A vehicle safety recall is a formal action taken when a vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment has a safety-related defect or does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.
The manufacturer is responsible for the recall remedy, while NHTSA oversees the federal vehicle-safety recall system.
For vehicle recalls, the manufacturer generally carries out the remedy through its authorized dealer network.
A manufacturer or NHTSA may identify a potential safety defect or noncompliance.
Information can come from many sources, including field experience, consumer complaints, manufacturer data, investigations, testing, and other safety information.
The manufacturer determines which vehicles or equipment are covered by the recall.
A recall can cover thousands or even millions of vehicles.
The recall record identifies the problem and the affected population.
It may contain:
The manufacturer determines how the safety issue will be corrected.
There may be a period between recall announcement and remedy availability while procedures are developed, dealers are instructed, and parts are distributed.
The manufacturer provides its authorized dealer network with the information and resources needed to perform the recall.
NHTSA directs consumers with open vehicle recalls to contact their automaker's dealership.
After the recall work is completed, the manufacturer's systems can reflect completion for that vehicle.
A consumer may encounter several different identifiers.
Identifies your individual vehicle.
Example:
1HGBH41JXMN109186
Identifies the official federal recall campaign.
Example:
12V176000
NHTSA uses this as a sample campaign number in its recall API documentation.
Identifies the campaign inside the automaker's own systems.
Example:
ABC123
Illustrative only.
A proprietary VehicleRecalls.com identifier associated with a specific consumer communication and recall-check context.
Example:
VR-7K4M92
This is not a government or manufacturer recall number.
A recall record may include:
Official federal recall identifier.
Automaker's own campaign identifier, when available.
The system or part involved.
What could happen because of the defect or noncompliance.
How the manufacturer intends to correct the problem.
Whether the final remedy can currently be performed.
A recall result might be presented like:
NHTSA Campaign Number: EXAMPLE-ONLY
Manufacturer Campaign: ABC123
Component: Air Bags
Status: Open
Remedy: Available
What is the issue?
A concise description of the safety problem would appear here using the official recall information.
What is the remedy?
The manufacturer-provided remedy would appear here.
What should I do next?
Follow any manufacturer safety instructions and contact an authorized dealer for your vehicle manufacturer when appropriate.
Important: This is an illustrative display example. EXAMPLE-ONLY is a fictional identifier, not a NHTSA campaign number.
Oversees federal motor vehicle safety and the federal recall system.
Is responsible for the recall campaign and required remedy.
Performs the manufacturer-directed remedy locally.
Checks recall status, reviews the applicable information, follows safety instructions, and arranges for the remedy.
An authorized dealer is officially affiliated with the vehicle manufacturer and has access to that manufacturer's vehicle-service and recall systems.
For recalls, that may include:
This is why NHTSA directs consumers with open vehicle recalls to their vehicle manufacturer's dealership.
VehicleRecalls.com helps consumers:
VehicleRecalls.com is not NHTSA, a government agency, a vehicle manufacturer, or a dealership.