# NHTSA Vehicle Recalls Normalizer (`wakey7dev/nhtsa-vehicle-recalls`) Actor

Search US vehicle safety recalls by make, model & year. Normalizes manufacturer names, categorizes components, and scores risk severity. Powered by free NHTSA API.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/wakey7dev/nhtsa-vehicle-recalls.md
- **Developed by:** [Chris Wakefield](https://apify.com/wakey7dev) (community)
- **Categories:** Business, Lead generation
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$2.00 / 1,000 results

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/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — 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

![Chris The Dev](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/chriswakefield87/appstore-screenshot-translator/main/assets/actor-banner.png)

## 🚗 NHTSA Vehicle Recalls Normalizer

Search the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall database by vehicle make, model, and year. Returns **normalized, enriched recall data** — not just raw API output.

### ✨ What Makes This Different

Most NHTSA recall scrapers dump raw API data. This actor **normalizes and enriches** every record:

| Feature | Raw API | This Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer names | "Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)" | **"Honda"** — canonical |
| Component classification | "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE" | **"Electrical" + hierarchy** |
| Date format | "10/12/2020" (US) | **"2020-10-12"** (ISO 8601) |
| Risk assessment | No | **Critical / High / Moderate / Low** |
| Park-it alerts | Buried boolean | **Surfaced + tallied** |

### 📥 Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `searchMake` | string | ✅ Yes | Vehicle make, e.g. `HONDA`, `TOYOTA`, `TESLA` |
| `searchModel` | string | No | Model, e.g. `ACCORD`, `CAMRY`, `MODEL 3` |
| `searchYear` | string | No | Model year, e.g. `2023` |
| `maxResults` | integer | No | Max records (1-500, default 50) |

#### Example Input

```json
{
  "searchMake": "TOYOTA",
  "searchModel": "CAMRY",
  "searchYear": "2023",
  "maxResults": 25
}
```

### 📤 Output

Three outputs are produced:

1. **Dataset** — Full normalized JSON records with raw + normalized fields
2. **OUTPUT (KVS)** — Human-readable formatted table with risk distribution and component breakdown
3. **STATS (KVS)** — Machine-readable statistics (risk counts, component categories, campaign IDs)

#### Example Output Record

```json
{
  "nhtsaCampaignNumber": "23V432000",
  "reportDate": "15/06/2023",
  "manufacturer": "Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing",
  "make": "TOYOTA",
  "model": "CAMRY",
  "modelYear": "2023",
  "component": "WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS",
  "summary": "Toyota is recalling certain 2023 Camry vehicles...",
  "consequence": "Loose lug nuts can result in wheel detachment...",
  "remedy": "Dealers will inspect and tighten lug nuts...",
  "parkIt": true,
  "parkOutSide": false,
  "nManufacturer": "Toyota",
  "nMake": "Toyota",
  "nComponentCategory": "Wheels/Tires",
  "nComponentSubsystem": "Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs",
  "nComponentDetail": "",
  "nReportDate": "2023-06-15",
  "nRiskScore": "High"
}
```

### 🎯 Use Cases

- **Insurance companies** — Risk assessment and underwriting
- **Fleet managers** — Proactive maintenance scheduling
- **Auto manufacturers** — Competitive intelligence
- **Used car dealers** — Vehicle history research
- **Law firms** — Class action and liability research
- **Auto journalists** — Recall trend analysis

### 📊 Data Source

Data provided by the [NHTSA API](https://api.nhtsa.gov) — the official US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vehicle recall database. Free to use, no API key required. Updated daily.

***

Built by **Chris The Dev** — [More Actors on Apify Store](https://apify.com/wakey7dev)

# Actor input Schema

## `searchMake` (type: `string`):

Vehicle manufacturer, e.g. HONDA, TOYOTA, FORD, TESLA. Case-insensitive.

## `searchModel` (type: `string`):

Specific model, e.g. ACCORD, CAMRY, F-150. Leave blank for all models.

## `searchYear` (type: `string`):

Model year, e.g. 2023. Leave blank for all years.

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

Maximum number of recall records to return (1-500).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "maxResults": 50
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

All normalized recall records as JSON array.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

Human-readable formatted table of results.

## `stats` (type: `string`):

Machine-readable statistics about the run.

# 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 = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("wakey7dev/nhtsa-vehicle-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 = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("wakey7dev/nhtsa-vehicle-recalls").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 wakey7dev/nhtsa-vehicle-recalls --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=wakey7dev/nhtsa-vehicle-recalls",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/7bXbIXoyalgyvWZKZ/builds/upfNZQBGxF6ndcGVb/openapi.json