Frequently Asked Questions
Which agencies' recalls are included in PlainRecalls?
PlainRecalls aggregates recalls from three US federal agencies: FDA (food, drugs, medical devices), CPSC (consumer products), and NHTSA (vehicles and automotive equipment). Together these cover the vast majority of consumer product safety recalls in the United States.
What is a Class I recall?
Class I is the FDA's highest recall classification, used when there is a reasonable probability that the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. CPSC uses 'urgent' for similar severity. Class I recalls require the fastest and most complete response from companies and consumers.
How quickly are new recalls added to PlainRecalls?
We update our database regularly from official agency APIs. New recalls typically appear in PlainRecalls within 24-72 hours of being posted by the issuing agency. For urgent safety decisions, check the issuing agency's website directly (FDA.gov, CPSC.gov, NHTSA.gov).
I found a recalled product at a store. What should I do?
Stop using the product immediately if it is subject to an active recall. Follow the remedy instructions in the official recall notice — most require you to return the product to the store, contact the manufacturer for a replacement, or stop use and discard. For vehicle recalls, contact a dealer for free repair. Report recalled products still for sale to the issuing agency.
How do I know if my specific vehicle is recalled?
Vehicle recalls through NHTSA can be looked up by your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at nhtsa.gov/recalls. PlainRecalls provides NHTSA recall notices searchable by make, model, and year, but for a definitive check of your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup tool.
Are all recalls serious?
Recall severity varies significantly. A Class III FDA recall is for a product that violates regulations but is unlikely to cause health problems. A Class I recall involves a serious health risk. CPSC consumer product recalls range from minor labeling issues to products that can cause fires or serious injuries. PlainRecalls shows the classification for each recall where available.
Is PlainRecalls affiliated with any government agency?
No. PlainRecalls is an independent data portal that aggregates publicly available recall information from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA. It is not affiliated with any government agency. Always verify recall information with the official agency source before making safety decisions.