US Federal

Is the recall repair free of charge to the vehicle owner?

Free repair
Cost to owner
No charge
Owner obligation
49 U.S.C. §3010
Governing statute
Safety defect
Recall trigger
The Short Answer

Yes, federal law requires manufacturers to perform recall repairs free of charge to vehicle owners.

What the Law Says

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act establishes the legal foundation for vehicle safety standards and mandatory recalls in the United States.

Under federal law, when a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment is found to have a safety-related defect or fails to comply with a federal safety standard, the manufacturer must notify owners and provide a free remedy.

Although 49 U.S.C. § 30101 itself states the purpose and policy of the Act — rather than prescribing recall repair mechanics — it authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe motor vehicle safety standards and to require manufacturers to remedy defects affecting safety. The requirement for free repairs flows from implementing regulations (e.g., 49 C.F.R. Part 573) and enforcement practice under this statutory authority.

The Act affirms that the federal government’s role includes protecting the public against unreasonable risk of death or injury associated with motor vehicles — a goal that would be undermined if owners were charged for correcting dangerous defects.

Statutory Text

The purpose of this chapter is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries to persons resulting from traffic accidents by means of improved motor vehicle safety.

— 49 U.S.C. § 30101 — Purpose and policy

What to Do

1

Check if your vehicle is subject to a recall using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool at www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

2

Contact your authorized dealership to schedule the free repair

3

Bring your vehicle registration or VIN to confirm eligibility

4

Do not pay for the recall repair — manufacturers are prohibited from charging owners

5

Report any attempt to charge for a safety recall repair to NHTSA at www.safercar.gov

Sources

statute49 U.S.C. § 30101 — Purpose and policy

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.