SaferCar
Cars. Trucks. Vans. Motorcycles. Car Seats. Whatever you’re driving, or whatever equipment you’re using, nothing is more important than safety – yours and everyone else’s. At NHTSA, ensuring safety is our most important mission.
Making roads safer begins with the national standards we set for automotive safety. When vehicles and equipment have safety defects, we manage the recalls. Learn the facts about a recall – quickly, definitively and directly from the source – so you can get it fixed and stay safe.
Get Vital, Current Recall Info in 3 Easy Steps
- Download the SaferCar app
- Add your vehicle, then type in or scan your Vehicle Identification Number
- Add car seats, tires and equipment
When SaferCar discovers a recall for the vehicle or equipment you entered, it will send you an alert on your mobile device.
Download Our SaferCar App for Free
Millions of vehicle recalls go unrepaired or unaddressed every year, and that’s a safety risk. If one of your vehicles has a recall, you’re going to want to know exactly what it is and what to do next. Keeping consumers aware of the latest information about recalls – information that could directly impact their lives – is a top priority for NHTSA. With SaferCar you get crucial information as soon as it’s available.
Once you download the SaferCar app, set up your virtual garage. Add as many vehicles as you like. You can even enter related equipment like tires, trailers and car seats.
SaferCar remembers all the vehicles and equipment you enter, notifying you of all related recalls, and even pointing you to local dealerships handling vehicle repairs, so you can quickly make an appointment and get it fixed for free.
At NHTSA, our mission is focused on your safety, but we’re also determined to protect your privacy. We’re not trying to sell you anything, and we’re not selling your information to anyone, either. In fact, our app downloads all the relevant, recall-related info you’ll need, but none of your user data is stored at NHTSA. Your personal info stays inside your device.
Millions of Recalls Issued Annually
SaferCar Is More Than Just Recalls
With the SaferCar app, you can also access our online tools, such as:
- NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings,
- Car seat finder,
- Car seat inspection, and
- Report a safety problem.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a second or third vehicle to SaferCar?
From the app home screen, tap the plus sign in the bottom right. Then tap the search bar that appears. You’ll be prompted to select the next product to add. Select Vehicle.
How do I add more things like car seats, tires and equipment to SaferCar?
From the app home screen, tap the plus sign in the bottom right. Then tap the search bar that appears. You’ll be prompted to select the next product to add: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire or Equipment.
Where is the option to add my VIN?
The first step to adding a vehicle is to search by year, make and model. SaferCar will then display the vehicle and ask you to add it to your virtual garage. Next, you will be able to enter or scan the vehicle identification number.
I got a new phone, what happened to the vehicles and equipment I saved in my SaferCar app?
To protect your privacy, NHTSA does not store your information — it’s stored on your device. If you backed up your old device and restored it on your new device, it would have transferred the information. If not, you’ll have to reenter the information.
Why won’t the SaferCar app launch?
Update to the latest version: You may be running an old version of SaferCar. Please visit the app store and see if you need to update to the latest version of SaferCar.
Compatibility: Our app is compatible with iOS 13 and Android 7.0 and above.
Help: If your app is updated and compatible, please see our final FAQ for how to contact us for further assistance.
Why do I get alerts that I stopped SaferCar from automatically checking for recalls?
When you force quit the SaferCar app, which developers recommend only doing if the app is unresponsive, you’ll get an alert because the app is no longer able to automatically check for recalls. If you need to force quit the app, you should immediately reopen it and leave it running in the background.
Why does SaferCar need to run in the background?
Keeping SaferCar open in the background of your device allows it to automatically check for recalls. This process happens about once a day and only takes seconds. The reason SaferCar operates this way is so that we can protect your privacy; your vehicle, VIN and equipment information is only stored on your device, not at NHTSA.
I got my recall fixed, but it’s still showing in the SaferCar app. Why?
Vehicles: Once the repair is reported to the manufacturer as completed and their report is finalized, our system will update. You do have the option to mark it as repaired so the alert goes away. From the home screen, tap: the vehicle, view your unrepaired recall, tap the recall, then at the top “mark as resolved.”
Car Seats, Tires, Equipment: Once a recall is resolved by the manufacturer, mark it as completed in the app so the alert goes away. From the home screen, tap: the vehicle, view your unrepaired recall, tap the recall, then at the top “mark as resolved.”
Who can I call for help with the SaferCar app?
If you need further assistance using SaferCar, contact our Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Learn More About Vehicle Safety