How do I check if a car has open recalls?

Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's free lookup, to see any unrepaired safety recalls. Manufacturers' websites offer similar lookups. Recall repairs are done free at a franchised dealer of that brand. Note that federal law doesn't require used-car dealers to fix recalls before selling, so ask directly whether any open recalls exist and whether they'll be fixed before delivery. OffLot's lot mode includes this question.