US FederalWhat is a vehicle safety recall and how am I notified?
A vehicle safety recall is a manufacturer-initiated or NHTSA-ordered correction of a safety-related defect in a motor vehicle or equipment. You are notified by first-class mail from the manufacturer within a reasonable time after the recall is announced.
What the Law Says
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act establishes the legal foundation for vehicle safety standards and recalls in the United States. It empowers the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to set and enforce safety standards and require recalls when defects pose an unreasonable risk to safety.
Under federal law, a 'vehicle safety recall' occurs when a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment fails to meet a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) or contains a safety-related defect — meaning a problem that poses an unreasonable risk to safety in normal operation or use.
Manufacturers must notify owners, purchasers, and dealers by first-class mail within a reasonable time — typically within 60 days of the recall announcement — and provide a free repair, replacement, or refund. The law requires that all recall notices clearly describe the defect, the risk it poses, and the remedy.
Statutory TextThe purpose of this chapter is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries to persons resulting from traffic accidents.
— 49 U.S.C. § 30101 — Purpose and policy
What to Do
Check your vehicle’s VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if it’s affected by an open recall.
Keep your mailing address updated with your state DMV and the vehicle manufacturer.
Respond promptly to recall notices — repairs are always free for safety-related defects.
If you don’t receive notice but suspect a defect, file a complaint at safercar.gov.
Retain all recall correspondence and repair records for future reference.
Sources
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JapanNot 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.