Websites for Recalls?

Posted by: burdell1

Websites for Recalls? - 30/04/2006 13:12

What is a good (free) website to find out whether or not there are any recalls on my specific VIN on my car? I know I could call the dealership, but for some reason, I don't trust them....
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 30/04/2006 15:01

www.nhtsa.gov

But I'm not sure if that has everything or just the major safety recalls.

I'd love access to the same database that the car dealerships use when you bring your car in for service. For example, I had the transmission fail in my Honda Accord a few years ago, and the dealer pulled up my VIN and noticed it was part of a transmission-recall-thingy where they didn't notify owners, but extended the transmisison warranty to 5 years in case an owner had trouble. That's the thing I want access to. Didn't find it last time I looked.
Posted by: msaeger

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 30/04/2006 15:20

The nhsta site is just going to have actual recalls. If you want all the bulletins you can sign up for alldata. You can sign up for one car for 25 dollars a year.

http://www.alldatadiy.com/
Posted by: gbeer

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 30/04/2006 18:54

There is a zipped flat file available at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/list.html listing TSB's. Unfortunatly while it can be opened in Excel, there are more than 65k lines.

Edit: on further investigation it takes ~4 sheets to hold all the lines of the flat file.
Posted by: burdell1

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 22/08/2006 11:52

Does anyone know the difference between recalls and service bulletins? I found out there is a service bulletin on my car, but I thought repair done because of a service bulletin was free. However, the guy I talked to at the GM dealership said a service bulletin was just 'to help diagnose problems with the car' and I would still have to pay the regular price for repair. Is that true (I don't trust most dealerships.)
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 22/08/2006 15:46

Quote:
Unfortunatly while it can be opened in Excel, there are more than 65k lines

Ugh. Wrong tool for the job.

Code:
grep -i NISSAN FLAT_TSBS.LST | grep -i FRONTIER | grep "     2002    "
Sometimes the command line really is more friendly.
Posted by: g_attrill

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 22/08/2006 17:08

Quote:
Does anyone know the difference between recalls and service bulletins? I found out there is a service bulletin on my car, but I thought repair done because of a service bulletin was free. However, the guy I talked to at the GM dealership said a service bulletin was just 'to help diagnose problems with the car' and I would still have to pay the regular price for repair. Is that true (I don't trust most dealerships.)


Recall = fixed for free even if outside the warranty because it is a manufacturing defect hazardous to safety.

A Service Bulletin is a non-safety related design or manufacturing fault that will be common to many cars and should be fixed before it breaks. I think basically if the vehicle is within it's warranty period then it any service bulletins will be carried out for free. I'm not sure what happens outside of warranty - you might have to pay for everything, or perhaps just parts or labour.
Posted by: Ezekiel

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 22/08/2006 17:14

Yes. My company supplies tools/equipment to auto repair shops (including a lot of dealers). What your GM guy told you was right on.

-Zeke
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Websites for Recalls? - 22/08/2006 17:15

More specifically:

A recall is a highly publicized affair, where the auto manufacturer sends out letters to all owners, telling them to bring their car in to be fixed for free.

A service bulletin is an item that will be fixed for free, but it is not publicized. The owner only gets the free repair if the fault happens to be discovered for other reasons.

At least that's been my experience. I've never had to pay for a service bulletin item. I guess what's being said in this thread is that sometimes service bulletin items are chargeable. My point is that the biggest difference between recalls and service bulletins is that with the former, they go out of their way to tell you the car needs the repair. With the latter, you've got to bring your car in of your own free will.