CARFAX Tool Checks Cars in U.S. for Open Recall 8 Billion Times

Rhea-AI Summary

CARFAX and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's Vehicle Recall Search Service has reached a significant milestone, checking U.S. vehicles for unfixed recalls nearly 8 billion times since its 2018 launch. The tool, primarily used by state motor vehicle departments and inspection agencies, has examined approximately half of all U.S. cars.

Currently, eight state DMVs utilize this service: California, New York, Ohio, Arizona, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Washington, along with Puerto Rico. These jurisdictions check recall status during registration, titling, or inspection processes. Notably, Ohio has identified over 7.2 million recalls since joining in 2021, with 2 million recalls successfully remedied.

CARFAX data reveals that one in five cars in the U.S. currently has an unfixed recall, potentially affecting critical safety features like airbags and seatbelts. The service aims to increase road safety by helping vehicle manufacturers close recalls through enhanced awareness.

Positive

• Tool has checked 8 billion vehicles for recalls since 2018
• Service adoption by 8 state DMVs plus Puerto Rico
• Ohio success case: 2 million recalls remedied
• Coverage of approximately 50% of all U.S. cars

Negative

• 20% of U.S. cars still have unfixed recalls
• state adoption (only 8 states participating)
• Critical safety features (airbags, seatbelts) potentially affected by unfixed recalls

Vehicle Safety Recalls Week: No Cost Vehicle Search Service Helps States Identify Recalls and Create Awareness

CENTREVILLE, Va., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A powerful search tool built by CARFAX and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation has checked vehicles in the U.S. nearly eight billion times for unfixed recalls in just the last seven years, raising consumer awareness and helping increase road safety.

Since launching the Vehicle Recall Search Service in 2018, qualified entities, in particular state motor vehicle, public safety, and inspection departments have led the effort to check vehicles and have identified millions of cars with unresolved recalls. The tool has checked nearly half of all cars in the U.S. for recalls. CARFAX data shows currently one in five cars in the U.S. have an unfixed recall, which can significantly raise the risk of unexpected incidents on the road.

Currently, eight state DMVs use the Vehicle Recall Search Service: California, New York, Ohio, Arizona, Texas, Connecticut, and Maryland; Washington and Puerto Rico joined most recently. These states check a vehicle's recall status either during the registration and titling process or through the safety and/or emissions inspection process. If an open recall is identified, they make the vehicle owner aware.

"In light of this week's Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, we hope more states recognize the tool's incredible potential to protect drivers," said Faisal Hasan, Vice President of Data at CARFAX. "This tool can ensure more vehicles are checked regularly, increasing driver safety and helping the vehicle manufacturers close recalls."

Safety recalls can include critical safety features such as airbags and seatbelts. Ohio, which joined in 2021, has identified over 7.2 million recalls for its drivers.

"Thanks to our partnership with CARFAX," said Ohio BMV Registrar Charlie Norman, "our individualized notification of open recalls to Ohioans as part of their vehicle registration renewal has led to 2 million recalls remedied, making our vehicles and roads safer."

"When drivers are aware of vehicle recalls, road safety increases. That's why we built this safety tool with CARFAX nearly seven years ago," said John Bozzella, president and CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation. "Eight billion vehicles have now been checked. Additional participation from vehicle inspection programs, DMVs, insurers, auto finance companies, fleet managers, automotive parts recyclers and vehicle auction companies will go a long way to helping identify and fix even more recalls."

Editor's note: Interviews with a Carfax expert are available anytime. Local open recall data for your state or metropolitan area is also available upon request. Please contact Em Nguyen at emnguyen@carfax.com.

About CARFAX

CARFAX, part of S&P Global Mobility, helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX^® vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides CARFAX Car Listings, CARFAX Car Care, CARFAX History-Based Value and the flagship CARFAX Vehicle History Report to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the world's largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell – Show me the CARFAX^®.

S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets.

About Alliance for Automotive Innovation

From the manufacturers producing most vehicles sold in the U.S. to autonomous vehicle innovators to equipment suppliers, battery producers and semiconductor makers – Alliance for Automotive Innovation represents the full auto industry, a sector supporting 10 million American jobs and five percent of the economy. Active in Washington, D.C. and all 50 states, the association is committed to a cleaner, safer and smarter personal transportation future. www.autosinnovate.org

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SOURCE CARFAX

FAQ

How many vehicle recalls has CARFAX's search tool checked since 2018?

The Vehicle Recall Search Service has checked U.S. vehicles nearly 8 billion times for unfixed recalls since its 2018 launch.

What percentage of cars in the U.S. currently have unfixed recalls according to CARFAX?

According to CARFAX data, one in five cars (20%) in the U.S. currently have an unfixed recall.

Which states currently use CARFAX's Vehicle Recall Search Service?

Eight state DMVs use the service: California, New York, Ohio, Arizona, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Washington, plus Puerto Rico.

How many recalls has Ohio identified since implementing the CARFAX recall search tool in 2021?

Ohio has identified over 7.2 million recalls since implementing the tool in 2021, with 2 million recalls successfully remedied.