NHTSA VIN Decoder & Vehicle Specs Scraper

Here is one real result (the recalls array holds 24 real campaigns for this VIN; it is trimmed to 2 entries here, every value kept unchanged):

{
  "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
  "make": "HONDA",
  "makeId": 474,
  "model": "Accord",
  "modelId": 1861,
  "modelYear": "2003",
  "trim": "EX-V6",
  "bodyClass": "Coupe",
  "vehicleType": "PASSENGER CAR",
  "doors": 2,
  "engineCylinders": 6,
  "displacementL": 2.998832712,
  "displacementCC": 2998.832712,
  "displacementCI": 183,
  "engineConfiguration": "V-Shaped",
  "engineHP": 240,
  "engineModel": "J30A4",
  "valveTrainDesign": "Single Overhead Cam (SOHC)",
  "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline",
  "transmissionStyle": "Automatic",
  "transmissionSpeeds": "5",
  "gvwr": "Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)",
  "gvwrTo": "Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)",
  "seatBeltsAll": "Manual",
  "airBagLocFront": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
  "airBagLocSide": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
  "airBagLocCurtain": "1st and 2nd Rows",
  "otherRestraintSystemInfo": "Seat Belt (Rr center position)",
  "manufacturer": "AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.",
  "manufacturerId": 988,
  "plantCity": "MARYSVILLE",
  "plantState": "OHIO",
  "plantCountry": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
  "vehicleDescriptor": "1HGCM826*3A",
  "errorCode": "0",
  "errorText": "0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct",
  "observedAt": "2026-08-10T14:17:18.362Z",
  "error": null,
  "recalls": [
    {
      "campaignNumber": "19V182000",
      "manufacturer": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)",
      "component": "AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE",
      "summary": "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX ... and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord ... vehicles.  The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy ... Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.",
      "consequence": "An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.",
      "remedy": "Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.  The recall began April 10, 2019.  Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.",
      "reportReceivedDate": "06/03/2019",
      "parkIt": false,
      "parkOutSide": false,
      "overTheAirUpdate": false
    },
    {
      "campaignNumber": "04V176000",
      "manufacturer": "HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)",
      "component": "POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION",
      "summary": "ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.",
      "consequence": "GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.",
      "remedy": "ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE ... OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.",
      "reportReceivedDate": "15/04/2004",
      "parkIt": false,
      "parkOutSide": false,
      "overTheAirUpdate": false
    }
  ],
  "recallCount": 24
}

The most complete NHTSA VIN decoder available. It returns every populated field the official NHTSA vPIC database exposes for a VIN, plus a bonus that a plain decoder never gives you: the open NHTSA safety recall campaigns tied to the decoded vehicle.

📥 Input · 📤 Output · 💰 Pricing · ▶️ Examples

Table of contents

• What it does
• Quickstart
• Input reference
• Output reference
• Example output record
• Run via API and CLI
• Fetch results
• Billing and limits
• FAQ and troubleshooting

What it does

The actor decodes each VIN you pass against the official US NHTSA vPIC database and writes one normalized record per VIN to the run's dataset. Each record carries the vehicle's identity (make, model, year, trim, series, body class), dimensions, engine and drivetrain, safety and ADAS equipment, and manufacturing plant, plus the open NHTSA safety recall campaigns for that make, model and year. Only populated fields are included, numeric fields are parsed to numbers, and empty vPIC variables are dropped so the columns stay clean. Full 17-character VINs give the most complete results; partial VINs with an asterisk wildcard also work.

Data comes from the official NHTSA vPIC and recalls APIs. No account, key or login is required.

Quickstart

Open the actor, paste this into the input, and press Run. It decodes two VINs and attaches their open recall campaigns.

{
  "vins": ["1HGCM82633A004352", "5UXWX7C5*BA"],
  "maxVins": 10
}

Add a modelYear hint to improve accuracy for partial or wildcard VINs where the year cannot be derived from the VIN itself.

