What to do when a recall repair isn’t available yet

A safety recall can be announced before the parts or the repair procedure are ready at your dealer. That wait is common. Here is what NHTSA says you should do in the meantime, how you will be told when the fix is ready, and who to call if a dealer will not help.

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

Quick answer

Follow any interim safety instructions in the manufacturer’s notice — including “do not drive” or “park outside” warnings if the notice has them. Confirm the recall on your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Ask the dealer or the manufacturer when the remedy will be available. If the first letter goes out before the fix is ready, federal rules require a second owner notice once the remedy is available. When it is, the safety-recall repair is free.

1. Confirm the recall on your VIN

Search nhtsa.gov/recalls with your 17-character VIN (lower left of the windshield, or on your registration or insurance card). A model-year list only tells you what might affect that model. The VIN search tells you whether your vehicle still has an unrepaired safety recall. See our step-by-step VIN check guide.

If the lookup does not show the new campaign yet, NHTSA notes that some recently announced recalls do not have every VIN identified. VINs are added continuously, so check again, and call a dealer for your brand with the VIN and the recall number.

2. Follow the interim safety instructions

NHTSA tells owners: when you receive a notification, follow any interim safety guidance from the manufacturer and contact a local dealership to get the recalled part fixed for free when the remedy is ready. NHTSA also specifically tells owners to follow automaker instructions that include “do not drive” or “park outside” warnings. Those instructions are campaign-specific. Do not substitute another owner’s advice about a different recall.

NHTSA’s November 2024 owner booklet explains that when a manufacturer needs extended time to develop a remedy, the agency will require an interim notice so you know about the recall and about any short-term actions you can take to lessen the likelihood of the defect occurring.

3. Know what the first letter should tell you

Manufacturers must notify registered owners and lessees by first-class mail within 60 days after a recall is initiated. NHTSA says that letter must explain the safety risk, how to get the remedy, that the remedy is at no charge, when the remedy will be available, how long it will take, and whom to contact if you have trouble getting the free fix.

If the remedy is not available when that first notice is sent, 49 CFR 577.7 requires the manufacturer to issue a second notification within a reasonable time, once the remedy is available.

Why there is often a wait

Under the law, once a vehicle recall has been initiated, you are entitled to the remedy without charge and within a reasonable time. NHTSA also says that, in most cases, there will be a time lag between the manufacturer’s (or the agency’s) decision and the date the remedy is available to consumers. That time is used to identify owners, develop the repair procedure, instruct dealers, distribute parts, and mail the letters.

4. When the remedy is ready

Call a franchised dealer for your brand, give them the VIN and the recall number, and book the work. Safety-recall repairs are free at the manufacturer’s dealership. Two limits from federal law and NHTSA’s booklet are worth knowing:

Vehicle age. The free-remedy requirement does not apply if the vehicle was sold to its first purchaser more than 15 years before the defect or noncompliance is determined. Manufacturers may still fix older vehicles; if you get a notice on a vehicle older than 15 years, NHTSA still says it is important to have the car repaired.
Tires. The free tire repair or replacement applies to tires purchased within five years of the determination. To get that free remedy, you must take the tire to the dealer within 180 days of receiving the manufacturer’s recall letter. If replacements are not in stock when you bring the tire in, NHTSA says to get a written acknowledgment from the dealer and keep it until you are told more tires have arrived.

If a dealer will not do the free repair

If a dealer refuses to repair your vehicle as the recall letter describes, NHTSA says to notify the manufacturer immediately. In most cases, the manufacturer’s agreements with its dealers require all of those dealers to honor the recall at no extra charge, regardless of where the vehicle or equipment was originally purchased.

You can also call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (or 800-424-9393), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, or file a complaint at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. See how to report a vehicle safety problem to NHTSA.

If a manufacturer challenges NHTSA’s final defect decision in court, NHTSA’s booklet notes that the manufacturer may not have to provide the remedy while the case is pending. Save receipts if you pay for a related repair during that period; reimbursement may be available if the court later upholds NHTSA’s decision.

Car seats, tires and other equipment

For recalled car seats, tires and other equipment, NHTSA also tells owners to contact the retailer where they bought the item. Manufacturers of that equipment use owner-registration lists to send notices, and they may also have to use ads or point-of-purchase posters. The manufacturer may repair the item, replace it, or refund the purchase price. How to check and register a car seat for recalls.

Frequently asked questions

Why isn’t the recall repair ready when I get the letter?

NHTSA says a time lag is common. After a recall is decided, the manufacturer still has to identify owners, write the repair procedure, train dealers, ship parts, and mail the notices. The first letter should tell you when the remedy will be available.

Will I get another notice when the parts are in?

Yes. Federal rules (49 CFR 577.7) say that if the remedy is not available when the first owner notice goes out, the manufacturer must send a second notification once the remedy is available.

Is the repair still free after a delay?

Yes, for a safety recall, once the remedy is available. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect without charge, with the usual age limits (15 years from first sale for vehicles, 5 years for tires).

What if the dealer will not do the free recall repair?

NHTSA says to notify the manufacturer immediately. In most cases, dealer agreements require every dealer for that brand to honor the recall, no matter where the vehicle was first bought. You can also call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Sources

MotorDeets is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. Always confirm open recalls for your own VIN on nhtsa.gov and follow the instructions in the official owner notice.