About AutoTruth
Our Mission
Buying a used car shouldn't feel like a gamble. AutoTruth gives you free, instant access to every recall and owner complaint on record with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). No sign-up required, no hidden fees.
Where Our Data Comes From
All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from NHTSA's public APIs. We pull data for the top 80 makes across model years 2008 to 2022, covering the vast majority of used cars on the road today. Our database is refreshed weekly.
How Trust Scores Work
Every vehicle gets a trust score from 0 to 100, where higher is safer. The score starts at 100 and is reduced based on:
- Complaints: −2 points per complaint, up to −40 points total
- Safety-critical recalls: −15 points each (brakes, steering, fuel, airbags, seatbelts, fire risk, acceleration issues)
- Non-critical recalls: −5 points each, up to −20 points total
Scores are colour-coded: green (70+) means clean record, amber (40–69) means some concerns, and red (below 40) means significant issues.
Who Built This
AutoTruth is built and maintained by Sunny Patel, an SEO consultant and web developer based in the UK. After seeing too many buyers get caught out by undisclosed recalls, Sunny built AutoTruth to make NHTSA data accessible to everyone — not just mechanics and dealerships.
Editorial Standards
Every piece of data on AutoTruth comes directly from NHTSA's public database. We do not editorialize complaint summaries or alter recall descriptions. Trust scores are computed algorithmically using the formula described above — no manual adjustments are made. Our guides are fact-checked against current NHTSA documentation and updated when policies change.
Disclaimer
AutoTruth is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. Always have a used car inspected by a qualified mechanic before purchasing. Trust scores are a simplified indicator and should not be the sole factor in a buying decision.