# NHTSA Vehicle Safety Scraper (`crawlerbros/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper`) Actor Scrape the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - free vehicle safety data including VIN decoding, crash test ratings, consumer complaints, recalls, and vehicle model lookups. No API key or proxy required. - **URL**: https://apify.com/crawlerbros/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Crawler Bros](https://apify.com/crawlerbros) (community) - **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools, Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $3.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. Actors are written with capital "A". ## 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. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## NHTSA Vehicle Safety Scraper Extract vehicle safety data from the **US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)** — completely free, no API key or proxy required. Decode any Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), look up safety recalls, NCAP crash test ratings, consumer complaints, vehicle models, and the full list of vehicle makes — all from NHTSA's official public APIs. ### Data Source Data is served by two NHTSA public APIs: - **VPIC API** (`vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api`) — VIN decoding and vehicle catalog lookups - **NHTSA Safety API** (`api.nhtsa.gov`) — recalls, safety ratings, and complaints Both APIs are completely free with no authentication or API key needed. ### Modes | Mode | Description | |------|-------------| | `decodeVIN` | Decode a VIN to full vehicle specs (make, model, year, engine, transmission, plant, etc.) | | `getVehicleModels` | List all vehicle models for a given make and model year | | `getRecalls` | Official NHTSA safety recalls for a make/model/year | | `getSafetyRatings` | NCAP crash test star ratings for a make/model/year | | `getComplaints` | Consumer-reported safety complaints for a make/model/year | | `getMakes` | All vehicle makes in the NHTSA VPIC database (12,000+) | ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `mode` | String (select) | Data to fetch — see modes above (default: `decodeVIN`) | | `vin` | String | 17-character VIN to decode (mode=decodeVIN) | | `vins` | Array | Multiple VINs for batch decode (takes precedence over `vin`) | | `make` | String | Vehicle make (e.g. Toyota, Ford) — required for most modes | | `model` | String | Vehicle model (e.g. Camry, F-150) — required for recalls/ratings/complaints | | `modelYear` | Integer | Four-digit model year (1950–2027) | | `maxItems` | Integer | Maximum records to return (1–500, default 20) | ### Output #### decodeVIN ```json { "vin": "1HGBH41JXMN109186", "make": "HONDA", "model": "Civic", "modelYear": "2021", "bodyClass": "Sedan/Saloon", "engineCylinders": "4", "engineDisplacement": "1.5", "fuelType": "Gasoline", "transmissionStyle": "Continuously Variable Transmission(CVT)", "vehicleType": "PASSENGER CAR", "plantCity": "MARYSVILLE", "plantCountry": "UNITED STATES (USA)", "scrapedAt": "2026-06-03T10:00:00+00:00" } ```` #### getRecalls ```json { "nhtsaId": "20V682000", "manufacturer": "Toyota Motor Engineering", "make": "TOYOTA", "model": "CAMRY", "modelYear": 2022, "subject": "Fuel Pump May Fail", "component": "FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP", "summary": "The fuel pump impeller may crack and cause the engine to stall.", "consequence": "If the engine stalls while driving, a crash may occur.", "remedy": "Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge.", "reportReceivedDate": "09/17/2020", "scrapedAt": "2026-06-03T10:00:00+00:00" } ``` #### getSafetyRatings ```json { "make": "TOYOTA", "model": "CAMRY", "modelYear": 2022, "vehicleDescription": "2022 Toyota Camry 4 DR FWD", "overallRating": "5", "overallFrontCrashRating": "5", "overallSideCrashRating": "5", "rolloverRating": "4", "scrapedAt": "2026-06-03T10:00:00+00:00" } ``` ### Use Cases - **Fleet & Insurance** — decode VINs in bulk to enrich vehicle databases - **Safety Research** — track recall history and complaint patterns by make/model - **Automotive Apps** — look up NCAP ratings to compare vehicle safety - **Data Journalism** — investigate recall patterns across manufacturers - **Car Shopping** — check if a specific vehicle has open recalls before purchase ### FAQs **Is an API key required?** No. NHTSA provides completely free public APIs with no authentication. **What VIN format is accepted?** Standard 17-character VINs (North American vehicles). The VPIC API handles validation. **How current is the recall data?