Input reference

Field	Type	Required	Default	Description
vins	string[]	yes	(see prefill)	Vehicle Identification Numbers to decode, one per line. Full 17-character VINs give the most complete results; partial VINs with an asterisk wildcard (for example 5UXWX7C5*BA) also work. Case-insensitive.
maxVins	integer	no	(all)	Maximum number of VINs to decode. Leave empty to decode every VIN in the list. Free Apify plans are capped at 10 per run.
modelYear	integer	no	(none)	Optional model year hint. Improves accuracy for partial or wildcard VINs. Applied to every VIN in the list.

Output reference

One dataset item per VIN. Fields that vPIC returns empty for a given vehicle are omitted, so records only contain populated fields. Types: string, number, integer, boolean, object[], or null.

Field	Type	Description
vin	string	The decoded VIN (unique per record).
make / makeId	string / integer	Vehicle make and its vPIC ID.
model / modelId	string / integer	Vehicle model and its vPIC ID.
modelYear	string	Model year.
trim / trim2 / series / series2	string	Trim and series designations, when present.
bodyClass	string	Body class, for example Coupe, Sedan.
vehicleType	string	Vehicle type, for example PASSENGER CAR.
basePrice	number	Base price, when present.
doors / seats / seatRows / axles / wheels	integer	Configuration counts, when present.
wheelBaseShort / wheelBaseLong / wheelSizeFront / wheelSizeRear / trackWidth / topSpeedMPH	number	Dimensions and capacity, when present.
engineCylinders	integer	Number of cylinders.
displacementL / displacementCC / displacementCI	number	Engine displacement in liters, cc and cubic inches.
engineConfiguration / engineCycles / engineHP / engineKW / engineModel / engineManufacturer	mixed	Engine details, when present.
coolingType / turbo / valveTrainDesign / otherEngineInfo	string	More engine attributes.
fuelTypePrimary / fuelTypeSecondary / electrificationLevel	string	Fuel and electrification.
driveType / transmissionStyle / transmissionSpeeds / steeringLocation	string	Drivetrain and steering.
gvwr / gvwrTo	string	Gross vehicle weight rating range.
brakeSystemType / abs / tpms	string	Braking and tire-pressure systems.
seatBeltsAll / pretensioner / airBagLocFront / airBagLocSide / airBagLocCurtain / airBagLocKnee / otherRestraintSystemInfo	string	Restraint and airbag configuration.
esc / tractionControl / forwardCollisionWarning / crashImminentBraking / dynamicBrakeSupport / pedestrianAutomaticEmergencyBraking / blindSpotMon / blindSpotIntervention / laneDepartureWarning / laneKeepSystem / laneCenteringAssistance / adaptiveCruiseControl / rearCrossTrafficAlert / rearVisibilitySystem / parkAssist	string	ADAS and active-safety equipment, when present.
daytimeRunningLight / lowerBeamHeadlampLightSource / semiautoHeadlampBeamSwitching / adaptiveHeadlights / keylessIgnition / eventDataRecorder	string	Lighting and other equipment.
manufacturer / manufacturerId	string / integer	Manufacturer name and vPIC ID.
plantCity / plantState / plantCountry / plantCompanyName	string	Manufacturing plant.
destinationMarket	string	Destination market, when present.
note / vehicleDescriptor	string	vPIC note and the VIN descriptor pattern.
errorCode / errorText	string	vPIC decode status; 0 means decoded clean.
recalls	object[]	Open NHTSA recall campaigns for the vehicle (see below). Present when the recall lookup succeeds.
recallCount	integer	Number of recall campaigns returned.
observedAt	string	ISO 8601 timestamp of when the record was collected.
error	string	null on success. On a failed VIN, a single item with vin and a populated error field is written instead.

Each recalls entry contains: campaignNumber, manufacturer, component, summary, consequence, remedy, reportReceivedDate, parkIt, parkOutSide, overTheAirUpdate.

