About RecallCheck
Free vehicle safety data powered by NHTSA
Vehicle Safety Data Should Be Free
Every year, millions of vehicles are recalled for safety defects, faulty airbags, brake failures, fire risks, steering problems. This information exists in government databases, but it's scattered across multiple federal systems, formatted for regulators, and difficult to search.
RecallCheck changes that. We pull recall notices, consumer complaints, and safety data directly from NHTSA and organize it into clean, searchable vehicle profiles that anyone can understand in seconds.
Services like CarFax charge $40+ for vehicle history reports. We believe safety information shouldn't be behind a paywall, it's public data, paid for by taxpayers, and it can save lives. That's why RecallCheck is 100% free.
Built on Official Government Data
Every data point on RecallCheck traces back to a verified federal source. No estimates, no guesswork, just facts from the agencies responsible for vehicle safety.
NHTSA Recalls Database
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Every safety recall issued since 1966, over 29,000 campaigns covering tens of millions of vehicles. Includes defect descriptions, affected components, manufacturer remedies, and whether vehicles should be parked or not driven.
NHTSA Consumer Complaints
Vehicle Owner Defect Reports (VOQ)
Over 2.1 million complaints filed directly by vehicle owners reporting safety problems. Each complaint includes crash and fire flags, injury and death counts, component descriptions, and the owner's detailed narrative.
NHTSA VIN Decoder
Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)
Real-time VIN decoding through NHTSA's official API. Returns 30+ vehicle specifications, make, model, engine, transmission, safety equipment, airbag locations, weight ratings, and manufacturing details.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)
Crash test results and star ratings from NHTSA's vehicle safety testing program. Frontal, side, and rollover tests conducted on new vehicles to help consumers compare safety performance.
EPA Fuel Economy
Department of Energy & EPA
Official fuel economy ratings (MPG) from the EPA's testing program, city, highway, and combined estimates for every vehicle sold in the United States since 1984.
OBD-II Diagnostic Codes
SAE International Standards
Standardized on-board diagnostic trouble codes used by every vehicle manufactured since 1996. Powertrain, body, chassis, and network codes with descriptions, causes, and symptoms.
What You Can Do
Free tools built for vehicle owners, buyers, and anyone who wants to check a vehicle's safety record before getting behind the wheel.
Decode Any VIN Instantly
Enter any 17-character Vehicle Identification Number and get a complete breakdown, vehicle specs decoded directly from NHTSA's database, open recall status checked in real-time, and complaint history pulled from over 2 million owner reports. Every position in the VIN is explained visually so you understand exactly what each character represents.
- 30+ vehicle specifications decoded from VIN
- Live open recall check through NHTSA API
- Complete complaint history with crash and fire data
- Visual VIN breakdown explaining each position
Browse 29,000+ Recall Campaigns
Search and browse every safety recall issued by NHTSA since 1966. Each recall includes the campaign number, affected make and model, component involved, detailed defect description, potential consequences, and the manufacturer's remedy. Filter by make, model, year, or search by keyword.
- Full recall history going back to 1966
- Defect descriptions and consequence details
- Manufacturer remedies and repair information
- Park-it and do-not-drive warnings highlighted
Read Real Owner Complaints
Access over 2.1 million complaints filed by actual vehicle owners with NHTSA. Every complaint includes the specific component that failed, a detailed description of the problem, and flags for crashes, fires, injuries, and deaths. See which vehicles have the most safety issues and what real owners are experiencing.
- 2.1 million+ owner-filed safety complaints
- Crash, fire, injury, and death indicators
- Detailed problem descriptions from real owners
- Sorted by most recent to surface new issues fast
Check Your Vehicle Now
Enter a VIN or search by make and model, it's free, instant, and could save your life.