# Open Recalls API

> Get currently active and unresolved vehicle recall information from the NHTSA database.

Open Recalls returns only the recalls on a VIN that are still open and unresolved, from NHTSA data, with the recall status, component, consequence, remedy and expected remediation date. Send GET /openrecalls/{vin} with your API key. It is available on the Scale plan at $0.06 per call, with up to 50 requests per second.

## Endpoint

`GET https://api.auto.dev/openrecalls/{vin}`

- `vin` (path): 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (letters and digits, excluding I, O, and Q). Format: `[A-HJ-NPR-Z0-9]{17}`.

Authenticate with `Authorization: Bearer <key>`, `?apiKey=<key>` or `X-API-Key: <key>`.

```sh
curl "https://api.auto.dev/openrecalls/WP0AF2A99KS165242" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AUTODEV_API_KEY"
```

## What it returns

- Recall status
- NHTSA campaign number
- Affected component
- Consequence and remedy
- Expected remediation date

Response:

```json
{
  "data": [
    {
      "manufacturer": "Porsche Cars North America, Inc.",
      "nhtsaCampaignNumber": "21V201000",
      "parkIt": false,
      "parkOutSide": false,
      "overTheAirUpdate": false,
      "reportReceivedDate": "24/03/2021",
      "component": "SUSPENSION:REAR",
      "summary": "Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) is recalling certain 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster, 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe, Carrera 4S Coupe, and Carrera S Cabriolet vehicles. The screw connection on the rear axle upper control arm may be loose.",
      "consequence": "A loose connection may fail, causing driving instability and increasing the risk of a crash.",
      "remedy": "Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will rework and tighten the screw connection on the rear axle upper control arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2021. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche's number for this recall is AMA6.",
      "notes": "Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.",
      "recallStatus": "Open",
      "expectedRemediationDate": null,
      "modelYear": "2019",
      "make": "PORSCHE",
      "model": "911"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Pricing

- Free: not available on this plan, 5 requests per second
- Growth: not available on this plan, 10 requests per second
- Scale: $0.06 per call, 50 requests per second

## Use it from an AI agent

Hosted MCP server (recommended): https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp, named `auto-dev`. Sign-in is OAuth on first use, so agents never handle an API key.

- Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http auto-dev https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp`. Then run /mcp in Claude Code and choose Authenticate for auto-dev.
- Claude Desktop: In Settings, open Connectors, choose Add Custom Connector, name it auto-dev and paste https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp, then sign in
- Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json): `{"mcpServers":{"auto-dev":{"url":"https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp"}}}`. Restart Cursor. Sign-in opens on the first tool call.
- VS Code (.vscode/mcp.json): `{"servers":{"auto-dev":{"type":"http","url":"https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp"}}}`. For Copilot agent mode, VS Code 1.99 or later. Sign-in opens on first use.
- Windsurf (~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json): `{"mcpServers":{"auto-dev":{"serverUrl":"https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp"}}}`. Restart Windsurf. Sign-in opens on the first tool call.
- Grok Bot: send `Add a custom MCP server called auto-dev at https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp`. Confirm, then choose Authorize and sign in. Type @auto-dev in a chat to use it.
- Muse: send `Connect Auto.dev`. Or open Settings, then Connectors, and choose Connect next to Auto.dev. Sign in when asked.
- ChatGPT and dots: At chatgpt.com/plugins, choose + and Add custom MCP server, paste https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp and choose OAuth, then Create as a plugin. Your dot uses the same plugin

Or install the `auto` CLI, the local MCP server (`auto --mcp`) and the JavaScript SDK in one package:

```sh
npm install -g @auto.dev/sdk
auto login
auto mcp install
```

- Agent skill: `npx skills add drivly/auto-dev-skill`

This API is the `auto_open_recalls` MCP tool. From the terminal: `auto open-recalls WP0AF2A99KS165242`

## Questions

### What does the Open Recalls API return?

Recall status, NHTSA campaign number, affected component, consequence and remedy, expected remediation date. Every response is JSON from `https://api.auto.dev/openrecalls/{vin}`.

### How much does the Open Recalls API cost?

Open Recalls is available from the Scale plan. It costs $0.06 per call on Scale, on top of the plan's subscription.

### How do I call the Open Recalls API?

Send `GET /openrecalls/{vin}` to `api.auto.dev` with your API key as a Bearer token in the `Authorization` header, or as an `apiKey` query parameter. The path takes `vin`, the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (letters and digits, excluding I, O, and Q).

### What are the rate limits for Open Recalls?

Rate limits follow your plan: 5 requests per second on Free, 10 on Growth and 50 on Scale. Open Recalls needs Scale or above.

### Can AI agents use the Open Recalls API?

Yes. Connect the hosted MCP server, `https://mcp.auto.dev/mcp`, and agents such as Claude Code and Cursor call it as the `auto_open_recalls` tool, signing in with OAuth instead of an API key. Or run it locally: `npm install -g @auto.dev/sdk`, then `auto login` and `auto mcp install`.

## Related APIs

- [Vehicle Recalls](https://www.auto.dev/vehicle-recalls.md): Safety recalls, service bulletins, and manufacturer notifications.

## References

- Docs: https://docs.auto.dev/v2/products/open-recalls
- OpenAPI: https://www.auto.dev/openapi.json (JSON), https://www.auto.dev/openapi.yaml (YAML)
- llms.txt: https://www.auto.dev/llms.txt
- Pricing: https://www.auto.dev/pricing
- Sign up: https://www.auto.dev/signin?redirectUrl=%2Fonboarding