Do I need an API key?

No! NHTSA data is completely free and open government data. No authentication required.

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle. It encodes the manufacturer, model, year, engine type, assembly plant and more. Find it on your dashboard or driver's door jamb.

Can I check recalls for my car?

Yes! Use get_recalls_by_vehicle with your car's make, model and year. Or use decode_vin with your VIN for complete vehicle details including any open recalls.

What do safety ratings mean?

NHTSA rates vehicles 1-5 stars in frontal crash, side crash and rollover tests. Overall rating combines all categories. 5 stars is the highest safety rating.

NHTSA Vehicle Safety MCP Connector for Claude

A+

Decode VINs, search recalls and complaints, check safety ratings and find car seat inspection stations.

13 tools Official Updated Jun 28, 2026 Official Vinkius Partner

More Details Connect to Claude

Connect to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and access US vehicle safety data through natural conversation — no API key needed.

What you can do

VIN Decoding — Decode any 17-character VIN to reveal make, model, year, engine, transmission and safety features
Recall Search — Search safety recalls by make, model and year or by campaign number
Consumer Complaints — Browse vehicle owner complaints filed with NHTSA by make, model or ODI number
Safety Ratings — Check NHTSA crash test ratings (overall, frontal, side, rollover)
Car Seat Stations — Find certified car seat inspection stations by ZIP code or GPS coordinates

How it works

Subscribe to this server
No API key needed — NHTSA data is open government data
Start exploring vehicle safety data from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client

Who is this for?

Car Buyers — check safety ratings, recalls and complaint history before purchasing
Car Owners — look up recalls for your vehicle and find nearby car seat inspection stations
Researchers — analyze safety data, complaint trends and recall patterns

vin-decodingvehicle-safetyrecall-searchconsumer-protectionautomotive-data

13 tools expose this connector's capabilities to your AI agent.

decode_vin

Returns comprehensive vehicle specifications from the NHTSA database. Decode a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

get_models_for_make_year

Useful for discovering what models a brand offered in a particular year. Get models for a manufacturer in a specific year

get_car_seat_stations_by_zip

Returns station name, address, phone, hours and appointment requirements. Useful for parents needing car seat safety checks. Find car seat inspection stations by ZIP code

get_complaint_by_odi

Returns failure description, consequences, remedy, component, mileage and dates. Get complaint details by ODI number

get_complaints_by_vehicle

Returns complaints filed by vehicle owners including component, failure description, consequences, mileage at failure and date. At least one parameter recommended. Search consumer complaints by make, model and year

get_car_seat_stations_by_location

Returns station name, address, phone, hours and distance. Useful for finding nearby car seat safety checks. Find car seat inspection stations by coordinates

get_makes_for_year

Useful for discovering which brands were active in a particular year. Get all manufacturers for a specific model year

get_models_for_make

Useful for discovering the full lineup of a brand. Get all models for a specific manufacturer

get_recalls_by_campaign

Returns component, summary, consequence, remedy, manufacturer notes, dates and affected vehicle count. Get recall details by campaign number

get_recalls_by_vehicle

Returns recall details including campaign number, component affected, summary, remedy, manufacturer, dates and affected vehicle count. At least one parameter (make, model, year) is recommended. Search safety recalls by make, model and year

get_safety_rating_by_vehicle_id

Returns overall rating and detailed breakdown by crash type. Get safety rating for a specific vehicle by NHTSA ID

get_safety_ratings

Returns overall rating and breakdown by frontal crash, side crash and rollover. If only year provided, returns all vehicles for that year. Add make and model for specific vehicle ratings. Get NHTSA safety ratings for vehicles

get_vehicle_types_for_make

g. Passenger Car, Truck, SUV, Motorcycle, Trailer). Useful for discovering what categories a manufacturer produces. Get vehicle types for a specific manufacturer

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