# NHTSA Recall and Complaint Monitor (`george.the.developer/nhtsa-recall-monitor`) Actor Look up NHTSA vehicle recalls, owner complaints, and VIN decoded recall reports over native JSON APIs. - **URL**: https://apify.com/george.the.developer/nhtsa-recall-monitor.md - **Developed by:** [George Kioko](https://apify.com/george.the.developer) (community) - **Categories:** News - **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per usage This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage ## 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 Recall and Complaint Monitor Pulls vehicle safety recalls and owner complaints straight from NHTSA, plus a VIN decoder that chains into the recalls for that vehicle. No API key, no scraping, no browser. Just native JSON calls to the public NHTSA endpoints. Runs as an Apify Standby API (instant HTTP responses) or as a one-off batch run. ![API key](https://img.shields.io/badge/API%20key-not%20required-brightgreen) ![mode](https://img.shields.io/badge/mode-standby%20%2B%20batch-blue) ![pricing](https://img.shields.io/badge/pricing-pay%20per%20event-orange) ![source](https://img.shields.io/badge/source-NHTSA%20%2B%20vPIC-informational) ```mermaid flowchart LR A["Request
VIN or make / model / year"] --> B{mode} B -->|vin| C["Decode VIN
vPIC"] C --> D["Recalls for
decoded vehicle"] B -->|recalls| E["NHTSA recalls API"] B -->|complaints| F["NHTSA complaints API"] D --> G["Normalize rows
dates to YYYY-MM-DD"] E --> G F --> G G --> H[("Dataset
clean JSON rows")] ```` ### What it does - Recalls by make, model, year. Normalized rows with campaign number, component, summary, consequence, remedy. - Owner complaints by make, model, year. Crash, fire, injury, and death flags included. - VIN decode. Give it a 17 character VIN, get back make, model, year, body class, engine, and the recalls that apply. Data comes from `api.nhtsa.gov` (recalls + complaints) and `vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov` (VIN decode). Both are free government endpoints. ### Endpoints (Standby mode) | Method | Path | Query | Returns | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | GET | `/recalls` | `make`, `model`, `year`, `limit` | normalized recall rows | | GET | `/complaints` | `make`, `model`, `year`, `limit` | normalized complaint rows | | GET | `/vin` | `vin` | decoded vehicle plus its recalls | | GET | `/` or `/health` | none | service info | ### Pricing (pay per event) | Event | Price | When | | --- | --- | --- | | `actor-start` | $0.25 | once per paid Standby request or batch run | | `recall-record` | $0.02 | per recall row returned | | `complaint-record` | $0.01 | per complaint row returned | | `vin-report` | $0.05 | per VIN decode plus recall report | Health probe values like `test`, `ping`, or `example` return mock data and never charge. ### Example curl ```bash ## recalls for a 2021 Honda Accord curl "https:///recalls?make=honda&model=accord&year=2021&limit=10" ## owner complaints for the same vehicle curl "https:///complaints?make=honda&model=accord&year=2021&limit=10" ## decode a VIN and get its recalls curl "https:///vin?vin=5J6RW2H87KL000000" ``` Batch mode (regular actor run) takes the same fields as input: ```json { "mode": "recalls", "make": "honda", "model": "accord", "year": 2021, "limit": 25 } ``` ### Output schema Recall row: ```json { "campaign_number": "21V900000", "manufacturer": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)", "make": "HONDA", "model": "ACCORD", "model_year": "2021", "component": "SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR", "summary": "Honda is recalling certain 2021 Accord ...", "consequence": "An unsecured child restraint increases the risk of injury.", "remedy": "Dealers will replace the seat belt assembly, free of charge.", "report_date": "2021-11-18", "fetched_at": "2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z" } ``` Complaint row: ```json { "odi_number": 11741975, "make": "HONDA", "model": "ACCORD", "model_year": "2021", "components": "ENGINE", "summary": "Premature head gasket failure ...", "crash": false, "fire": false, "injuries": 0, "deaths": 0, "incident_date": "2026-05-28", "filed_date": "2026-06-04", "fetched_at": "2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z" } ``` VIN report: ```json { "vin": "5J6RW2H87KL000000", "make": "HONDA", "model": "CR-V", "model_year": "2019", "body_class": "Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)", "engine": "In-Line 4 cyl 1.5L", "recalls": [ ...recall rows... ], "fetched_at": "2026-06-10T00:00:00.000Z" } ``` ### Flow ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Request] --> B{Path} B -->|/recalls| C[recallsByVehicle API] B -->|/complaints| D[complaintsByVehicle API] B -->|/vin| E[decodevin API] E --> F[extract make/model/year] F --> C C --> G[normalize rows] D --> G G --> H[push to dataset + charge per record] H --> I[JSON response] ``` ### Notes - Make and model matching is whatever NHTSA accepts. Lowercase works fine. - Recall dates from NHTSA come as DD/MM/YYYY and get flipped to YYYY-MM-DD. Complaint dates come as MM/DD/YYYY and also get normalized. - A VIN that NHTSA cannot resolve to make/model/year returns the decoded vehicle with an empty recalls array. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): Run mode for batch execution. ## `make` (type: `string`): Vehicle make such as honda, toyota, ford. Used for recalls and complaints modes. ## `model` (type: `string`): Vehicle model such as accord, camry, f-150. ## `year` (type: `integer`): Four digit model year such as 2021. ## `vin` (type: `string`): 17 character VIN to decode and pull recalls for. Used in vin mode. ## `limit` (type: `integer`): Maximum rows to return. ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "recalls", "make": "honda", "model": "accord", "year": 2021, "limit": 25 } ``` # 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 = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("george.the.developer/nhtsa-recall-monitor").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 = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("george.the.developer/nhtsa-recall-monitor").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 '{}' | apify call george.the.developer/nhtsa-recall-monitor --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=george.the.developer/nhtsa-recall-monitor", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "NHTSA Recall and Complaint Monitor", "description": "Look up NHTSA vehicle recalls, owner complaints, and VIN decoded recall reports over native JSON APIs.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "oJgEEp1kTswsZ9dJj" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/george.the.developer~nhtsa-recall-monitor/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-george.the.developer-nhtsa-recall-monitor", "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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/george.the.developer~nhtsa-recall-monitor/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-george.the.developer-nhtsa-recall-monitor", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/george.the.developer~nhtsa-recall-monitor/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-george.the.developer-nhtsa-recall-monitor", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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", "properties": { "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "recalls", "complaints", "vin" ], "type": "string", "description": "Run mode for batch execution.", "default": "recalls" }, "make": { "title": "Make", "type": "string", "description": "Vehicle make such as honda, toyota, ford. Used for recalls and complaints modes.", "default": "honda" }, "model": { "title": "Model", "type": "string", "description": "Vehicle model such as accord, camry, f-150.", "default": "accord" }, "year": { "title": "Model year", "minimum": 1949, "maximum": 2030, "type": "integer", "description": "Four digit model year such as 2021.", "default": 2021 }, "vin": { "title": "VIN", "type": "string", "description": "17 character VIN to decode and pull recalls for. Used in vin mode." }, "limit": { "title": "Limit", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 200, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum rows to return.", "default": 25 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```