Used Car Recalls: Will the Dealer Fix Them?

Many people assume a dealer cannot sell a used car with an unrepaired safety recall. In most cases, under federal law, they can. New cars with open recalls cannot be sold until they are fixed, but used cars at dealerships and in private sales generally can, with a few exceptions.

The good news is that the recall repair is still free to you after you buy the car. The goal is to know about it before you sign, so you can decide whether to buy, negotiate, or ask for the repair first. This guide is general information, not legal advice; state rules can add requirements.

Some states have their own disclosure rules. Check your state's attorney general or DMV for local requirements.

The FTC's Used Car Rule requires dealers to display a Buyers Guide in the window of each used car they offer for sale. The current Buyers Guide tells shoppers how to check for open safety recalls using the vehicle's VIN and points them to NHTSA's recall site. It also states whether the car is sold "as is" or with a warranty. You can read the rule and the guide on the FTC's Used Car Rule page (opens in a new tab).

Dealers also cannot mislead you about recalls. The FTC has taken action against dealers that advertised used cars as safe or thoroughly inspected without disclosing open recalls. If a dealer tells you a car has no recalls or that they were fixed, ask for proof.

Recall repairs are free to any owner, as long as the vehicle meets the age rules (see are recall repairs free?). So why does it matter before you buy?

• Some recalls are serious. A do-not-drive or park-outside recall means you may not be able to drive the car home or park it in your garage. See our guide to do not drive recalls.
• Parts may not be available. A recall marked "remedy not yet available" can leave you waiting weeks or months.
• It takes time. Even a simple repair means a dealer appointment.
• It is a bargaining point. An open recall is a reasonable reason to ask the seller to get it done first or adjust the price.
• It shows how the car was kept. Several old, open recalls can suggest an owner who skipped maintenance too.

1. 1Get the VIN from the listing or ask the seller. Check that the VIN on the windshield and door jamb matches the paperwork.
2. 2Decode it with our free VIN decoder to confirm year, make, model and engine. Listings are sometimes wrong about the year or trim.
3. 3Check open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls (opens in a new tab). This shows safety recalls from roughly the past 15 years that are not recorded as repaired for that VIN. Our guide on checking recalls by VIN explains the results.
4. 4Look up the model year history. Our research pages show all recall campaigns and owner complaints by component for a model year, for example /cars/chevrolet/equinox/2018. That helps you spot patterns a single VIN check will not show.
5. 5Ask a franchised dealer to check for other open campaigns, such as service programs or extended warranty coverage, which may not appear in NHTSA's safety recall search.

Buying from a franchised dealer of the same brand

Ask them to complete the recall before delivery. They can do it in their own service department, usually at no cost to them because the manufacturer pays. If parts are not available, ask for the delay in writing and decide whether you still want the car.

Buying from an independent dealer

They cannot perform the recall repair. Options:

• Ask them to take the car to a franchised dealer before sale.
• Ask for a price adjustment to cover your time.
• Buy it and schedule the repair yourself, if the recall does not prevent safe driving.

Buying from a private seller

Ask the seller whether they know about the recall and whether they would get it fixed before the sale. If not, it is still free for you afterward. If the recall is a do-not-drive campaign, plan to have the car towed or ask the manufacturer about towing and mobile repair.

Recall notices go to the owner on record, usually from state registration data. As a new owner:

• Register and title the car promptly so your address is on record.
• Create an owner account on the manufacturer's website or app.
• Sign up for NHTSA recall alerts for the vehicle.
• Add the car to your free CarManager garage. Recall watch alerts you when a new NHTSA campaign appears for your make, model and year. Confirm whether your VIN is included with NHTSA or a dealer.
• Keep the paperwork. Save repair orders that show recall work was completed. They are useful proof when you sell the car later.

• "The dealer inspected it, so recalls are done." A safety inspection or certification is not the same as a recall check. Ask specifically.
• "Recalls are only for new cars." Recalls apply to all affected vehicles, regardless of owner. Older recalls on older cars are often the ones still open.
• "I need the original owner to get it fixed." No. Any owner can get the free recall repair at a franchised dealer.
• "A car history report shows all recalls." Some reports list recalls, but NHTSA's VIN lookup is the official source for whether a safety recall is still open.