Methodology: where the data comes from
Everything we show for free comes from official, public sources of the US government. We don't buy data, we don't scrape, and we cite the source in every result.
Sources
| Data | Source | Level |
|---|---|---|
| VIN decoding (make, model, year, engine, plant) | NHTSA vPIC | Per VIN |
| Recalls issued | NHTSA Recalls | Per make, model and year |
| Owner complaints | NHTSA Complaints | Per make, model and year |
| Safety rating (5-Star) | NHTSA NCAP | Per model version and year |
Why recalls are "per model"
NHTSA's public API reports recalls by make, model and year. That's why we say "recalls issued for [year make model]" and never that your car has open recalls. To confirm a specific vehicle, every result has a button to NHTSA's official VIN lookup.
How we match the model
The model name returned by the decoder sometimes differs from the one used in the recall database (for example, "Silverado" vs. "Silverado 1500"). We try name variants and, if there's no match, look it up in NHTSA's official model list for that make and year. Cases we can't match are logged so we can fix them.
Aftermarket part recalls
NHTSA also lists recalls of parts sold by other companies that fit a model (headlights, pedals, etc.). We show them separately, because they only apply if the car has that part installed.
Translations
NHTSA's official texts are in English. On the Spanish site, when we have a reviewed Spanish summary we show it alongside the official text; otherwise we show the original labeled "official text in English".
Freshness
- Decoded VIN data: cached for up to 90 days (it doesn't change).
- Recalls, complaints and NCAP: re-checked at most every 24 hours.
- Each result shows the date and time of retrieval.
What we don't cover
We don't show accidents, title brands (salvage, rebuilt, flood), mileage, number of owners or theft records. For theft and total losses we link to the free NICB VINCheck. Official title history is in NMVTIS, through approved providers.
Errors
If you see incorrect data, compare it with the linked official source; the official source always prevails.