Do I need an API key to use this MCP?

No. This MCP uses open government data from the NHTSA, so no personal API keys are required.

Which AI clients can use this MCP?

You can use this with any MCP-compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf.

Can I find car seat inspection stations?

Yes. You can ask your agent to find stations using either a ZIP code or your GPS coordinates.

What information is in a VIN decode?

A decode provides the make, model, year, engine, transmission, and specific safety features of the vehicle.

How do I check for recalls?

You can ask your agent to search for recalls by providing the make, model, and year, or by using a specific campaign number.

Do I need an API key?

No! NHTSA data is completely free and open government data. No authentication required.

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle. It encodes the manufacturer, model, year, engine type, assembly plant and more. Find it on your dashboard or driver's door jamb.

Can I check recalls for my car?

Yes! Use get_recalls_by_vehicle with your car's make, model and year. Or use decode_vin with your VIN for complete vehicle details including any open recalls.

What do safety ratings mean?

NHTSA rates vehicles 1-5 stars in frontal crash, side crash and rollover tests. Overall rating combines all categories. 5 stars is the highest safety rating.

An astronaut overseeing a futuristic data hub

Download PDF Markdown Version

Connect Nhtsa Vehicle Safety to ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini

Set it up once and it works in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and any other client you love. It all runs safely in the background, so you can relax and focus on what really matters. Get instant access to official US vehicle safety records.

Ask AI about this Connector

Developed, maintained, and hosted by Vinkius.

MCP VERIFIED · PRODUCTION READY · VINKIUS GUARANTEED

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Works with modern AI clients that support MCP, including ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

No other AI tool gives you this. Your workflow runs in the client you already love, your account stays protected, and you decide what the agent can and cannot do. It is the whole reason to make the switch.

Each Connector lives inside our infrastructure, the same place where your workflow runs. The three things below are already part of it, working quietly in the background so you never have to think about them. Nothing to add, nothing to set up, nothing to worry about.

V8 Isolate01

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed V8 runtime — no access to your files, your system, or other servers. A Connector never sees past its own request.

Kill Switch02

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

One action deactivates every Connector, revokes every token, and ends every session at once. AI Governance keeps the record.

FinOps per User03

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Every user keeps their own connections and credentials, isolated from everyone else. Anything that would cross your spending limit is held for your approval, not billed.

Three controls, built into the layer your AI connects through.

Curated set · 13 capabilities

We ship only the actions that matter.

Capability set01 / 04

01-04

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 13 available through NHTSA.

01
Get car seat stations by zip
This capability finds certified car seat inspection stations based on a provided ZIP code.
02
Get complaint by odi
This capability fetches specific consumer complaint details using an ODI number, including failure descriptions and mileage.
03
Get complaints by vehicle
This capability searches for consumer complaints filed by owners for a specific make, model, and year.
04
Get models for make
This capability returns the full lineup of models produced by a specific manufacturer.

Capability set02 / 04

05-07

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 13 available through NHTSA.

05
Get models for make year
This capability identifies which models a manufacturer offered in a particular year.
06
Get recalls by campaign
This capability provides detailed information about a specific recall campaign, including the remedy and affected vehicle counts.
07
Get recalls by vehicle
This capability retrieves safety recall details like campaign numbers, affected components, and available remedies for a specific make, model, and year.

Capability set03 / 04

08-10

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 13 available through NHTSA.

08
Get safety rating by vehicle ID
This capability pulls the official NHTSA safety rating and a breakdown of crash test results using a specific vehicle ID.
09
Decode vin
This capability translates a 17-character VIN into full vehicle specifications.
10
Get makes for year
This capability lists all vehicle manufacturers active during a specific model year.

Capability set04 / 04

11-13

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 13 available through NHTSA.

11
Get car seat stations by location
This capability locates nearby car seat inspection stations using GPS coordinates.
12
Get safety ratings
This capability retrieves overall and component-specific crash test ratings for various vehicles.
13
Get vehicle types for make
This capability lists the categories of vehicles, such as SUVs or trucks, produced by a manufacturer.

Real work

What teams actually run

Pre-purchase Inspection

Check if a used car has outstanding recalls or a history of consumer complaints before buying.

Safety Verification

Compare the crash test ratings of different vehicle models to prioritize safety.

Recall Monitoring

Identify if a specific vehicle model has been flagged for component failures.

