Product Recall Data API Documentation

The Product Recall Data API returns food, car, and product safety data and recalls.

If you are using the Product Recalls API and have feedback or want to tell us about your product, please e-mail us.


The Product Recall Data API returns data on product safety and recalls from three federal government agencies: (1) food safety data from FoodSafety.gov; (2) car safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and (3) product safety data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The feeds are processed every 30 minutes, when possible.

You can see how this data is used when searching for recalls.

The API has two important features of note, both of which are intended to minimize customers’ need to input complex queries while maximizing the recall of search results. First, the API searches all the fields in the database (the full text of the record). Second, the API stems (or performs prefix search) customers’ search terms (for example, allergic and allergy retrieve the same search results).

By using the Product Recall Data API, you agree to our Terms of Service.

Base URL

http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls

Format

JSON is currently the only response format.

Type

HTTP GET

Authentication

None required

Back to Top

Parameters

  • format: json. This parameter is required. The most recent recalls are returned as the default if no other parameters are given.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json
  • query: keywords. Query terms for the search.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?query=tires&format=json
  • start_date: yyyy-mm-dd. Start date of the recall.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?start_date=2010-01-01&end_date=2010-03-19&format=json
  • end_date: yyyy-mm-dd. End date of the recall.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?start_date=2010-01-01&end_date=2010-03-19&format=json
  • organization: Government organization providing the recall data. Valid values are: (1) NHTSA. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; (2) CPSC. Consumer Product Safety Commission; or (3) CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Values must be entered in all caps.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json&organization=CDC
  • upc: UPC code. This parameter is only relevant for Product Safety. Not all products have UPC code.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?upc=3826959035 &format=json
  • sort: Sort order. Add “&sort=date” to sort by date, or leave blank to sort by relevance.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json&organization=CDC&sort=date
  • code: NHTSA code for auto recalls. Valid values are E, V [for vehicles], I, T, C, or X. Values are single letters, which must be entered in all caps.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json&make=Toyota&code=V
  • make: NHTSA make information for auto recalls.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json&make=Toyota
  • model: NHTSA model information for auto recalls.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json&model=Camry
  • year: yyyy. NHTSA year information for auto recalls.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json&year=2002
  • page: Pagination of search results. Ten results are displayed on each search results page. Paginate search results pages by adding '&page=#' to the query string.
    • Example: http://search.usa.gov/search/recalls?format=json&page=3

Back to Top

Usage Notes

  • Ten results are displayed on each search results page and defaults to page 1. You can change the page by adding '&page=#' (for example, '&page=2') to the query string.
  • You can create a combined keyword and date search by using both the query and date range parameters.

Response Fields

The response fields listed below are an aggregate of the data the feeds can return for queries. Note that not all response fields appear in all queries.

success:

  • total: Total number of results for the query.
  • results: Array of results for the query. Each array item contains the following data.
  • code: specify an NHTSA recall code (usually V for vehicles).
  • component_description: String containing the description of the faulty component. All capital letters.
  • consequence_summary: String containing the consequence summary. All capital letters.
  • corrective_summary: String containing the corrective summary. All capital letters.
  • countries: An array of strings containing the names of countries relevant to the recall.
  • defect_summary: String containing the summary of the defect. All capital letters.
  • descriptions: Array of strings containing the descriptions of the recalled item.
  • federal_motor_vehicle_safety_number: Integer
  • hazards: Array of strings specifying the actual hazards (e.g., lead).
  • initiator: String containing the code specifying who initiated the recall (e.g., “MFR” for manufacturer).
  • manufacturer: String containing information on the manufacturer(s). All capital letters.
  • manufacturers: Array of strings containing the names of the manufacturers relevant to the recall.
  • manufacturer_campaign_number: String containing the digits of campaign number. Contains leading zeros.
  • notes: String containing additional recall notes. All capital letters.
  • notification_date: yyyymmdd. Date of recall notification.
  • organization: Government organization code (e.g., NHTSA).
  • potential_units_affected: Integer representing the number of potential units recalled.
  • product_types: Array of strings representing the types of products being recalled.
  • recall_date: yyyy-mm-dd. Date of recall notice.
  • recall_number: String containing the recall number. Varies by data feed. Some strings contain only digits while others contain both digits and letters.
  • recall_subject: String containing the recall subject. All capital letters.
  • recall_url: URL of Web page containing information about the recall.
  • records: A list of all makes/models affected by the recall (only available for auto recall data from NHTSA).
    • component_description: String containing the name/description of the recalled component. All capital letters.
    • make: String containing the product make (e.g., "HYUNDAI"). All capital letters.
    • manufacturer: String containing the manufacturer information. All capital letters.
    • manufacturing_begin_date: yyyy-mm-dd. Earliest date of manufacturing for a recalled item.
    • manufacturing_end_date: yyyy-mm-dd. Latest date of manufacturing for a recalled item.
    • model: String containing the model name of the recalled component. All capital letters.
    • recalled_component_id: String containing digits—with possible leading zeros—representing the id of the recalled component.
    • year: yyyy. Year value representing the make.
  • report_date: yyyymmdd. Date that the recall was reported.
  • upc: String representing the UPC code. Unavailable in some data feeds, or sometimes marked as "UNKNOWN". All capital letters.

Back to Top

Response (JSON)

{
  "success": {
    "total": 29,
    "results": [
      {
        "defect_summary": "E-ONE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 ....",
        "recall_number": "10V225000",
        "manufacturer_campaign_number": "4EN",
        "potential_units_affected": "20",
        "corrective_summary": "DETROIT DIESEL IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. ...",
        "code": "V",
        "organization": "NHTSA",
        "component_description": "ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM",
        "initiator": "MFR",
        "consequence_summary": "UNEXPECTED SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE MAY PREVENT THE OPERATION OF EQUIPMENT ON ....",
        "records": [
          {
            "recalled_component_id": "000035917000879778000000138",
            "make": "E-ONE",
            "model": "QUEST",
            "component_description": "ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM",
            "year": 2008,
            "manufacturing_begin_date": "2008-03-13",
            "manufacturing_end_date": "2009-09-27",
            "manufacturer": "E-ONE, INC."
          },
          {
            "recalled_component_id": "000035917000879777000000138",
            "make": "E-ONE",
            "model": "QUEST",
            "component_description": "ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM",
            "year": 2009,
            "manufacturing_begin_date": "2008-03-13",
            "manufacturing_end_date": "2009-09-27",
            "manufacturer": "E-ONE, INC."
          },
          ...
        ],
        "notes": "E-ONE SAFETY RECALL NO. 4EN.OWNERS MAY AL ...",
        "recall_subject": "SOFTWARE PROBLEM ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER",
        "recall_date": "2010-05-26",
        "manufacturer": "E-ONE, INC.",
        "report_date": "20100526",
        "recall_url": "http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallresults.cfm?start=1&SearchType=QuickSearch&rcl_ID=10V225000&summary=true&PrintVersion=YES"
      },
      ...
    ]
  }
}

Back to Top