Drivers Should Check Their Vehicle During Vehicle Safety Recalls Week
Safe Cars Save Lives: This crucial message from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is aimed at all vehicle owners. NHTSA encourages everyone to inspect their vehicles for any open recalls during Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, taking place from March 3-9, 2025. This safety week aligns with the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, which starts on Sunday, March 9, 2025. In 2023, there were 1,000 safety recalls impacting over 34 million vehicles and other automotive equipment across the United States.
Checking for recalls is a simple, quick, and free process. Throughout Vehicle Safety Recalls Week in March, the Airport Corridor Transportation Association (ACTA) urges all individuals to take a moment to verify any open safety recalls. Keep in mind that each vehicle recall is significant and should be addressed promptly. Your attention to this matter will contribute to the safety of yourself and others on the road.
Two Ways to Check for Recalls:
NHTSA has two ways to check for open safety recalls:
- First, drivers can use the free, user-friendly Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or License Plate Look-Up Tool, located at NHTSA.gov/recalls. This web tool allows vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles or automotive equipment, such as tires and car seats.
- To utilize the VIN Look-Up Tool, vehicle owners should visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter their vehicle’s 17-digit VIN in the search bar.
- For the License Plate Look-Up Tool, they can also go to NHTSA.gov/recalls and input their vehicle’s license plate along with the state. Within seconds, they will find out if their vehicle has an open safety recall. While on the site, vehicle owners can opt to receive Recall Alerts.
- If their vehicle is part of a future recall, they will be notified via email. NHTSA’s complimentary web recalls tool offers information on any unrepaired recalls for vehicles over the last 15 calendar years and includes details on unrepaired safety recalls from major automakers, motorcycle manufacturers, and certain medium/heavy truck manufacturers.
- Drivers can also check for open safety recalls by downloading the free SaferCar app. Once in the app, enter a vehicle’s VIN and NHTSA will send an alert if a safety recall is issued.
- Consider the SaferCar app as your personal virtual garage. After downloading the app—available on both iOS and Android—users can easily add any vehicle or related equipment, including tires, trailers, and car seats. SaferCar keeps users informed about all relevant recalls, even guiding them to nearby dealerships for swift, complimentary repairs. For those who have already downloaded the app, Vehicle Safety Recalls Week is the perfect opportunity to ensure that their vehicle and equipment information is current within the app.
Both methods for verifying recalls are simple and free of charge. In each case, drivers must input either their vehicle’s VIN, which is found on the lower part of the windshield on the driver’s side, or the license plate number. The VIN can also be found on the vehicle owner’s registration card and may appear on their insurance card. Drivers may also access NHTSA’s investigations and recalls resources page, which contains interactive recall and recall completion rate dashboards.