How to Check If a Product Has Been Recalled
Quick Answer
Millions of products are recalled every year, but most consumers only find out by chance. Knowing where to check, and how to confirm whether a specific product you own is affected, takes a few minutes and can prevent serious injury.
Where to Check for Recalls
Different agencies manage recalls depending on the type of product.
| Product Type | Agency | Where to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Household products, toys, appliances, furniture | CPSC | recalls.gov or cpsc.gov/Recalls |
| Cars, trucks, motorcycles, tires, car seats | NHTSA | nhtsa.gov/recalls |
| Food, drugs, supplements, medical devices, cosmetics | FDA | fda.gov/safety/recalls |
| Meat and poultry | USDA FSIS | fsis.usda.gov/recalls |
| All categories combined | Recalls.gov | recalls.gov |
The fastest starting point for most products is Recalls.gov. It aggregates data from CPSC, NHTSA, FDA, USDA, and other agencies into one searchable database.
How to Check a Specific Product
Step 1: Find the product identifiers
Before searching, gather the product's identifying information. Recall notices are specific about which versions of a product are affected.
For household products:
- Model number (usually on a label on the bottom or back of the product)
- Serial number
- UPC or barcode number (on original packaging)
- Manufacture date or lot number
For vehicles:
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), a 17-character code found on the driver's side dashboard, visible through the windshield, and also on your insurance card and registration
For food products:
- Brand name
- Product name
- Lot number or date code (printed on the package)
- UPC code
Step 2: Search by product name or brand
On Recalls.gov, type the product name, brand, or category into the search bar. Review the results for any matches.
For a CPSC recall specifically, go to cpsc.gov/Recalls and search by product type or brand name.
Step 3: Confirm the recall applies to your specific item
Not every unit of a product gets recalled, just specific manufacturing runs or date ranges. When you find a potential match, read the recall notice carefully and compare:
- The model number to yours
- The serial number range listed in the recall to yours
- The manufacture date range to the date on your product
- The UPC code to the code on your packaging
If your identifiers fall within the affected range, your product is recalled. If they fall outside it, you are not affected by that specific recall.
How to Check a Vehicle Recall by VIN
The most reliable way to check if your vehicle has an open recall is to search by VIN on the NHTSA database.
Step 1: Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls
Step 2: Enter your 17-character VIN in the search field
Step 3: Review any open recalls listed for your vehicle
The results will show you the recall description, the safety risk, and what action is being taken. If your vehicle has an open recall, contact your dealership or the manufacturer directly to schedule the free repair. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix recall defects at no cost to the vehicle owner.
You can also check car seats by manufacturer name and model number using the same NHTSA database.
How to Check Food and Drug Recalls
For food: Go to fda.gov/safety/recalls for most foods, or fsis.usda.gov/recalls for meat and poultry. Search by brand name or product type.
Food recall notices include the lot number and use-by or best-by date of the affected products. Match these to the packaging of the product you have at home.
For medications: Search the FDA recall database by drug name or manufacturer. If you find a match, contact your pharmacist before stopping any prescription medication, as the risk of stopping abruptly may outweigh the risk of the recall issue.
What to Do If Your Product Has Been Recalled
- Stop using the product immediately if the recall is for a safety hazard
- Read the recall notice for specific instructions (sometimes the risk is limited and normal use is still acceptable during the remedy period)
- Contact the manufacturer using the contact information listed in the recall notice
- Request the offered remedy, which is typically a free repair, replacement, or refund
- You generally do not need your original receipt for a recall remedy
What to expect: Most remedy programmes send a confirmation within a few days and fulfil replacements or refunds within 4 to 8 weeks. If a manufacturer is unresponsive or refuses to honour the recall, contact the CPSC at 1-800-638-2772 or report the issue at saferproducts.gov.
Keep the product until the manufacturer tells you what to do with it. Some recalls require you to return the product; others instruct you to dispose of it.