** NHTSA recalls are updated continuously. The API reflects the live NHTSA database. **What makes/models are available for safety ratings?** Only vehicles that have participated in NCAP crash testing. Not every make/model/year has ratings. **Can I decode multiple VINs at once?** Yes — provide a list of VINs in the `vins` field for batch decoding. **What is the rate limit?** NHTSA imposes no documented rate limit on public API use. The scraper adds small delays between requests to be polite. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): What data to fetch from NHTSA/VPIC. ## `vin` (type: `string`): 17-character Vehicle Identification Number to decode (mode=decodeVIN with a single VIN). ## `vins` (type: `array`): List of VINs to decode in batch (mode=decodeVIN). When provided, takes precedence over the single `vin` field. ## `make` (type: `string`): Vehicle manufacturer name (e.g. Toyota, Ford, Honda). Used for getRecalls, getSafetyRatings, getComplaints, and getVehicleModels modes. ## `model` (type: `string`): Vehicle model name (e.g. Camry, F-150, Civic). Used for getRecalls, getSafetyRatings, and getComplaints modes. ## `modelYear` (type: `integer`): Four-digit model year (e.g. 2022). Used for getRecalls, getSafetyRatings, getComplaints, and getVehicleModels modes. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of records to return. For getMakes this caps the 12,000+ entry list. ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "getRecalls", "vin": "1HGBH41JXMN109186", "vins": [], "make": "Toyota", "model": "Camry", "modelYear": 2022, "maxItems": 20 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `vehicleRecords` (type: `string`): Dataset containing all scraped NHTSA vehicle records. # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "mode": "getRecalls", "vin": "1HGBH41JXMN109186", "make": "Toyota", "model": "Camry", "modelYear": 2022, "maxItems": 20 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("crawlerbros/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "mode": "getRecalls", "vin": "1HGBH41JXMN109186", "make": "Toyota", "model": "Camry", "modelYear": 2022, "maxItems": 20, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("crawlerbros/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "mode": "getRecalls", "vin": "1HGBH41JXMN109186", "make": "Toyota", "model": "Camry", "modelYear": 2022, "maxItems": 20 }' | apify call crawlerbros/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=crawlerbros/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "NHTSA Vehicle Safety Scraper", "description": "Scrape the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - free vehicle safety data including VIN decoding, crash test ratings, consumer complaints, recalls, and vehicle model lookups. No API key or proxy required.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "GEjbL67TLK0XxcfCi" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/crawlerbros~nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-crawlerbros-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-crawlerbros-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-crawlerbros-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "mode" ], "properties": { "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "decodeVIN", "getVehicleModels", "getRecalls", "getSafetyRatings", "getComplaints", "getMakes" ], "type": "string", "description": "What data to fetch from NHTSA/VPIC.", "default": "decodeVIN" }, "vin": { "title": "VIN", "type": "string", "description": "17-character Vehicle Identification Number to decode (mode=decodeVIN with a single VIN)." }, "vins": { "title": "VINs (batch decode)", "type": "array", "description": "List of VINs to decode in batch (mode=decodeVIN). When provided, takes precedence over the single `vin` field.", "default": [], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "make": { "title": "Make", "type": "string", "description": "Vehicle manufacturer name (e.g. Toyota, Ford, Honda). Used for getRecalls, getSafetyRatings, getComplaints, and getVehicleModels modes." }, "model": { "title": "Model", "type": "string", "description": "Vehicle model name (e.g. Camry, F-150, Civic). Used for getRecalls, getSafetyRatings, and getComplaints modes." }, "modelYear": { "title": "Model Year", "minimum": 1950, "maximum": 2027, "type": "integer", "description": "Four-digit model year (e.g. 2022). Used for getRecalls, getSafetyRatings, getComplaints, and getVehicleModels modes.", "default": 2022 }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 500, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of records to return. For getMakes this caps the 12,000+ entry list.", "default": 20 } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```