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SaferCar

SaferCar

Vehicle Safety & Recall Info

117 ratings
72 reviews
#209 in free Reference
🔧 Utilities
🔍 Reference
Free

Details

Released
August 28, 2020
Updated
April 2, 2025

Features

Developer

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
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SaferCar screenshot #1 for iPhone
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SaferCar screenshot #3 for iPhone
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About

Stay informed about automotive safety recalls directly from the official source. Enter your vehicle's VIN or details about tires and car seats to receive background notifications for any safety recalls affecting your owned equipment. Access NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings and car seat tools.

✓Vehicle recall notifications
✓VIN entry for multiple vehicles
✓Recall alerts for tires and car seats
✓NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
✓Car seat installation tools
✓Background operation for alerts
Show original description

What users say about SaferCar

Reviews of SaferCar are mostly negative: the Reference app is rated 2.8/5 from 117 App Store ratings. What users like most: app recognizes valid VINs, recall information is useful. Top complaints: VIN lookup errors, vehicle selection limited. Summarized from real user reviews.

Positive things

  • ✅App recognizes valid VINs
  • ✅Recall information is useful
  • ✅Barcode scanning works sometimes
  • ✅App updates quickly
  • ✅Good for tracking recalls

Negative things

  • ❌VIN lookup errors
  • ❌Vehicle selection limited
  • ❌App crashes frequently
  • ❌Requires app to be open
  • ❌Poor user interface
  • ❌Slow to respond
  • ❌Privacy concerns
  • ❌Limited vehicle models
  • ❌Cannot add multiple vehicles
  • ❌Recall details not accessible
  • ❌VIN not recognized
  • ❌App doesn't launch
  • ❌Unreliable recall data
  • ❌Cannot paste VIN
  • ❌General information only
See all reviews

What's New in SaferCar

1.3.1

April 2, 2025

Bug patch fixes - Check for vins in background

More

Charts

Top Free

📉 209-3

Reference

This app dropped -3 positions in Reference chart.

Last updated on October 30, 2026.

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

This app does nothing

I’ve entered my VIN an nothing happens. I’ve entered year make and model and nothing happens. I can search them in the website and get a response and one of my cars has a recall, but not shows up in the app.
BBed685

Previous “VIN Lookup Error” has been resolved

An earlier version of this app gave a “VIN Lookup Error” for a valid VIN. The current version resolved the problem.
LLarry.D

VIN lookup

Won’t find any of my vehicle VINs. Says I need to call customer service. If this is the main feature of the app and it doesn’t work, the app is not worth it
MMrDramaFree

Recall not listed

I had to go on the main site on the internet to still see a recall I gave that doesn’t have a fix yet.
Mmomamma3

VIN de loo

Web site recognizes my VIN, app does not. Copy-paste from clipboard for both.

Other apps have no issue with my VIN either, pasted.
NNuké
See 67 more reviews

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

58 issues

VIN Lookup Error

Bug

App crashes on opening

Bug

App freezes after prompts

Bug

App won't open with iOS 14

Bug

App flickers and disappears

Bug

Initial load stuck on 'what's new' pop-up

Bug

App crashes repeatedly

Bug

App won't launch

Bug

App instantly closes

Bug

VIN entry fail is persistent

Bug

Cannot scan VIN

Bug

Too many characters in VIN message

Bug

VIN already in use error

Bug

Recall details not accessible by tapping

Bug

App shows incorrect vehicle year

Bug

Search tool broken, fixed list only

Bug

Cannot add second car

Bug

VIN not recognized

Bug

Models not available

Bug

Cannot find VIN entry option

Bug

App doesn't work after iOS 14 update

Bug

App crashes when trying to launch

Bug

App stops working with iOS 14

Bug

App crashes upon launch

Bug

Database not up to date

Bug

VIN not recognized for motorcycle

Bug

Cannot add vehicles or devices

Bug

Home icon doesn't direct to home page

Bug

App doesn't take VINs

Bug

VIN lookup fails every time

Bug

Backend problem prevents VIN submission

Bug

Cannot add older vehicles

Bug

VIN entry fails

Bug

App doesn't find truck

Bug

App can't find any vehicles from VIN search

Bug

App cannot find camper van VIN

Bug

App crashes on opening

Bug

App doesn't work

Bug

App crashes repeatedly

Bug

App won't open

Bug

App crashes when trying to launch

Bug

App crashes

Bug

App doesn't work after iOS 14 update

Bug

App crashes when trying to launch

Bug

App stops working with iOS 14

Bug

App crashes upon launch

Bug

Database not up to date

Bug

VIN not recognized for motorcycle

Bug

Cannot add vehicles or devices

Bug

Home icon doesn't direct to home page

Bug

App doesn't take VINs

Bug

VIN lookup fails every time

Bug

Backend problem prevents VIN submission

Bug

Cannot add older vehicles

Bug

VIN entry fails

Bug

App doesn't find truck

Bug

App can't find any vehicles from VIN search

Bug

App cannot find camper van VIN

Bug
✨

Requested Features

12 requests

Allow searching for any vehicle recalls, not just owned ones

Feature

Remove vehicle tracking limit

Feature

Allow users to write notes for vehicles

Feature

Adjust notification times

Feature

Improve VIN barcode auto-identification

Feature

Allow VIN identification from cropped photos

Feature

Improve contrast and placement of 'add vehicle' button

Feature

Add a 'My Garage' section that doesn't replace the home screen

Feature

Allow adding more than one vehicle

Feature

Enable VIN pasting

Feature

Server-side recall checking for privacy

Feature

Allow users to search for any vehicle recalls, not just owned ones

Feature

FAQ

What does the SaferCar app do?

The SaferCar app provides official automotive safety recall information directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It allows you to enter your vehicle's VIN, as well as details for tires and car seats, to receive notifications about any safety recalls that may affect your owned equipment.

How do I get recall notifications?

To receive recall notifications, you need to enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for your cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, or motorcycles, and details for other automotive products like tires and car seats. The app needs to run in the background to periodically check for updates. You can opt-in to receive mobile notifications for each entered item.

Is SaferCar free to use?

Yes, the SaferCar app is completely free to use. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements, and it is provided by the NHTSA.

What kind of vehicles and products can I track recalls for?

You can enter VINs for a wide range of vehicles including cars, trucks, vans, SUVs, and motorcycles. Additionally, you can track recalls for related automotive products such as tires and car seats. The app's virtual garage can accommodate multiple entries for all your owned equipment.

Does NHTSA store my data?

No, NHTSA prioritizes user privacy and does not store your device or VIN information on a server. This means the app needs to run in the background on your device to check for recall updates. Your data is not shared or stored by NHTSA.