Published February 11, 2026
Car Buying Safety Checklist: How to Research Before You Buy
Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases most people make, and safety should be a top priority. This checklist covers every safety research step you should take before signing a purchase agreement — from recall history and complaint data to crash test ratings and real-world reliability.
Step 1: Check Recall History
Enter the vehicle VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls to see all open and completed recalls. For new vehicles, there should be no open recalls (dealers cannot sell new cars with unrepaired recalls). For used vehicles, verify that all recalls have been completed. If any are open, the seller should complete them before the sale.
Step 2: Review Complaint Data
Search the NHTSA complaints database for the specific year, make, and model. Look for patterns — if many owners report the same defect, it may indicate a systemic issue even if no recall has been issued yet. Check complaint data on our complaint rankings page for an easy-to-read summary.
Step 3: Check Crash Test Ratings
Review both NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings and IIHS ratings. Look for vehicles that score well in both systems, as they test different crash scenarios. IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ designations indicate strong overall crash protection. See our safety ratings guide for details.
Step 4: Evaluate Safety Features
Review the vehicle's standard and available safety features. Automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control are now available on many vehicles. Check whether these features are standard or optional for the trim level you are considering. Note that these features can also be subject to recalls.
Step 5: Compare Models
Use our comparison tool to evaluate the recall and complaint histories of the models on your shopping list side by side. Compare not just the total numbers but the types of defects — a vehicle with recalls for minor issues is different from one with recalls for brake failures or fire risk.
Step 6: Check Reliability Data
Complement recall and crash data with reliability ratings from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. These organizations survey vehicle owners about real-world problems, providing another data point on expected vehicle quality. A vehicle with strong crash test ratings, a clean recall record, and good reliability scores provides the highest confidence in overall quality and safety.
Step 7: Register for Future Recalls
After purchasing, register your vehicle at SaferCar.gov for automatic recall notifications. Update your vehicle registration with the DMV to ensure manufacturer recall letters reach you. Make recall checking a regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine. Visit our safest vehicles ranking for ongoing safety data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Checking for open recalls using the VIN at NHTSA.gov is the single most important check. An open recall means there is a known safety defect that has not been fixed. Beyond that, review crash test ratings and complaint data for a complete safety picture.
No. Most vehicles have some recall history, and a completed recall means the defect has been fixed. What matters is whether open recalls have been repaired and whether the vehicle has a pattern of severe safety defects. A vehicle with completed recalls is no less safe than one that was never recalled.
RecallIndex combines recall data, complaint data, and safety scores for thousands of vehicles. For crash test ratings, check NHTSA.gov and IIHS.org. For reliability data, check Consumer Reports. Combining all three sources gives the most complete safety picture.