Car Recalls

Recall information is a critical component of car shopping and car ownership. The nature of a vehicle recall can range from minor, non-safety-related inconveniences to major safety defects impacting critical motor vehicle equipment. Identifying and understanding open recalls on a car, truck or SUV should be a high priority, whether shopping for a new car, researching a used car, or driving a vehicle you’ve owned for years.

The iSeeCars.com Recall Rating can help shoppers identify vehicles with high, or low, recall activity during their research process. By analyzing over 4 million NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) recall records, iSeeCars identified and ranked models sold by each automaker. These include NHTSA defect investigations, Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), and full recalls, which can range from safety-related defects to minor vehicle equipment failures.

While the Recall Rating shows an aggregate score for each vehicle, and its rank within an automaker’s model line, shoppers and owners should use a car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) to confirm specific vehicle recalls and potential safety issues for that model. Vehicle owners will often receive a recall letter informing them of a safety risk, as well as instructions on how to have recall repairs addressed at an authorized dealer, at no cost to the owner.

But relying on a recall notification is risky and could compromise vehicle safety standards, especially for older used cars that have passed through multiple owners. While any given state’s Department of Motor Vehicles should be able to track a car’s path of ownership, the system is not perfect. This issue was highlighted during the massive Takata airbag safety recall campaign that began in 2013, when automakers realized how difficult it was to track down owners of older cars and get them to a dealership for airbag replacement.

So while the iSeeCars.com Recall Rating offers an effective high-level look at which cars have the lowest and highest recall activity within each vehicle manufacturer, this site also has a free VIN decoder to help shoppers identify open recalls on a specific vehicle.

Consumers seeking additional recall information can use the iSeeCars Free VIN Check report to see all recalls for a specific model. Consumers can also visit NHTSA.gov to find the latest open recall information for vehicles as well as child car seats, tires and related equipment, FAQs, and a tool to report safety problems. This site also explains the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and the procedures used to ensure minimum safety standards for all new cars are met.