How to Get NHTSA Recall Alerts with the SaferCar App

How NHTSA’s official SaferCar app sends recall alerts for vehicles, car seats, tires and equipment, what the agency says about privacy and background checks, and where to sign up for official recall notification emails.

Updated November 13, 2026. Checked against NHTSA’s official SaferCar and recall-email pages on that date.

Quick answer

NHTSA’s official SaferCar app is a way to get recall information for vehicles, car seats, tires and other equipment directly from the agency. The official page says millions of vehicle recalls go unrepaired or unaddressed every year, and that SaferCar sends you an alert on your mobile device when it discovers a recall for a vehicle or equipment you entered.

Set up SaferCar in three official steps

1. Download the SaferCar app.
2. Add your vehicle, then type in or scan your Vehicle Identification Number.
3. Add car seats, tires and equipment.

NHTSA says that once you download the app, you set up a virtual garage and can add as many vehicles as you like, and you can enter related equipment like tires, trailers and car seats. SaferCar remembers the vehicles and equipment you enter, notifies you of related recalls, and points you to local dealerships handling vehicle repairs so you can make an appointment and get it fixed for free.

The first step to adding a vehicle, the official FAQ says, is to search by year, make and model. SaferCar then displays the vehicle and asks you to add it to your virtual garage; next you can enter or scan the VIN. To add a second vehicle or a car seat, tire, or other equipment, tap the plus sign in the bottom right, then the search bar, and select the product type.

Privacy, background checks, and compatibility

NHTSA says it is not trying to sell you anything and is not selling your information. The app downloads the recall-related information you need, but none of your user data is stored at NHTSA; your personal info stays inside your device. That is also why, if you get a new phone, saved vehicles and equipment transfer only if you backed up and restored the old device.

Keeping SaferCar open in the background lets it automatically check for recalls. NHTSA says this happens about once a day and only takes seconds, and that the app works this way so your vehicle, VIN and equipment information can stay on your device. If you force-quit the app, you will get an alert because SaferCar can no longer automatically check. NHTSA says developers recommend force-quitting only if the app is unresponsive, and that you should immediately reopen it and leave it running in the background.

The official FAQ says the app is compatible with iOS 17 and Android 7.0 and above. If it will not launch, update to the latest version from the app store. For further help, call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

If a vehicle recall still shows after you had it fixed, NHTSA says the system updates once the repair is reported to the manufacturer as completed and that report is finalized. You can also mark it as resolved in the app: from the home screen, tap the vehicle, view the unrepaired recall, tap the recall, then “mark as resolved” at the top. For car seats, tires and equipment, mark a recall as completed in the app once it is resolved by the manufacturer so the alert goes away.

What else is in the app, and official email alerts

Besides recalls, the official SaferCar page says you can also access NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings, the car seat finder, car seat inspection, and reporting a safety problem. The same page lists official recall counts as NHTSA states them: 31.00 million vehicles, car seats, tires and equipment were recalled in 2025, and 35.00 million in 2024.

NHTSA also offers a recall notification email system. The official page is titled “NHTSA’s Recall Notification Email System” at nhtsa.gov/email-subscriptions. The official Takata spotlight also says to sign up for e-mail alerts at NHTSA.gov/alerts, and to use the VIN look-up at least twice a year. This guide does not invent form limits or signup steps that were not visible on those official pages when they were checked.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up the SaferCar app?

NHTSA’s official SaferCar page lists three steps: download the SaferCar app; add your vehicle, then type in or scan your Vehicle Identification Number; and add car seats, tires and equipment. When SaferCar discovers a recall for the vehicle or equipment you entered, it sends an alert on your mobile device. NHTSA says you can add as many vehicles as you like and enter related equipment like tires, trailers and car seats.

Does NHTSA store my SaferCar information?

No. The official SaferCar page says none of your user data is stored at NHTSA, and your personal info stays inside your device. SaferCar downloads recall-related information you need. If you get a new phone, NHTSA says the saved vehicles and equipment will transfer only if you backed up the old device and restored it; otherwise you have to reenter the information.

Why does SaferCar need to run in the background?

NHTSA says keeping SaferCar open in the background allows it to automatically check for recalls about once a day, which only takes seconds, and that this is how the agency protects your privacy because your vehicle, VIN and equipment information is stored only on your device, not at NHTSA. If you force-quit the app, you will get an alert because the app can no longer automatically check for recalls. If you need to force-quit because the app is unresponsive, NHTSA says you should immediately reopen it and leave it running in the background.

What phones does SaferCar work on, and who can I call for help?

NHTSA says the app is compatible with iOS 17 and Android 7.0 and above, and to update to the latest version from the app store if it will not launch. For further assistance, contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

Related guides

See also: Check recalls by VIN · Car-seat recalls · Takata Air Bag Recalls: What NHTSA Says to Do · Report a safety problem

Sources

• NHTSA: SaferCar app (setup steps, privacy, background checks, compatibility, hotline)
• NHTSA: Recall Notification Email System
• NHTSA: Check for Recalls (VIN and plate search)
• NHTSA: Takata Air Bag Recall Spotlight (NHTSA.gov/alerts mention)

MotorDeets is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer or dealer. Always confirm a specific vehicle’s open recalls on nhtsa.gov. This page is not a vehicle-history report and is not legal advice.