An outstanding recall is more than a service department issue. It can affect a vehicle being appraised, a car already in stock or a customer who has not returned to the workshop. Dealers need accurate, timely information to recognise those opportunities and decide what action to take.
Recall HQ provides the data behind One Auto API’s US Recall Report. Its VIN-specific, OE-sourced information covers both NHTSA safety recalls and manufacturer voluntary service campaigns, bringing two valuable types of work into one dealer workflow.
NHTSA safety recalls identify defects or compliance issues that require attention. Manufacturer voluntary service campaigns can cover other actions, including product improvements and service work. These campaigns may create workshop opportunities even where they are not classified as safety recalls.
Seeing both categories helps a dealer form a fuller picture of a vehicle. A service team can identify work that may be relevant to an existing customer. An appraisal team can see whether a trade-in requires attention. A stock team can check a vehicle before it is advertised or delivered.
The report can also provide details that help teams decide what to do next, such as campaign status and information about the remedy. Putting those details within a familiar system reduces the need to move between separate sources during a busy dealership workflow.
Every vehicle in stock represents a commitment of capital and a potential customer sale. An outstanding campaign may affect how quickly that vehicle can be prepared, what work should be completed and when it can be offered for delivery.
Checking recall status when stock is acquired helps teams identify issues early. They can plan workshop work, investigate remedy or parts availability and avoid discovering a campaign at the end of the sales process. Rechecking inventory also helps account for campaigns announced after a vehicle arrived on the lot.
Recall information belongs in a dealer’s digital toolkit alongside vehicle identification, history and pricing. It gives the stock, sales and service teams a shared view of work that may need to be addressed before the vehicle moves on.
A dealership’s customer database can contain vehicles with outstanding recalls or manufacturer campaigns whose owners have not yet booked an appointment. Identifying those vehicles creates an opportunity for relevant, useful outreach.
Service teams can invite affected customers to have the work assessed or completed, helping owners address the issue while bringing appropriate work into the workshop. Planned outreach can also help dealerships fill available service lane capacity and make better use of technicians’ time.
The quality of the match matters. VIN-level information helps teams contact customers about campaigns relevant to their vehicles, making the communication more useful than a broad model-level message.
Recall checks also help dealers manage their obligations when selling vehicles. In the US, federal law prohibits delivery of a new vehicle subject to an open safety recall until the defect or non-compliance has been remedied. Rules and obligations for used vehicles differ; dealers must also consider applicable state requirements and avoid misleading claims about a vehicle’s inspection, safety or recall status.
A reliable recall workflow helps staff identify an open campaign, investigate its implications and document the action taken. It supports safer decisions and clearer communication with buyers, whether the vehicle is new or used.
An outstanding recall may affect the work, time or uncertainty involved in acquiring a vehicle. That makes recall information relevant when valuing trade-ins and potential stock purchases.
Used alongside local market pricing, wholesale valuation intelligence and a vehicle history report, the Recall HQ result adds context to an appraisal. A dealer can consider the vehicle’s retail opportunity and likely wholesale value while accounting for any campaign that needs attention. Where appropriate, that fuller picture can inform an offer or a decision to purchase.
Before choosing Recall HQ for our US Recall Report, One Auto API tested several recall data providers side by side. We compared how quickly they identified campaigns, the accuracy of their results and the latency of their responses. Recall HQ excelled across those points, making the partnership a clear commercial choice for us.
Through One Auto API, dealers and software providers can bring that recall intelligence into stock, customer, appraisal and service workflows. The result is a practical way to spot relevant work, support better decisions and help more vehicles receive the attention they need.
