Vehicle Recalls API

Access NHTSA vehicle recall data including safety notices, remediation steps, and compliance information

Get comprehensive vehicle recall information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. Access detailed recall notices, safety information, remediation steps, and compliance data for any vehicle to ensure driver and passenger safety.

Endpoint

GET https://api.auto.dev/recalls/{vin}

Parameters

Prop	Type	Default
`vin`	`string`	-

Example Request

curl -X GET "https://api.auto.dev/recalls/WP0AF2A99KS165242" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"

Response Structure

Main Response

Prop	Type	Default
`data?`	`array`	-

Recall Record Fields

Prop	Type	Default
`manufacturer?`	`string`	-
`nhtsaCampaignNumber?`	`string`	-
`parkIt?`	`boolean`	-
`parkOutSide?`	`boolean`	-
`overTheAirUpdate?`	`boolean`	-
`reportReceivedDate?`	`string`	-
`component?`	`string`	-
`summary?`	`string`	-
`consequence?`	`string`	-
`remedy?`	`string`	-
`notes?`	`string`	-
`modelYear?`	`string`	-
`make?`	`string`	-
`model?`	`string`	-

Example Response

Vehicle with Recalls

{
  "data": [
    {
      "manufacturer": "Porsche Cars North America, Inc.",
      "nhtsaCampaignNumber": "21V201000",
      "parkIt": false,
      "parkOutSide": false,
      "overTheAirUpdate": false,
      "reportReceivedDate": "24/03/2021",
      "component": "SUSPENSION:REAR",
      "summary": "Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster, 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe, Carrera 4S Coupe, and Carrera S Cabriolet vehicles.  The screw connection on the rear axle upper control arm may be loose.",
      "consequence": "A loose connection may fail, causing driving instability and increasing the risk of a crash.",
      "remedy": "Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will rework and tighten the screw connection on the rear axle upper control arm, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2021.  Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243.  Porsche's number for this recall is AMA6.",
      "notes": "Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.",
      "modelYear": "2019",
      "make": "PORSCHE",
      "model": "911"
    }
  ]
}

Vehicle with No Recalls

When a valid VIN has no recalls, the API returns an empty array:

{
  "data": []
}

Note: Currently, invalid VINs also return empty arrays, but this should be changed to return proper HTTP error responses (see Error Responses section below).

Safety Alert Classifications

Critical Safety Flags

Park It (parkIt: true) - Vehicle should not be driven until repaired due to immediate safety risk
Park Outside (parkOutSide: true) - Vehicle should be parked away from structures due to fire/explosion risk
Over-the-Air Update (overTheAirUpdate: true) - Recall can be resolved via software update without dealer visit

Component Categories

Common recall components include:

Safety-Critical: BRAKES, STEERING, AIRBAGS, FUEL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Visibility: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY, INSTRUMENT PANEL
Structural: SEATS, DOORS, BODY

Use Cases

Vehicle Safety Apps: Check for open recalls before purchase decisions and during ownership
Dealership Systems: Alert customers about recall notifications and schedule service appointments
Fleet Management: Monitor recall status across vehicle inventory and prioritize critical repairs

Error Responses

Invalid VIN

{
  "status": 400,
  "error": "VIN must be exactly 17 characters containing only letters and numbers (excluding I, O, Q)",
  "code": "INVALID_VIN_FORMAT",
  "path": "/recalls/1GYKPD",
  "requestId": "a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8"
}

VIN Not Found

{
  "status": 404,
  "error": "No vehicle data found for the provided VIN",
  "code": "VIN_NOT_FOUND",
  "path": "/recalls/WP0AF2A99KS165242",
  "requestId": "b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9"
}

Plan Availability

Starter: ❌ Not available
Growth: ✅ Available
Scale: ✅ Available

See pricing for plan details and signup.

Vehicle Recalls API

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