Your recall rights
- Free repair: the manufacturer pays for parts and labor at any franchised dealer for that brand.
- Any owner: first owner, used buyer or private-sale buyer — you are all covered.
- No expiration: safety recalls stay open until the car is fixed.
- Used cars can be sold unrepaired: federal law only blocks new-car sales with open recalls.
Recalls worth knowing about
- Takata airbag inflators — the largest auto recall in U.S. history, affecting tens of millions of vehicles from many brands.
- "Do not drive" warnings — some older airbag recalls carry an urgent stop-driving notice until repaired.
- Engine fire risks — several models have recalls that advise parking outside until the fix is done.
When a recall fix doesn't work
If the dealer can't repair a safety defect after several tries, or the car sits in the shop for weeks, you may have a claim. Check the rules in your state with our lemon laws by state guide.
Before you buy a used car
A recall check covers safety defects, not history. Pair it with a free VIN check for title brands, accidents and odometer records. Only have the plate? Use our license plate lookup.