Vehicle Safety Recalls

A recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards. Most decisions to conduct a recall and remedy a safety defect are made voluntarily by manufacturers prior to any involvement by NHTSA.

Find it and fix it! Check if your vehicle has a recall.

Get in the habit of checking for recalls and getting your car repaired.

Millions of vehicles are recalled in the United States every year due to important safety issues. Recalls should be addressed quickly and should never be ignored.

DMV urges you to get in the habit of checking for recalls. Consider it part of the routine maintenance of your vehicle.

If your vehicle is recalled, the manufacturer will send a letter to the address that you have listed on your DMV vehicle registration. However, people often overlook recall notices or move without updating their address. It is best to be proactive to make sure your vehicle is safe to drive.

To find out if a vehicle you own or plan to purchase needs to be repaired because of a safety recall you can use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) search tool. If the vehicle has a safety recall that was not fixed, the tool will give you the relevant recall information so you can contact the manufacturer or dealer about the repair.

You will need the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Go to NHTSA's Safety Issues & Recalls page to check if your vehicle has a safety recall

Get Your Vehicle Fixed

Contact a dealership in your area to schedule necessary repairs. Vehicle manufacturers are required by law to make recall repairs at no cost to the customer.

Find Out More

Additional information on the recall process is available at Vehicle Recall Frequently Asked Questions.

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The latest updates on Takata recalls

Recalls Spotlight monitors high-profile recalls and offers consumers resources to find and address vehicle recalls.

Takata recall spotlight