What a safety recall is
A recall is a legal process, not a courtesy. Under 49 U.S.C. 30118, a manufacturer has to notify NHTSA, owners, purchasers and dealers when it decides in good faith that a vehicle has a defect related to motor vehicle safety, or that it does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), a minimum performance standard. NHTSA can also order a recall. Section 30119 sets what the owner's notice must say, including the risk, the remedy and the earliest date it is available free, and section 30120 requires the remedy. Our guide to how vehicle recalls work covers the process in more detail.
How to read a result
Campaign number
NHTSA's documents print a campaign number as, for example, 24V-099. The first two digits are the year of the filing and the letter is the kind of product: V for a vehicle, E for equipment, T for tires, C for child seats. The three digits after the letter are a sequence number within that year. NHTSA's data adds three zeros, so the same campaign appears as 24V099000.
Component, consequence and remedy
Results are grouped by component, the system NHTSA files the campaign under, such as seat belts. The consequence says what could happen if the defect is not fixed, and the remedy says what the manufacturer will do. NHTSA's own record for each campaign also carries a summary of the defect itself, which you can read by searching the campaign number on NHTSA's site.
Why a listed campaign may not apply to your car
This page searches by year, make and model, but a recall covers a defined population. Campaign 24V-099, for instance, covers 2018–2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles built between 1 October 2018 and 30 June 2019, not every one sold under those model years. Campaigns are often limited by build date, plant or equipment in the same way. And a campaign that does apply may already have been repaired.
Confirm with the VIN
NHTSA's VIN lookup shows unrepaired recalls on one vehicle. The VIN is on the lower left of the windshield and on the registration card. NHTSA notes that the lookup does not show recalls more than 15 years old (unless the manufacturer offers more coverage), some very recent recalls, or recalls from small manufacturers, and that VINs are added continuously, so check again later if a recall is new.
The remedy is free, within limits
The manufacturer must remedy the defect without charge, choosing to repair the vehicle, replace it, or refund the price less depreciation. Under 30120(g), that free-remedy obligation does not apply if the vehicle was first bought more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice or order, or 5 years for tires.
What to do next
Contact a dealer for your brand with the campaign number and your VIN, and book the work. If parts are not ready yet, the owner's notice gives the earliest date the free remedy will be available, and it must also tell you how to report a manufacturer or dealer that does not provide it free. See getting a recall repaired for the practical steps.
Quick answers
Does a recall listed here mean my car needs the repair?
Not necessarily. This list covers the year, make and model. A campaign may cover only some vehicles, and it may already have been repaired on yours.
How do I check whether a recall is still open on my car?
Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows unrepaired recalls for that vehicle from the manufacturers it covers.
Do I pay for a recall repair?
No, as a rule. Federal law requires the remedy without charge, except where the vehicle was first bought more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice, or 5 years for tires.