Example output record

Real record from a live run (input {"vins":["1HGCM82633A004352"],"maxVins":10}). See the hero record above for the full field set and recall entries.

{
  "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
  "make": "HONDA",
  "model": "Accord",
  "modelYear": "2003",
  "trim": "EX-V6",
  "bodyClass": "Coupe",
  "vehicleType": "PASSENGER CAR",
  "engineCylinders": 6,
  "displacementL": 2.998832712,
  "engineHP": 240,
  "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline",
  "transmissionStyle": "Automatic",
  "plantCity": "MARYSVILLE",
  "plantCountry": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
  "errorCode": "0",
  "errorText": "0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct",
  "recallCount": 24,
  "observedAt": "2026-08-10T14:17:18.362Z",
  "error": null
}

Run via API and CLI

Start a run and wait for it to finish, then read the dataset. Replace <TOKEN> with your Apify API token.

Run synchronously and get dataset items in one call:

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/scrapers_lat~nhtsa-vin-decoder-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=<TOKEN>" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"vins":["1HGCM82633A004352","5UXWX7C5*BA"],"maxVins":25}'

Start a run asynchronously:

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/scrapers_lat~nhtsa-vin-decoder-scraper/runs?token=<TOKEN>" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"vins":["5UXWX7C5*BA"],"modelYear":2011}'

Apify CLI:

apify call scrapers_lat/nhtsa-vin-decoder-scraper \
  --input '{"vins":["1HGCM82633A004352"]}'

Fetch results

Every run writes to a dataset. Fetch items as JSON, CSV, or Excel by changing format:

# JSON
curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/<DATASET_ID>/items?token=<TOKEN>&clean=true&format=json"

# CSV
curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/<DATASET_ID>/items?token=<TOKEN>&clean=true&format=csv"

# Paginate large datasets
curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/<DATASET_ID>/items?token=<TOKEN>&offset=1000&limit=1000"

<DATASET_ID> is returned as defaultDatasetId in the run object. Use offset and limit to page through large result sets. clean=true drops empty and internal fields.

Billing and limits

• Pay per result. You are charged per VIN record returned (result event). See the pricing tab for the current per-result price.
• No charge on failure. If a VIN cannot be decoded, the actor writes a single item with the vin and a populated error field and does not charge for it. Empty runs cost nothing.
• Spend cap respected. Set maxTotalChargeUsd on the run; once reached, the actor stops emitting and charging further billable results.
• Free Apify plans are capped at 10 records per run. Upgrade for higher maxVins.

FAQ and troubleshooting

Do I get vehicle specs and recalls in one record? Yes. Each decoded VIN includes the full vPIC specification fields plus the open NHTSA safety recall campaigns for that make, model and year, with recallCount.

Can I decode a partial VIN? Yes. Use an asterisk wildcard, for example 5UXWX7C5*BA. Add a modelYear hint to improve accuracy where the year cannot be derived from the VIN.

Why do some fields not appear? vPIC returns many variables empty for a given vehicle. The actor drops empty fields, so a record only contains populated data. Nothing is invented.

What does errorCode 0 mean? The VIN decoded clean and the check digit is correct. Non-zero codes are passed through in errorCode and errorText.

Is this an official NHTSA tool? No. This actor is independent and has no affiliation with NHTSA. It reads only the public NHTSA vPIC and recalls APIs. Use the results in accordance with the source's terms.

Related scrapers

• FAA Aircraft Registry Scraper: US aircraft registration records.
• NHTSA Recalls Scraper: US vehicle safety recall campaigns.
• Copart Scraper: Salvage vehicle auction lots.
• FMCSA Motor Carrier Scraper: US motor carrier and trucking records.
• CPSC Recalls Scraper: US consumer product recalls.

More scrapers at scrapers.lat

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Independent tool, not affiliated with NHTSA. Accesses only the public NHTSA vPIC and recalls data. Use the results in accordance with the source's terms.