A recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards.Checked 2026-08-11
Safety recall
Action taken when a manufacturer or NHTSA finds a vehicle creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails a federal standard.
Also called: recall · vehicle recall
What it means
Definition
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, piece of equipment, car seat or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards. It can begin with the manufacturer's own investigation or with NHTSA after it reviews complaints and other data. Once issued, the manufacturer notifies known owners and provides a remedy.
Why a buyer cares
What it changes
A recall is tied to a remedy the manufacturer provides, so an open recall on a used car means that remedy has not been carried out on that vehicle yet.
In practice
Where you meet it
In a notice letter mailed to the registered owner, as a line on a vehicle history report, and on a dealer's pre-sale checklist.
Two things that look alike
Not the same as
A Technical Service Bulletin covers a known issue that has not been classified as a safety defect and carries no such obligation.
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