NHTSA updates its recalls file daily. This site publishes a static copy, refreshed by a controlled process, so every page shows the date its data runs through.
Refresh schedule
The target is a weekly refresh of the recall file, plus an extra refresh when a widely reported recall is announced. Each refresh downloads the official file, verifies its structure, rebuilds every page from it and checks the result before publishing. If a refresh fails a check, the previous version stays online and keeps its older date.
What the dates mean
- “NHTSA data through …” — the latest report-received date in the copy of the file used to build the page.
- “Report received by NHTSA” — when NHTSA received the manufacturer's defect report for that campaign.
- “Owner notification” — the owner letter date NHTSA recorded; often empty for new campaigns.
- “Reviewed” on guides — the last editorial check of that guide, independent of data refreshes.
Between refreshes
A campaign filed after the “data through” date will not appear here until the next refresh. The live recall lookup and NHTSA's VIN search always query NHTSA's current systems.
Changes to coverage
New model years and models are added when NHTSA's file contains campaigns for them and they meet the inclusion criteria. Pages are removed only if NHTSA removes or reassigns all of their records.
Policy reviewed October 4, 2026.