Vehicle Safety Glossary
Plain-language definitions for 18 vehicle safety and NHTSA enforcement terms. From recalls to Safety Scores to federal regulations.
Vehicle Recall
A manufacturer-initiated or NHTSA-ordered action to repair a safety-related defect in a group of vehicles.
Active Recall
A recall that has not yet been completed — the vehicle still needs the repair or replacement.
Recall Campaign
The formal process by which a manufacturer notifies owners and repairs vehicles affected by a safety defect.
Safety Complaint
A report filed by a vehicle owner with NHTSA describing a potential safety-related defect.
Crash Report
A complaint that involves an actual vehicle crash, potentially caused by a safety defect.
Fire Report
A complaint that involves a vehicle fire, potentially caused by a manufacturing defect.
TSB (Technical Service Bulletin)
A notice from a manufacturer to dealerships describing a known issue and its fix, not classified as a safety recall.
Airbag System
A vehicle safety system that deploys inflatable cushions during a crash to protect occupants from impact.
ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System)
A safety system that prevents wheels from locking up during hard braking, maintaining steering control.
ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
A safety system that detects and reduces loss of traction, helping prevent skids and rollovers.
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
A unique 17-character code assigned to every motor vehicle for identification and tracking purposes.
NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — the federal agency responsible for vehicle safety standards and recall enforcement.
FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards)
The set of federal regulations that establish minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles and equipment.
Defect Investigation
A formal NHTSA inquiry into a potential safety defect, often triggered by consumer complaints or crash data.
Lemon Law
State laws that provide remedies for buyers of vehicles that repeatedly fail to meet standards of quality and performance.
Safety Score
A proprietary 0-100 rating (A-F grade) that evaluates a vehicle's overall safety record based on NHTSA data.
Recall Severity
A measure of how serious a vehicle's recall history is, accounting for the number and type of recalls.
Complaint Rate
The frequency of consumer safety complaints filed with NHTSA for a specific vehicle make/model/year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A complaint is a report filed by a vehicle owner about a potential defect. A recall is an official manufacturer action to fix a known safety defect. Complaints sometimes lead to investigations that result in recalls, but they are separate processes.
What is a Safety Score?
The Safety Score is RecallIndex's proprietary 0-100 rating (A-F grade) based on four weighted factors: recall severity (40%), complaint frequency (30%), crash and fire reports (20%), and safety trend (10%). Higher scores indicate a better safety record.