Pre-Purchase Inspection by Make and Model

Browse by make

• Acura5 models · 48 recall campaigns
• Alfa-Romeo2 models · 35 recall campaigns
• Aston-Martin1 model · 5 recall campaigns
• Audi9 models · 148 recall campaigns
• Bentley3 models · 23 recall campaigns
• BMW8 models · 226 recall campaigns
• Buick4 models · 29 recall campaigns
• Cadillac6 models · 64 recall campaigns
• Chevrolet14 models · 203 recall campaigns
• Chrysler3 models · 60 recall campaigns
• Dodge5 models · 75 recall campaigns
• Fiat2 models · 10 recall campaigns
• Fisker1 model · 6 recall campaigns
• Ford14 models · 469 recall campaigns
• Genesis4 models · 31 recall campaigns
• GMC6 models · 116 recall campaigns
• Honda9 models · 172 recall campaigns
• Hyundai10 models · 108 recall campaigns
• Infiniti6 models · 38 recall campaigns
• Jaguar4 models · 33 recall campaigns
• Jeep8 models · 196 recall campaigns
• Kia13 models · 114 recall campaigns
• Lamborghini2 models · 12 recall campaigns
• Land-Rover5 models · 121 recall campaigns
• Lexus6 models · 29 recall campaigns
• Lincoln5 models · 142 recall campaigns
• Lotus1 model · 2 recall campaigns
• Lucid1 model · 18 recall campaigns
• Maserati3 models · 37 recall campaigns
• Mazda6 models · 46 recall campaigns
• Mclaren1 model · 2 recall campaigns
• Mercedes-Benz4 models · 169 recall campaigns
• Mini3 models · 20 recall campaigns
• Mitsubishi4 models · 34 recall campaigns
• Nissan12 models · 151 recall campaigns
• Polestar1 model · 7 recall campaigns
• Porsche7 models · 92 recall campaigns
• Ram4 models · 201 recall campaigns
• Rivian2 models · 27 recall campaigns
• Smart1 model · 3 recall campaigns
• Subaru9 models · 104 recall campaigns
• Tesla5 models · 153 recall campaigns
• Toyota13 models · 207 recall campaigns
• Vinfast1 model · 1 recall campaign
• Volkswagen9 models · 174 recall campaigns
• Volvo6 models · 104 recall campaigns

What 4,065 recall campaigns show

Aggregated across every model in this tree (2016–2024 model years), the recall record has a clear shape: a handful of high-volume models carry most of the campaigns, and a handful of systems account for most of the defects. 41 of these campaigns were serious enough that owners were told to park the vehicle until repaired — those are flagged on the model pages.

Systems recalled most often across all 248 models

• Electrical system · 442
• Air bags · 403
• Back over prevention · 327
• Fuel system · 293
• Power train · 289
• Seat belts · 190
• Service brakes · 165
• Equipment · 122

How to use these guides before you buy

1. 1

   Read the model page

   Open the page for the exact model you’re considering. It lists every campaign for those model years and which systems they hit — your map of where problems cluster.

2. 2

   Run the VIN

   Check the specific car’s 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for OPEN recalls on that vehicle. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers — an unrepaired one is a negotiating point, not necessarily a dealbreaker.

3. 3

   Inspect before money moves

   A recall record describes the model line; only an on-site inspection describes this car. An inspector confirms the current condition of the flagged systems — and everything else — with photos, before you commit.

Why recall history matters

A recall campaign tells you what a manufacturer got wrong often enough that a federal remedy was required. It does not tell you the condition of the specific car in front of you. Recalls apply to VIN ranges, remedies may or may not have been performed, and an unrepaired recall on a private-party sale is the buyer’s problem to discover.

That’s the gap an inspection closes: an independent inspector goes to the seller’s location, confirms current condition of the systems the record flags, and documents it with photos before any money moves.

Recall history is also only one input. Wear items, accident evidence, fluid condition, tire age, and how the car was maintained never appear in a federal database — which is why every inspection covers the full checklist regardless of what the recall record says, and why you can read real sample reports before booking.

Common questions

Does a recall mean I shouldn’t buy the car?

No. A recall is a manufacturer-funded fix for a known defect — recall repairs are performed free at franchised dealers, with no time limit for safety recalls. The question for a used purchase is whether the remedy was actually done on this VIN, and what condition the affected system is in today. That’s what a pre-purchase inspection verifies.

How do I check if a specific car has an open recall?

Look up the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — it reports unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Our model pages summarize the campaigns for the model line so you know which systems deserve extra attention; the VIN check tells you whether this particular car still has open work.

A model here has a lot of recall campaigns. Is it a bad car?

Not by itself. High-volume models accumulate more campaigns partly because more of them are on the road, and an aggressive recall posture can mean a manufacturer fixes problems proactively. Use the count as a map of where to look, not as a verdict — the condition of the one car you’re buying is what matters.

What does the inspection itself include?

Every tier covers the same full inspection with 25+ photos and a PDF report in 24 hours: Bronze $249, Silver $349 (adds battery load test, brake measurement, A/C readings), Gold $449 (adds live OBD-II capture, electronics audit, paint-depth readings). An inspector comes to the seller’s location anywhere in the US.

Recall data from NHTSA, retrieved 2026-08-27. Vehicle Inspectors is independent and not affiliated with any manufacturer listed.