMV, so if it shows a car you used to own, search by VIN instead.

Searching by year, make and model (which is what the recall lists on MotorDeets model-year pages are) gives general results for that model’s recalls, investigations, complaints and manufacturer communications, but it can’t tell you whether your car is in the affected range or has already been fixed.

What the VIN search won’t show

NHTSA lists these gaps:

Recalls that have already been repaired on your vehicle.
Some newly announced recalls where the manufacturer hasn’t identified every affected VIN yet. VINs are added continuously, so check again later.
Safety recalls more than 15 years old, unless the manufacturer offers longer coverage.
Recalls by small manufacturers, including some ultra-luxury and specialty brands.
Manufacturer customer-service or other non-safety campaigns.
Vehicles sold outside the U.S.

If your car is a small or specialty brand, check the manufacturer’s own recall page or call a dealer with your VIN.

Step 3: Get the repair

When a recall is announced, the manufacturer must mail registered owners by first-class mail within 60 days of notifying NHTSA. You can act before the letter arrives: call a franchised dealer for your brand, give them the VIN and the recall number, and book the work. Follow any interim safety guidance in the notice until the repair is done.

Under federal law the manufacturer must remedy a safety defect without charge, by repairing it, replacing the part, offering a refund, or in rare cases repurchasing the vehicle. Two limits are worth knowing:

Age limit. The free-remedy requirement does not apply if the vehicle was bought by its first purchaser more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice. For tires, the limit is 5 years. Some manufacturers fix older vehicles anyway, so ask.
Paid before the recall? Manufacturers must have a plan to reimburse owners who paid for the same fix a reasonable time before the recall was announced. Keep your repair receipts.

Think your car has a defect that isn’t recalled?

File a complaint with NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Complaints go into a public database once personal details are removed, and when NHTSA sees similar reports from many owners it can open an investigation that may lead to a recall. MotorDeets model-year pages show NHTSA complaint counts so you can see whether other owners report the same problem.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to check a car for recalls?

Yes. NHTSA’s recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls is free. Enter the 17-character VIN or the license plate to see unrepaired safety recalls for that vehicle.

Are recall repairs really free?

Yes, for safety recalls. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect without charge by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund or, rarely, repurchasing the vehicle. The free-remedy rule does not apply if the vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice (5 years for tires).

Why does the VIN search say 0 recalls when my model has a recall?

The recall may already have been repaired on your vehicle, your VIN may not be in the affected range, or the manufacturer may not have added all VINs for a new recall yet. NHTSA advises checking regularly.

How often should I check for recalls?

NHTSA recommends checking twice a year, and registering your vehicle, tires, car seats and equipment so the manufacturer can reach you.

Browse recalls on MotorDeets

Latest NHTSA recall campaigns · Recalls and complaints by make and model · Motorcycles · RVs

Sources

MotorDeets is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Always confirm open recalls for your own VIN on nhtsa.gov.