Download PDF to print (1.3 MB)

Stay Informed and Let NHTSA Know If You Have a Safety Problem

There are several ways you can learn about whether there's a safety recall on your vehicle, equipment, car seat or tires. Take advantage of these resources, and help NHTSA keep our Nation's roads safe by filing a complaint when you suspect a safety problem. Here's how:

Car Owners Can

  • Register your vehicle to receive a recall notification from the manufacturer in the event of a safety defect.
  • Sign up to receive NHTSA's e-mail notifications for vehicle and tire recalls.
  • Enter your car's VIN into NHTSA's Recalls Look-up tool to quickly learn if your car has not been repaired as part of a safety recall in the last 15 years.
    • Your 17-digit VIN should be on the lower left of your vehicle's windshield; it's also located on your vehicle's registration card, and it may be shown on your insurance card.
  • Get alerts sent to your phone: Download NHTSA's Safercar mobile app for iPhones or Safercar mobile app for Androids.
  • Search for safety issues about vehicles, equipment and tires on Safercar.gov.
  • File an online complaint with NHTSA about a safety problem regarding a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire.

Car Buyers Can

  • Ask for the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the new or used vehicle you're considering buying to find out whether it still needs to be repaired because of a recall. Then use NHTSA's Recalls Look-up, which lets you:
    • Enter a VIN to quickly learn if a specific vehicle has not been repaired as part of a safety recall in the last 15 years.
    • Directly access the recalls databases of major vehicle and motorcycle manufacturers.
    • Get relevant recall information to contact the manufacturer or dealer about the repair if it was part of a safety recall.

Car Renters Can

  • Before renting a vehicle, use NHTSA's Recalls Look-up tool to check if there are open recalls on the vehicle you are renting.

Parents Can

Your 17-digit VIN should be on the lower left of your vehicle's windshield and on your state registration.
SaferCar Mobile App

SaferCar Mobile App

iPhone       Android