Key Takeaways
- NHTSA crash-test ratings and recall databases are free, public resources you should check before any used car purchase.
- An open recall on a used vehicle is the seller's — and eventually your — responsibility to resolve.
- Crash-test ratings are model-year specific; always look up the exact year of the car you are considering.
- A vehicle history report complements safety ratings but does not replace checking official government databases.
- Safety features vary by trim level; confirm the specific car has the equipment its rating was based on.
What you will need
Why Safety Records Matter Before You Buy
A used car's price tag and appearance tell you very little about how it would perform in a serious crash — or whether a manufacturer has flagged it as defective. Safety ratings, recall history, and crash data fill that gap. Skipping this research means you could be paying for a vehicle that carries unresolved safety defects or earned a poor score in the very tests designed to protect you.
The good news is that most of this information is publicly available at no cost. US federal agencies maintain searchable databases that give you direct access to the same data regulators and consumer advocates use. Paired with a thorough vehicle history report, a safety record check gives you a much clearer picture of what you are actually buying. See also our pre-purchase checklist for used cars for the broader set of questions to ask before you commit.
What you will need
How to Research a Used Car's Safety Record
Follow these steps in order. Each builds on the last, and together they give you a complete safety picture of the specific vehicle you are evaluating. You will need the car's 17-character VIN, which is typically found on the driver's side dashboard, the door jamb sticker, or the vehicle's title.
Look Up the NHTSA Crash-Test Rating
Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) consumer website and navigate to its 5-Star Safety Ratings section. Enter the vehicle's year, make, and model. NHTSA rates vehicles in several categories — frontal crash, side crash, rollover resistance — and assigns an overall score. Note which trim levels and configurations were actually tested, because ratings do not always apply uniformly across an entire model lineup.
Search the NHTSA Recall Database by VIN
Go to NHTSA's recall lookup tool at recall.cars.gov and enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN. The tool will display any open recalls specifically tied to that VIN. An open recall means the required repair has not yet been performed. Note every open campaign listed — including its description, remedy, and whether parts are currently available from dealers.
Check the NHTSA Complaints Database
Beyond official recalls, NHTSA maintains a database of consumer complaints filed by owners. Search by year, make, and model to see whether other drivers have reported consistent safety problems — unusual brake behavior, unexpected airbag deployment, stalling — that have not yet resulted in a formal recall. Patterns in complaints can signal emerging issues worth raising with a mechanic before purchase.
Verify Trim-Level Safety Features
Confirm which active safety systems — such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, or blind-spot monitoring — are actually installed on this specific car. Ask the seller for the original window sticker (Monroney label) or the manufacturer's build sheet for that VIN. Cross-reference with the automaker's official feature list for that trim. A vehicle's crash-test score may assume equipment that your particular unit does not have.
Factor Findings Into Your Purchase Decision
Compile everything: the crash-test scores from NHTSA and IIHS, any open recalls and their remedy status, complaint patterns, and confirmed safety feature inventory. Decide whether open recalls are dealbreakers or negotiating points — a dealer is typically obligated to fix open recalls on certified pre-owned vehicles, while private sellers usually are not. Use your findings alongside your broader vehicle ownership research to make a fully informed decision.
Cross-Reference Two Rating Sources
NHTSA and IIHS use different test protocols and scoring systems, so a vehicle can score well with one and only adequately with the other. Checking both databases before deciding gives you a more balanced view of real-world crash protection than relying on a single source.
Understanding What the Data Is — and Isn't — Telling You
Safety ratings are powerful, but they have limits worth understanding. Ratings are issued per model year and sometimes per body style or trim. A five-star rating for a 2019 sedan does not automatically apply to the 2018 version of the same car — engineering changes happen annually. Similarly, ratings apply to vehicles equipped with the safety features that were tested. If the car you are looking at is a base trim without optional collision-avoidance technology, and the rating was earned by a higher trim, the score may not reflect your specific vehicle.
Recall data tells you about defects the manufacturer has acknowledged, but it cannot account for issues that have not yet been identified or that were repaired outside of official recall channels. That is why combining recall checks with a full recall notice review and a professional pre-purchase inspection gives you the most reliable overall assessment.
For a deeper explanation of how crash tests are designed and what each rating category actually measures, see our guide to NHTSA and Euro NCAP safety ratings. This context helps you weigh the numbers intelligently rather than treating a single star score as the whole story.
Ratings Are Model-Year and Trim Specific
Never assume a safety rating applies to every version of a vehicle name. Automakers revise structures, sensors, and standard equipment from year to year and across trim levels. Always look up the exact model year and confirm the tested configuration matches the car in front of you before treating a rating as definitive.