NHTSA offered states $1.5 million to flag open recalls when vehicles are registered
The agency announced the grant money at its Recalls Next public meeting, whose agenda opened with a session on automated vehicles and over-the-air remedies.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on November 5 a $1.5 million investment to help states improve vehicle recall completion. According to the release, the money goes to states that develop a process to tell owners about open safety recalls when they register their vehicles, measure recall completions with data, and report their methods so practices can be shared. Applications are due by February 4, 2027.
Administrator Jonathan Morrison announced the grants at the agency’s Recalls Next public meeting in Washington the same day. The meeting’s agenda opened with a session on automated vehicles and over-the-air remedies, with speakers from Zoox, Waymo, Rivian, General Motors and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association. NHTSA’s Federal Register notice for the meeting, which we covered in September, said manufacturers are increasingly using digital communications, connected-vehicle technologies, mobile repair and over-the-air software updates to cut the time and burden of obtaining remedies, and that automated vehicles are prompting new discussion of the recall process. The meeting was not streamed or recorded, and docket NHTSA-2026-2014 is open for comments until December 5, 2026.