US source
NHTSA
Useful for US recall campaigns and vehicle attributes.
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Vehicle lookup
Canadian vehicle owners and used-car buyers should treat VIN decoding and recall lookup as a multi-source safety check: decode the 17-digit VIN, check Transport Canada defect campaigns, and verify remedy completion with the manufacturer.
Scope
Canada vehicle lookup and recall context
Use this for
VIN screen, risk flags, official-source follow-up and buyer workflow
Not a substitute for
A VIN decoder is not a vehicle-history report, lien search, inspection report, ownership record or insurance-claims search.
To run a Transport Canada VIN decode and recall check: (1) decode the 17-digit VIN to confirm Canadian WMI (2A-20) and model year, (2) query Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls database for active Canadian safety campaigns, and (3) confirm with an authorized brand dealer whether open recall repairs have been completed.
Verified: 2026-07-30 · Author: usecos.app Research & Engineering
Use the canonical URL for this page when referencing these facts. Figures are planning estimates and should be checked against the cited official sources and the calculator inputs.
Enter a 17-character VIN here, then use the examples and notes below to understand what the result can and cannot prove.
| Scenario | Result | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| US import into Canada | Check both countries | A US-origin VIN may have NHTSA context, but Canadian remedy handling still matters. |
| Canadian-market vehicle | Transport Canada + manufacturer | Canadian recall campaigns can differ from US campaigns. |
| No recall found | Not proof of safety | No result does not prove no issue, no accident history, no lien or no future recall. |
NHTSA
Useful for US recall campaigns and vehicle attributes.
Transport Canada
Use for Canadian recall and defect context.
Manufacturer
Confirm owner-facing open recall status before purchase.
VIN decode -> NHTSA recall context -> Transport Canada search -> manufacturer recall page
NHTSA recall data is useful but US-focused. Canadian recall campaigns, repaired status and remedy availability should be confirmed with Canadian sources.
| Metric | Formula | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA | US recall data | Get US recall context and campaign summaries. |
| Transport Canada | Canadian defect and recall data | Check Canadian-market recall guidance. |
| Manufacturer | brand recall portal or dealer | Confirm whether a specific VIN has an open remedy. |
| Seller documents | service receipts | Ask for proof that recall work was completed. |
Canadian-assembled vehicles have a World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) starting with digits 2A through 20 at positions 1 and 2 of the 17-character VIN (e.g., 2T for Toyota Canada, 2H for Honda Canada, 2C for Stellantis/Chrysler Canada, 2G for GM Canada).
Transport Canada enforces Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) and maintains the Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database. The 17-digit VIN follows standard North American ISO rules, allowing instant validation of manufacturer, model year, check digit, and defect recall status.
Transport Canada maintains the Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database, listing vehicle, tire, and child car seat defect campaigns under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. You can search by vehicle make, model, and year, while manufacturer dealer portals verify if your specific VIN has an open uncompleted remedy.
No. NHTSA is US-focused. Canadian buyers should also check Transport Canada and the manufacturer because Canadian recall campaigns can differ due to climate standards and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS).
No. It only means the checked source did not show a matching open campaign. It does not replace a pre-purchase mechanical inspection or provincial title/history checks.
This page uses the shared usecos VIN decoder, visible methodology, and the source links below. Verified on 2026-07-30.