NHTSA Consumer Alert: Check Vehicle Safety Recalls

NHTSA Press Releases

Published March 3rd, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer alert urging vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls during Vehicle Safety Recalls Week. In 2025, nearly 30 million vehicles and over 1.1 million pieces of vehicle equipment were recalled.

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What changed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a consumer alert reminding the public to check for open vehicle safety recalls. The alert highlights that in 2025, 997 safety recalls were issued, affecting over 29 million vehicles, along with millions of pieces of vehicle equipment like car seats and tires. The agency emphasizes that recall repairs are free at dealerships.

Consumers are advised to use NHTSA's online recall lookup tool, the SaferCar app, or contact their vehicle manufacturer's dealership to schedule free repairs. The alert also provides instructions for car seats, tires, and other equipment, and encourages reporting of potential safety defects. This notice serves as a reminder and does not introduce new regulatory requirements or deadlines.

What to do next

Advise consumers to check for open vehicle safety recalls using NHTSA's tools.
Ensure free recall repairs are scheduled promptly with dealerships.
Report potential safety defects to NHTSA.

Source document (simplified)

News

Consumer Alert: Time to Check for Vehicle Safety Recalls

More than 29 million vehicles were recalled last year

Language: English
- Español
Share: March 3, 2026 | Washington, DC As Americans change their clocks this weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges everyone to also check for open vehicle safety recalls. Vehicle Safety Recalls Week runs through March 8, reminding Americans of the importance of safety recalls and having them repaired immediately.

Last year, 997 safety recalls were issued for vehicles and vehicle equipment, including tires and car seats. More than 29 million vehicles were recalled in 2025, highlighting the importance of checking for recalls and completing much-needed recall repairs.

Additionally, more than 1.1 million pieces of vehicle equipment, nearly 745,000 car seats, and more than 145,000 tires were also recalled last year. Owners can protect themselves, their loved ones, and others by checking for recalls and having any open ones fixed promptly.

Vehicle recall repairs are FREE at your vehicle manufacturer’s dealership. If you have an open recall, call your vehicle manufacturer’s dealership immediately to schedule your free recall repair.

How to Check for Recalls

Use NHTSA’s Recalls Lookup Tool to check your vehicle identification number, license plate number, or vehicle equipment for any open recalls.
Download NHTSA’s SaferCar app and let it check automatically for you.
If your vehicle does have a recall, call your automaker’s local dealership to schedule the free recall repair.
Follow any instructions from the automaker, including any “do not drive” or “park outside” warnings.
For car seats, tires, and other equipment, contact the retailer where you purchased the item.
Sign up for email notifications for future safety recalls. If you think your vehicle may have a safety defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA online or call the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.

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