# Bulk VIN Decoder + Recall Check (NHTSA) (`clever_firebox/nhtsa-vin-decoder-recalls`) Actor

Decode VINs in bulk with the official NHTSA vPIC database: make, model, year, trim, body, engine, fuel/EV, drivetrain, plant, safety features, plus open recall campaigns, complaint counts and NCAP star ratings. 50 VINs per request, no API key.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/clever_firebox/nhtsa-vin-decoder-recalls.md
- **Developed by:** [Agentic Hobby](https://apify.com/clever_firebox) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.50 / 1,000 vin decodeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Bulk VIN Decoder + Recall Check (NHTSA)

**Decode VINs in bulk** with the official **NHTSA vPIC** database (the same data dealers, insurers and the US government use) and get, per VIN: **make, model, model year, trim, series, body class, doors, drive type, engine (cylinders, liters, HP, model), fuel type, hybrid/EV electrification, battery kWh, transmission, GVWR class, assembly plant, seats, base price** and **safety equipment** (ABS, ESC, automatic emergency braking, lane departure, blind-spot, backup camera, airbags). Optionally add **open recall campaigns**, **owner complaint counts** and **NCAP 5-star crash ratings**. Use it as a **VIN decoder API**, a **VIN recall lookup**, or a fleet / inventory **vehicle data enrichment** step.

All data comes from official **NHTSA** APIs (vPIC, Recalls, Complaints, NCAP Safety Ratings). U.S. Government data, no API key, no scraping of dealer or auction sites.

### Why this one

- **Fast bulk decoding:** 50 VINs per request through vPIC's batch endpoint; thousands of VINs per minute.
- **Invalid VINs are free.** Rows that fail to decode are still saved with the NHTSA error text and a suggested VIN, but you are charged only for VINs that decode.
- **Recalls in the same row**, cached per make/model/year so big fleets stay fast.
- **Check-digit validation** (position 9) on every VIN, to catch typos and fake VINs.

### Who uses it

Used-car dealers and marketplaces (listing specs), insurers and lenders (underwriting, fraud checks), fleet managers (recall exposure), auto-parts and service shops, auction and salvage buyers, data teams cleaning vehicle tables.

### Input examples

Decode a list with recalls (default):

```json
{"vins": ["1HGCM82633A004352", "5YJ3E1EA7KF317000"]}
```

Full enrichment (complaints + NCAP stars + every raw vPIC field):

```json
{"vins": ["5YJ3E1EA7KF317000"], "includeComplaintsCount": true, "includeSafetyRatings": true, "includeAllFields": true}
```

Specs only (fastest):

```json
{"vins": ["1FTFW1ET5DFC10312"], "includeRecalls": false}
```

### Output fields

`vin, decodedOk, errorCodes[], errorText, additionalErrorText, suggestedVin, checkDigitValid, make, model, modelYear, trim, series, manufacturer, vehicleType, bodyClass, doors, driveType, engineCylinders, displacementL, engineHP, engineModel, engineConfiguration, fuelTypePrimary, fuelTypeSecondary, electrificationLevel, batteryKWh, evDriveUnit, chargerLevel, chargerPowerKW, transmissionStyle, transmissionSpeeds, gvwr, plantCountry, plantState, plantCity, plantCompany, seats, seatRows, wheelBaseIn, basePriceUsd, abs, esc, tractionControl, adaptiveCruiseControl, forwardCollisionWarning, automaticEmergencyBraking, laneDepartureWarning, laneKeepAssist, blindSpotWarning, backupCamera, parkAssist, tpms, airBagsFront, airBagsSide, airBagsCurtain, airBagsKnee, busType, trailerType, motorcycleType, recallCount, recalls[] (campaignNumber, reportDate, component, summary, consequence, remedy, parkIt, parkOutside, overTheAirUpdate, url), complaintsCount, safetyRatings[], allDecodedFields{}, retrievedAt`

Real samples are in `samples/`.

### Important

- **Recalls are matched by make, model and model year**, not by the individual VIN. A campaign may cover only part of a model year. To confirm whether one specific vehicle still has an unrepaired recall, check the VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls or with the manufacturer.
- Empty fields mean NHTSA has no data for that variable, not that the feature is missing.
- Decoding works for vehicles sold in the US market (roughly model year 1981 onward). Other markets may decode only partially.

### Pricing

Pay per decoded VIN (`vin-decoded` event). Recalls, complaints and ratings are included at no extra cost. Undecodable VINs are free. Cap spend with **Max VINs**.

### Notes

Not affiliated with NHTSA or the US DOT.

# Actor input Schema

## `vins` (type: `array`):

17-character VINs, one per line (spaces and dashes are removed). Partial VINs with \* wildcards also decode. Up to 100,000 per run; decoded 50 at a time.

## `includeRecalls` (type: `boolean`):

NHTSA safety recall campaigns for the decoded make, model and model year (campaign number, component, summary, consequence, remedy, park-it warnings).

## `includeComplaintsCount` (type: `boolean`):

Number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA for that make/model/year.

## `includeSafetyRatings` (type: `boolean`):

5-Star Safety Ratings (overall, frontal, side, rollover) for matching NCAP-tested variants.

## `includeAllFields` (type: `boolean`):

Adds 'allDecodedFields' with every non-empty vPIC variable (140+ possible).

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

You are charged per VIN decoded.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "vins": [
    "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "5YJ3E1EA7KF317000",
    "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312",
    "JM1BL1S58A1234567"
  ],
  "includeRecalls": true,
  "includeComplaintsCount": false,
  "includeSafetyRatings": false,
  "includeAllFields": false,
  "maxResults": 10000
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

One item per VIN: decoded specs plus optional recalls, complaints and NCAP ratings. Opens the Overview view by default; the dataset contains all fields.

## `runSummary` (type: `string`):

JSON record with counts for this run (RUN_SUMMARY in the default key-value store).

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "vins": [
        "1HGCM82633A004352",
        "5YJ3E1EA7KF317000",
        "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312",
        "JM1BL1S58A1234567"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("clever_firebox/nhtsa-vin-decoder-recalls").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "vins": [
        "1HGCM82633A004352",
        "5YJ3E1EA7KF317000",
        "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312",
        "JM1BL1S58A1234567",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("clever_firebox/nhtsa-vin-decoder-recalls").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "vins": [
    "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "5YJ3E1EA7KF317000",
    "1FTFW1ET5DFC10312",
    "JM1BL1S58A1234567"
  ]
}' |
apify call clever_firebox/nhtsa-vin-decoder-recalls --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,clever_firebox/nhtsa-vin-decoder-recalls"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/Ij3u6NbLNPpl0Ozld/builds/MzwK4epaDtoHW1rAD/openapi.json