NHTSA Launches Free Vehicle Recall Search Tool

The U.S. Government has now launched a free online service so that vehicle owners can quickly find out if their car has been recalled. 

To use the tool, you simply input the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and the search tool will pull up any applicable recalls. Every single major light vehicle or motorcycle brand is present in the database.

Regulations have also changed for manufacturers, who must now provide VIN search capability on their own websites, with weekly updates to keep the database fresh. NHTSA relies on this VIN information, so regularly updated data is crucial for the tool to be effective.

SEE ALSO: NHTSA Fines Hyundai $17.35 Million for Delayed Recall

“Just as every single automaker should never hesitate to recall a defective vehicle, consumers should never hesitate to get their recalled vehicle fixed,” said NHTSA Deputy Administrator David Friedman. “By making individual VIN searches readily available, we’re providing another service to consumers – the peace of mind knowing that the vehicle they own, or that they are thinking of buying or renting, is free of safety defects.”

Recalls have been especially numerous this year after heavy penalties were handed out to GM and Toyota over recall issues, scaring other companies into issuing recalls to cover their bases.

To visit the recall search tool, click here.