Car Recall Center
What is a recall?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversees safety recalls of motor vehicles as well as tires, child safety seats, and other items of motor vehicle equipment. When one of these products experiences a safety-related defect or is not compliant with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), NHTSA is charged with ensuring public safety.
Although almost all recalls are undertaken voluntarily by manufacturers, they may be strongly encouraged by NHTSA as part of an ongoing safety defect investigation, or advocated for by individuals or consumer groups who can petition NHTSA to open an investigation into a particular defect. Rarely, NHTSA will order an automaker or other supplier to conduct a recall. For a weekly update of the newest recalls, follow our #RecallRoundup via Twitter or Facebook.
Does my car have a recall?
Select your vehicle and see what safety issues it has.
Latest Auto Recall News
Consumer Groups Attack NHTSA Safety Defects Policies
Center for Auto Safety
Public Citizen
Consumer Federation of America
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
April 22, 2003
Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 7th Street SW
Washington DC 20590
Dear Dr. Runge:
Is Your Car As Good As You Think It Is?
Jonathan Fahey
Forbes.com
The BMW X5, the sleek $50,000 sport utility, and the Ford Focus, the humble-but-nimble $15,000 compact, have more in common than one might think: Not only are they universally loved by drivers, but they are also two of the most-recalled models in automotive history.
Geographic Recalls in the News
Some automakers think regional recalls sufficient; consumer advocates disagree
06/19/02
Christopher Jensen
Plain Dealer Auto Editor
Consumer groups are demanding that the government prohibit regional automotive safety recalls, a practice they say puts motorists’ lives at risk while saving automakers money.
In a regional recall, the automaker limits the repairs to cars in states where the problem is most likely to occur, rather than carrying out the safety program nationwide.
Letter to Dr. Runge: The Temporal Recall Problem
June 21, 2002
Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
400 7th Street SW
Washington DC 20590
Dear Dr. Runge:
NHTSA Reverses Redaction Policy
Why recall information disappeared from files
By Christopher Jensen
Plain Dealer Auto Editor
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Edition: Final, Section: Driving, Page F1
Is it a mistake or a conspiracy?
If you ask Clarence Ditlow, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration is trying to prevent scrutiny of regional-recall problems by
no longer disclosing the city and the state of consumers who complain.
Letter to Administrator Runge on Redaction
June 6, 2002
Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
400 7th Street SW
Washington DC 20590
Dear Dr. Runge: