How to check if your car has a recall (VIN lookup)
Vehicle recalls are tied to a specific VIN, not just a model year you remember. NHTSA's lookup is the official check. This site does not decode VINs.
1. Find the VIN
A VIN is 17 characters and does not use the letters I, O, or Q. Read it from the plate on the driver's side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield) or from the certification label on the driver's door jamb. The registration and insurance card often copy it too. Check the characters against the car so a typo does not send you to someone else's vehicle.
2. Look it up at NHTSA
Go to NHTSA's recall page and enter the VIN. NHTSA reports open recalls for that vehicle and gives the remedy, which is free at a dealer when the campaign includes a free repair. Also search by year, make, and model if you are shopping and do not have the VIN yet. That search is broader: it shows campaigns for the model, and you still need the VIN to see which ones apply.
3. Use this site for the campaign text
RecallRadar copies NHTSA's daily flat file so you can read the campaign and get email when a make you name is recalled. Put the make in the brand box (for example, Toyota). A page here is not a substitute for the VIN check. Tires and child seats are NHTSA equipment recalls too; child seats are also discussed in the baby gear guide.
There is no barcode to scan on a vehicle. The VIN is the identifier.
Official sources
Related guides
Which agency handles which recall · Baby gear and car seat recalls