What to do if your car has a recall

If your car has an open recall, contact any franchised dealer for that brand and book the free repair. You do not need to have bought the car there. This guide takes you from the letter to the finished repair, including what to do if parts are delayed or the dealer will not help.

Step by step: from letter to repair

1. Read the letter or recall notice. It explains the defect, the risk, any warning signs, whether the fix is available yet and what to do in the meantime. Keep it.
2. Confirm the recall applies to your vehicle. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or use our VIN check. This also shows any other open recalls you may have missed.
3. Check for a do-not-drive warning. If the notice says "do not drive" or "park outside", stop driving the vehicle now and read our guide to do-not-drive recalls.
4. Call a dealer for your brand. Any franchised dealer for that brand can do recall work. Give them your VIN and the recall number from the letter, and ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
5. Ask about a loaner. If the repair will take more than a few hours, or parts are delayed, ask whether the dealer or manufacturer will provide a loaner or rental car.
6. Get the repair done and keep the paperwork. Ask for a repair order that shows the recall number and says the work was completed. It should show no charge.
7. Check your VIN again. A few weeks after the repair, the recall should no longer show as open. If it still does, call the dealer.

Is the recall repair really free?

Yes. Manufacturers must fix safety recalls free of charge. Under federal law this covers vehicles up to 15 years old from their first sale. It does not matter whether you are the first owner or the fifth, or whether your warranty has expired.

The free remedy is whatever the manufacturer chooses: usually a repair or replacement part, sometimes a software update, and occasionally a buyback.

The dealer may recommend other work while the car is in, such as brakes, filters or fluids. That work is not part of the recall and you can say no. Ask for any extra work to be listed separately so you can decide.

Loaners and rental cars

Federal law does not require manufacturers to give you a loaner or rental car during a recall. Many do offer one in certain situations, such as:

• when the vehicle should not be driven until it is fixed
• when parts are delayed for a long time
• when the repair takes more than a day

If the dealer says no, call the manufacturer's customer service line (it is in your owner's manual and usually in the recall letter). Be polite and specific. Explain how you depend on the vehicle and how long you have been waiting. Ask them to confirm any offer in writing or by email.

When parts are delayed

Some recalls are announced before the fix is ready, and some have so many vehicles that parts run short. NHTSA's site may show "remedy not yet available". In this case:

• follow the interim advice in the first letter
• ask the dealer to put your VIN on the parts waiting list and to call you when parts arrive
• get the name of the person you spoke to and the date
• ask the manufacturer what you should do in the meantime and whether it offers a loaner
• check your VIN every few weeks, because a second letter can be slow to arrive

If another dealer nearby has parts sooner, you can go there instead.

If the dealer refuses or delays

Most recall repairs go smoothly. If yours does not, work up the chain and keep notes of every call.

1. Speak to the service manager. Bring the recall letter and the NHTSA result for your VIN. Ask them to explain the refusal in writing.
2. Try another dealer. Any franchised dealer for that brand can do recall work. Some are better resourced than others.
3. Call the manufacturer. Ask for a case number. Manufacturers have staff who handle disputes with dealers.
4. Contact NHTSA. If you still cannot get the repair, call the Vehicle Safety Hotline on 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or file a complaint.

If you already paid for the repair

If you paid to fix the problem before the recall was announced, you may be able to get your money back. Manufacturers must have a reimbursement plan for this. Find your receipts and read our guide to getting reimbursed for repairs made before a recall.

If you did not get a letter

Recall letters go to the registered owner at the address on file. If you moved or bought the vehicle used, you may not get one. Check your VIN yourself, and register your ownership with the manufacturer, usually through its website or app, so future letters reach you. Updating your address with your state motor vehicle agency helps too.

If you are selling, leasing or lending the vehicle

• Selling: Get open recalls fixed first if you can. It is free, and buyers increasingly check.
• Leasing: Recall work is still free. Tell the leasing company if you get a letter.
• Lending: Tell anyone who drives your vehicle about an open recall and any warning signs.

After the repair

Most recall fixes work. Occasionally a remedy does not fully solve the problem, and NHTSA can review whether a recall fix was adequate. If the same symptoms come back:

• go back to the dealer with your repair order
• report it to the manufacturer and get a case number
• file a complaint with NHTSA, so the pattern is on record

You can also see what other owners have said about your vehicle on its page, for example /honda/cr-v/2017, or browse the latest recalls. If you have been through a recall repair, good or bad, share how it went so other owners know what to expect.

Questions and answers