The maker pays. A safety recall repair is free for the car's current owner, whether you bought it new or from the fourth owner, and it does not expire like a warranty. There are two narrow exceptions under US law, and one way to get money back if you paid for the fix yourself.
Free for every owner
US law (49 U.S.C. 30120(a)) requires the maker to remedy a recalled defect "without charge" when the vehicle is presented, by repairing it, replacing it, or refunding the price less reasonable depreciation. It is tied to the vehicle, not to the first buyer. NHTSA's own words: you can "fix the recalled part for free" at a dealership.
The exceptions: 15 years, and 5 for tires
The free-repair duty does not apply to a vehicle first bought more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice, or to a tire first bought more than 5 years before (30120(g)). Some makers fix older cars anyway, so ask. NHTSA's VIN look-up also stops showing recalls more than 15 years old unless the maker offers more.
If you already paid for the repair
Every recall remedy plan filed with NHTSA must include a plan to reimburse owners who paid for the repair within a reasonable time before they were notified (30120(d)). Keep the invoice and contact the maker's customer line with the recall number; the owner letter usually says how to claim.
If the dealer will not do it for free
Ask for the refusal in writing, then contact the maker directly with your VIN and the recall number. If that fails, report it to NHTSA through its "Report a Safety Problem" page (see how to report a safety defect). The step-by-step, including what to do when there are no parts, is in what to do about a recall.
Outside the United States
In the UK the manufacturer fixes recalled vehicles, parts and accessories; check a car at GOV.UK. In Canada, the Netherlands, France, Israel and the EU, see how many recalls a model has had on its recall card.
Quick answers
Do I have to pay for a recall repair on a used car?
No. In the United States the maker must fix a safety recall free of charge for whoever owns the car now. The exceptions are vehicles first sold more than 15 years before the recall, and tires more than 5 years old.
Can I get my money back if I paid for a repair before the recall?
Usually yes. US law requires every recall remedy plan to include reimbursement for owners who paid for the fix within a reasonable time before the recall. Keep the invoice and contact the maker with the recall number.
Do recalls expire?
Not like a warranty. Under US law the free repair applies unless the vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice (5 years for tires).
Related
- Do you get a new car if your car is recalled?
- How long does a recall repair take?
- Can you sell a car with an open recall?
- How to report a car safety defect, and why it matters
- Your car is recalled: what to do, step by step
Sources
- 49 U.S.C. 30120: remedies for defects and noncompliance (Cornell LII)
- NHTSA: Safety issues and recalls, check by VIN
- GOV.UK: Vehicle recalls and faults
This page explains US federal rules in plain words. It is not legal advice; for a dispute, the statute and NHTSA are the authority, and a lawyer can advise on your case.
Published 7 November 2026 by A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus. CarsMultiverse is an independent site, not an authority.