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Vehicle Safety FAQ: Recalls, Owner Complaints, Crash Test Ratings & Repairs

How do I check if my vehicle has an open recall?

The most accurate way to check for an open vehicle recall is by using your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A VIN lookup identifies safety recalls tied to your specific vehicle, including recalls that may not appear when searching only by make, model, and year. Checking your VIN regularly helps you stay aware of unresolved safety issues and recently announced recalls.

What should I do if my car has a "High Risk" recall?

If your vehicle is flagged with a high-risk recall—especially those involving "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warnings—you should contact an authorized dealership immediately. These recalls often involve critical safety components like fuel systems or airbag inflators. Dealerships are required to prioritize these repairs, and in many high-risk cases, they may provide towing or a loaner vehicle while the part is being replaced.

Can I drive my car if it has an open recall?

That depends on the severity of the recall. Some recalls involve lower-risk defects, while others involve serious hazards such as airbag failures, fuel leaks, steering loss, or fire risk. If the recall notice includes "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" instructions, you should follow those warnings immediately and contact an authorized dealership as soon as possible.

How long do manufacturers have to fix a recall for free?

Open safety recalls are generally repaired at no cost to the owner, regardless of ownership history or warranty status. In most cases, manufacturers are required to provide the recall remedy free of charge for affected vehicles. If you are unsure whether a recall is still open, checking your VIN is the most reliable way to confirm recall status.

Are second-hand owners notified of vehicle recalls?

Manufacturers are required to notify the current registered owner of a vehicle. However, there is often a lag in the database when a car changes hands privately. This is why using a tool like Major League Recalls is vital for used car buyers; you should never rely solely on a mailed notice. If you’ve recently purchased a used car, you can also call a local dealer and ask them to update the ownership records in their system to ensure you receive future notices directly.

Can a dealership charge me for a recall repair?

No. By law, the parts and labor for a safety recall must be provided free of charge. If a dealership attempts to charge you for a recall-related fix, or claims you must pay for "diagnostic fees" first, you should report them to the manufacturer’s corporate customer service line or directly to the NHTSA or Transport Canada. Note, however, that unrelated repairs discovered during the service are still your financial responsibility.

Do recalls apply to used cars?

Yes. Safety recalls stay with the vehicle, not the owner. If you buy a used car with an unresolved recall, the manufacturer is generally required to perform the recall repair at no charge. Checking for open recalls before purchasing a used vehicle is one of the simplest ways to avoid unexpected safety risks.

What is the difference between a recall and an owner complaint?

A recall is an official safety action issued by a manufacturer, the US NHTSA, or Transport Canada to remedy a defect, and the repair is provided free of charge. An owner complaint is a report a driver files with the US NHTSA describing a problem they experienced. Complaints are not confirmed defects, but a rising volume of complaints can signal an issue before it becomes a recall. A high raw complaint count often reflects how many of a vehicle were sold rather than how dangerous it is.

Where does the complaint data come from, and does it cover Canada?

Owner complaint data comes from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and covers vehicles in the United States only. Recall data is broader: it covers both the United States (NHTSA) and Canada (Transport Canada). There is currently no Canadian owner-complaint feed in our data.

What are federal crash test ratings?

Federal crash test ratings are NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings from its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), based on frontal, side, and rollover crash tests for US-market vehicles. The star rating shown on Major League Recalls is NHTSA's own, displayed as published. We do not assign our own score or buyer verdict.

Do crash test ratings cover Canadian vehicles?

The crash test ratings shown here come from the US NHTSA and apply to US-market vehicles. Canada does not run an equivalent public 5-star crash test program, so crash ratings are US-only. Recall data, by contrast, covers both the US and Canada.