Child Safety Setup

Find a certified professional to inspect a car seat installation near your current location.

Automate a task

Put NHTSA to work on one thing.

Step-by-step automations your AI runs through this Connector: the workflow, the prompts to start with, and the exact capabilities behind each move.

One connector, every AI

NHTSA works with the most popular AI clients.

These are the most popular clients, each with a step-by-step guide: one link, set up once, with governance and visibility built in. And because everything runs on the MCP standard, the same connection also works in any other compatible client — nothing to rebuild.

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

You don't need a client to put NHTSA to work: the same hosted connection plugs into your own applications and agent code, with the same governance on every request. Build with it, chat with it — one connection for both.

Observed, not estimated

912ms average. Fast in production.

NHTSA is checked daily against the live service.

Daily averagePeak 1222ms

Oct 3Today

Fastest day: 740ms
Slowest day: 1222ms
14-day trend: Slowing+35%

Connect your client

One URL. Every client.

Activate the Connector, copy your link, and paste it into the client you already use. 13 capabilities arrive ready to run.

Preview access · not provider authentication

The vk_preview_* token belongs to Vinkius preview infrastructure. It lets Claude discover and display the capabilities of NHTSA, so you can see the experience inside your AI.

It does not authenticate your account with NHTSA. Actions requiring credentials or live account data may not run until you activate the Connector and authorize the service.

NHTSA Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6LKUezYzCRfVH5xOXhouONELyEpDfqS22G1rekh5/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
3Click Add and start a new chat — NHTSA capabilities are ready to use.

Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_6LKUezYzCRfVH5xOXhouONELyEpDfqS22G1rekh5/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude
ChatGPT
Cursor
VS Code
Windsurf
Claude Code
JetBrains
Cline

Step-by-step instructions for each client are in the guide. How to connect

Guided setup for Claude? Set up NHTSA in Claude and other AIs

See all the AI clients this connector works with ↑

Who it's for

Built for the work NHTSA owners hand off.

This MCP is built for anyone needing to verify the safety and history of a vehicle using official government data.

01
Car Buyers
They use the agent to check recall history and safety ratings before a purchase.
02
Car Owners
They use the agent to look up recalls for their specific vehicle or find local safety services.
03
Researchers
They use the agent to pull trends in consumer complaints and recall patterns.

FAQ

Questions NHTSA owners ask.

01
Do I need an API key to use this MCP?
No. This MCP uses open government data from the NHTSA, so no personal API keys are required.
02
Which AI clients can use this MCP?
You can use this with any MCP-compatible client, including Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf.
03
Can I find car seat inspection stations?
Yes. You can ask your agent to find stations using either a ZIP code or your GPS coordinates.
04
What information is in a VIN decode?
A decode provides the make, model, year, engine, transmission, and specific safety features of the vehicle.
05
How do I check for recalls?
You can ask your agent to search for recalls by providing the make, model, and year, or by using a specific campaign number.
06
Do I need an API key?
No! NHTSA data is completely free and open government data. No authentication required.
07
What is a VIN?
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle. It encodes the manufacturer, model, year, engine type, assembly plant and more. Find it on your dashboard or driver's door jamb.
08
Can I check recalls for my car?
Yes! Use get_recalls_by_vehicle with your car's make, model and year. Or use decode_vin with your VIN for complete vehicle details including any open recalls.
09
What do safety ratings mean?
NHTSA rates vehicles 1-5 stars in frontal crash, side crash and rollover tests. Overall rating combines all categories. 5 stars is the highest safety rating.

Explore

More in Industry Titans

Connect NHTSA to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

We ship only the actions that matter.

01-04

Get car seat stations by zip

Get complaint by odi

Get complaints by vehicle

Get models for make

05-07

Get models for make year

Get recalls by campaign

Get recalls by vehicle

08-10

Get safety rating by vehicle ID

Decode vin

Get makes for year

11-13

Get car seat stations by location

Get safety ratings

Get vehicle types for make

What teams actually run

Pre-purchase Inspection

Safety Verification

Recall Monitoring

Child Safety Setup

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

NHTSA Connector

Claude Desktop

Car Buyers

Car Owners

Researchers

Do I need an API key to use this MCP?

Which AI clients can use this MCP?

Can I find car seat inspection stations?

What information is in a VIN decode?

How do I check for recalls?

Do I need an API key?

What is a VIN?

Can I check recalls for my car?

What do safety ratings mean?

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