How to Check Whether Your Car Has a Safety Recall (and the Import Catch)

Step 1: find the VIN

NHTSA says every vehicle has a unique vehicle identification number, or VIN. Look on the lower left of your car's windshield for the 17-character VIN. It is also on the registration card and may be on the insurance card.

Step 2: search it

NHTSA's recall page lets you search by VIN or licence plate. The result tells you whether a specific vehicle needs repair under a recall. If there are none you will see the message "0 unrepaired recalls associated with this VIN."

What the search will not show

NHTSA lists several gaps. The VIN search does not show:

• a safety recall that has already been repaired
• some recently announced recalls where not all VINs have been identified yet
• recalls more than 15 years old, except where the manufacturer offers more coverage
• recalls by small manufacturers, including some ultra-luxury brands
• manufacturer service campaigns that are not safety recalls
• a recall involving an international vehicle

The import catch

NHTSA's tool is a US government database. If your car was imported to Sri Lanka from another market, the last point above means a clean result there is not proof your car is free of recalls. Ask the importer or the manufacturer's representative for the recall status of your exact VIN in the market it was built for.

Stay alerted

NHTSA offers a free SaferCar app that sends an alert when a recall is found for the vehicle you entered, and email alerts for general recalls.

Fact-checked on 30 October 2026 against the sources listed below. Tax rules and prices change by gazette, so confirm with Sri Lanka Customs or the Ministry of Finance before you pay.