Open Recalls: Why They Matter More Than You Think
At any given moment, tens of millions of vehicles on US roads have open safety recalls — meaning manufacturers have identified a defect and issued a fix, but the owner has not yet brought the car in for the repair. When you buy a used car without checking for open recalls, you may be inheriting a known safety problem that was never addressed.
What is a Safety Recall? — A safety recall is issued when a vehicle manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines that a vehicle or its equipment poses an unreasonable safety risk. Common recall issues include defective airbags, faulty ignition switches, brake failures, and software glitches in electronic systems.
Why Do Open Recalls Persist? — Many car owners simply never find out about recalls because the notification letter went to a previous address, the car has changed hands multiple times, or the owner ignored the notice. As a result, recall completion rates in the US hover around 70–75%, leaving millions of vehicles unrepaired.
The Cost to You as a Buyer — Recall repairs are always free — manufacturers are legally required to fix defects at no cost to the owner. However, if you buy a car with an open recall and something goes wrong because of that defect, you could face safety risks, liability issues, and the hassle of getting it resolved.
Some Recalls Are More Serious Than Others — The Takata airbag recall, which affected over 67 million vehicles in the US, was one of the largest in automotive history. The defective inflators could explode and send metal shards at occupants. Vehicles with this recall that went unrepaired have been linked to multiple deaths. Knowing whether a car has an open recall like this before purchase is critical.
How to Check — Every PlateVIN report includes a dedicated Safety Recalls section that pulls from NHTSA data. You'll see any open recalls by description, along with whether they've been resolved. This data is also available free at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov if you have the VIN.
What to Do If There's an Open Recall — Contact the manufacturer's dealership network with the VIN, and they will confirm the recall and schedule the repair — at no charge. Make sure the repair is completed before finalizing your purchase, or at minimum, factor it into your negotiation.
Open recalls are one of the easiest risks to avoid when buying a used car. A 30-second VIN check is all it takes to protect yourself.