What does 'outstanding recall' mean on a vehicle check?

An outstanding recall means the vehicle's manufacturer has identified a safety-related fault affecting that specific make, model, or production batch — and the repair hasn't yet been carried out on this particular car.

Recalls are issued by manufacturers (sometimes prompted by the DVSA) when a design or manufacturing issue is found that could affect safety, such as faulty airbags, brake components, or software controlling a safety system. They're free to have fixed, usually via a franchised dealer, using the vehicle's registration or VIN.

Important things to know:

• A recall is different from an MOT advisory or failure — it relates to a specific known issue identified by the manufacturer, not general wear and tear
• A car can pass its MOT and still have an outstanding recall, since MOT testers don't automatically check or fix recall status
• Recall status is one of several checks worth running on a used car alongside things like mileage history, finance, and write-off status, since none of these are visible from a visual inspection or test drive alone

If a check shows an outstanding recall, it's worth contacting a dealer for that manufacturer to arrange the free repair, especially if it relates to a safety-critical system.