VIN Decoder & Recall Check
Type your 17-character VIN. You get the exact vehicle NHTSA has on file, then every open safety recall for it. Free, no account, nothing stored. Recall repairs are free at the dealer by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this data come from?
Both parts come straight from NHTSA, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The decode uses their vPIC database and the recalls come from their recall API. It is US government public-domain data, queried live when you press the button, so it is as current as NHTSA is. We do not store or cache your VIN.
Does a recall cost me anything?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix an open safety recall free of charge, regardless of the age of the vehicle or whether you are the original owner. Take the campaign number to any franchised dealer for that brand. There is no time limit on safety recalls.
My VIN decoded but says the check digit is wrong.
NHTSA still decodes what it can and tells you the digit did not validate. Usually it is a typo, most often a mistyped 0 versus O or 1 versus I. Note that a real VIN never contains the letters I, O or Q precisely so they cannot be confused with digits, so if you typed one of those, that is the error.
It found no recalls. Am I definitely clear?
It means NHTSA lists no open recall for that year, make and model. Two caveats. Recalls are issued by model and build range, so a campaign may exist that your specific VIN falls outside of, and the reverse is also true. And this covers safety recalls only, not technical service bulletins or emissions campaigns, which are separate. For a VIN-exact answer, check nhtsa.gov/recalls or ask a dealer.
What do "Do Not Drive" and "Park Outside" mean?
They are NHTSA advisories attached to the most serious recalls. Do Not Drive means the defect can cause loss of control or injury while driving. Park Outside means there is a fire risk even with the engine off, so the vehicle should be kept away from structures until repaired. If you see either, act on it before anything else on this page.