{
"success": true,
"result": {
"recall_status_checked_datetime": "2026-06-07 14:29:58",
"vehicle_identification_number": "ABCDE123456F78910",
"oem_desc": "FORD MOTOR COMPANY",
"model_year": "2022",
"manufacturer_desc": "FORD",
"model_desc": "F-150",
"trim_level_desc": "SuperCrew",
"series_desc": "A220-4M",
"body_type_desc": "TRUCK",
"color": "red",
"is_recall_outstanding": true,
"recall_qty": 2,
"nhtsa_recall_qty": 1,
"manufacturer_recall_qty": 0,
"nhtsa_recalls": [
{
"recall_issue_date": "2023-12-22",
"recall_expiry_date": "2023-12-22",
"nhtsa_recall_id": "23V896",
"manufacturer_recall_id": "23S65",
"recall_campaign_type": "NHTSA",
"recall_desc": "Rear Axle Hub Bolt Issue",
"recall_component": "POWER TRAIN",
"recall_desc_long": "Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.",
"recall_risk_desc": "Damaged axle hub splines can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied or cause a loss of drive power. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.",
"is_stop_sale": false,
"is_dont_drive": false,
"is_remedy_available": true,
"recall_remedy_desc": "Dealers will replace the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 9, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S65.",
"is_parts_available": true,
"recall_labor_time_hours_min": 0.3,
"recall_labor_time_hours_max": 1.4,
"recall_status": "INCOMPLETE"
}
],
"manufacturer_recalls": [
{
"recall_issue_date": "2026-01-07",
"recall_expiry_date": "2026-01-07",
"nhtsa_recall_id": "26V481",
"manufacturer_recall_id": "25M01",
"recall_campaign_type": "VOLUNTARY/SERVICE",
"recall_desc": "Upstream catalytic converter replacement",
"recall_component": "UPSTREAM CATALYTIC CONVERTER",
"recall_desc_long": "In certain 2021-2024 models with a 1.5L engine and 8F35 transmission, the upstream catalytic converter may fail or develop a leak and require replacement at no cost under this program.",
"recall_risk_desc": "Affected vehicles may exhibit reduced catalytic converter efficiency, catalytic noise, exhaust odor, or illuminate the check engine light (DTC P0420).",
"is_stop_sale": false,
"is_dont_drive": false,
"is_remedy_available": false,
"recall_remedy_desc": "Dealers are to inspect for P0420 or exhaust noise/odor and replace the upstream catalytic converter when required at no cost to the customer.",
"is_parts_available": false,
"recall_labor_time_hours_min": 2.8,
"recall_labor_time_hours_max": 2.8,
"recall_status": "INCOMPLETE"
}
]
}
}What does the Recall HQ US Recall Report include?
The VIN-based report identifies outstanding NHTSA safety recalls and manufacturer voluntary service campaigns for a US vehicle. Where available, it provides campaign details, status, the issue and remedy, and indicators such as stop-sale, parts availability and estimated labour time. This helps dealers decide what action a vehicle needs.
How are manufacturer service campaigns different from NHTSA safety recalls?
NHTSA safety recalls address safety-related defects or regulatory non-compliance. Manufacturer voluntary service campaigns can cover other work, such as product improvements or customer satisfaction measures, and are not necessarily safety recalls. Including both gives dealers a broader view of work that may be relevant to a vehicle.
How can dealers use recall data to generate service opportunities?
Dealers can check vehicles in their customer database for outstanding recalls and campaigns, then contact affected owners about relevant work. This can help customers address vehicle issues while giving service teams a way to plan appointments and make use of available workshop capacity. VIN-specific results support more targeted outreach.
When should a dealer run a recall check?
Recall checks are useful when buying stock, appraising a trade-in, preparing a vehicle for sale and reviewing existing inventory. Campaigns can be announced after a vehicle is acquired, so a previous clear result may no longer reflect its current status. Dealers can also screen customer records to identify service outreach opportunities.
Can a US dealer sell a used vehicle with an open safety recall?
There is no general federal ban on selling a used vehicle with an open recall, although state rules and other obligations may apply. Federal law prohibits dealers from delivering a new vehicle with an open safety recall before it is remedied. Used-car dealers should also avoid misleading buyers about a vehicle’s safety, inspection or recall status.
The VIN-based report identifies outstanding NHTSA safety recalls and manufacturer voluntary service campaigns for a US vehicle. Where available, it provides campaign details, status, the issue and remedy, and indicators such as stop-sale, parts availability and estimated labour time. This helps dealers decide what action a vehicle needs.
NHTSA safety recalls address safety-related defects or regulatory non-compliance. Manufacturer voluntary service campaigns can cover other work, such as product improvements or customer satisfaction measures, and are not necessarily safety recalls. Including both gives dealers a broader view of work that may be relevant to a vehicle.
Dealers can check vehicles in their customer database for outstanding recalls and campaigns, then contact affected owners about relevant work. This can help customers address vehicle issues while giving service teams a way to plan appointments and make use of available workshop capacity. VIN-specific results support more targeted outreach.
Recall checks are useful when buying stock, appraising a trade-in, preparing a vehicle for sale and reviewing existing inventory. Campaigns can be announced after a vehicle is acquired, so a previous clear result may no longer reflect its current status. Dealers can also screen customer records to identify service outreach opportunities.
There is no general federal ban on selling a used vehicle with an open recall, although state rules and other obligations may apply. Federal law prohibits dealers from delivering a new vehicle with an open safety recall before it is remedied. Used-car dealers should also avoid misleading buyers about a vehicle’s safety, inspection or recall status.
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