What "Park Outside" and "Do Not Drive" Recalls Mean

Most recalls ask you to schedule a repair at your convenience. A small number come with an instruction that changes how you use the car right now: do not drive it, or park outside and away from buildings. These warnings are issued when the risk is serious enough that waiting for a dealer appointment is not safe.

If your car has one of these recalls, follow the instruction today. This guide explains what each one means, what to do, and what help to ask for while you wait for the repair.

Both are part of the official recall notice, and both show up on NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) when you enter the VIN. NHTSA also publicizes these recalls, because the agency and the manufacturer want every affected owner to know.

A park-outside warning means the defect can start a fire. The key detail is that the risk can exist when the car is parked and turned off. Fires from these defects have started in garages and spread to houses. Typical causes include electrical faults in components that stay powered after shutdown, such as battery systems, pumps or modules, and fluid leaks onto hot or electrical parts.

What to do

• Park outside, away from structures. Not in an attached or detached garage, not in a carport, not right next to the house. Keep distance from other vehicles where you can.
• Avoid parking in enclosed parking structures if the notice says so.
• Do not charge an affected electric or plug-in hybrid if the notice limits charging. Some EV battery recalls limit charging to a lower state of charge or ask you not to charge indoors.
• Schedule the repair right away, and ask whether the dealer can take the car sooner because it is a park-outside recall.

Can I still drive it?

Usually yes, unless the notice also says not to. Park-outside recalls are about where the car sits, not whether it can be used. Read the notice: some recalls say both.

A do-not-drive warning means the manufacturer and NHTSA consider the car unsafe to operate until it is repaired. One well-known example is the defective Takata airbag inflators in certain older vehicles. NHTSA has urged owners of some of those vehicles not to drive them because the inflators carry a high risk of rupturing in a crash and sending metal fragments into the cabin.

What to do

1. 1Stop driving the car. Not even short trips, unless the notice says otherwise.
2. 2Call a franchised dealer or the manufacturer and tell them it is a do-not-drive recall. Give the VIN and campaign number.
3. 3Ask for towing or mobile repair. For do-not-drive recalls, many manufacturers arrange free towing to the dealer or send a technician to you. This is not guaranteed by federal law in every case, but it is common for these campaigns.
4. 4Ask for a loaner or rental while the car is unusable. Again, ask; manufacturers often provide one for these recalls.
5. 5Get the repair order in writing and recheck the VIN afterward.

If the car is not yours

If a family member or friend drives an older car, run its VIN too. Do-not-drive recalls often affect older vehicles that have changed owners several times, and the current owner may never have received the letter because the address on record is out of date.

Sometimes a recall is announced before parts or software are available, with a "remedy not yet available" status. The interim instruction (park outside or do not drive) still applies.

• Ask the manufacturer what interim help it offers: loaners, towing, or a temporary measure.
• Keep your registration address current so you receive the second notice when the remedy is ready.
• Check the VIN periodically at nhtsa.gov/recalls (opens in a new tab).
• Add the vehicle to your free CarManager garage. Recall watch alerts you when a new campaign is added for your make, model and year, so you hear about updates without remembering to look. Confirm VIN-level status with NHTSA or the dealer.

Stop sale

A stop-sale order tells dealers not to sell affected new vehicles, and often affected used vehicles in their own inventory, until the recall repair is done. It is aimed at dealers, not owners. If you are shopping and a car is under stop sale, the dealer should complete the repair before delivery.

Interim notice

When the remedy is not ready, the manufacturer sends an interim notice describing the risk and any steps owners should take. A second notice follows when the remedy is available.

Owner notification letter

The official recall letter is mailed to registered owners. It includes the defect, the risk, warning signs, the remedy, and how to get it. Keep it with your records.

Used cars can be sold with open recalls in most situations. The repair is still free to the new owner, but a do-not-drive recall means you may not be able to drive the car home. Always check the VIN before buying. Our guide to used cars with open recalls explains what to ask the seller, and our free VIN decoder confirms the car's exact year and model before you run the recall check.

For a wider view of a model year's problems, our research pages show recall campaigns and owner complaints by component, for example /cars/honda/accord/2003.

If you notice warning signs that seem related to a recall, or the repair did not fix the problem, report it to the manufacturer and file a safety complaint with NHTSA. Our guide on filing an NHTSA complaint shows how. You can also call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.