Safety Recall vs. Technical Service Bulletin (TSB): What’s the Difference?

If a mechanic says there is “a bulletin” for your problem, that does not mean your vehicle has been recalled. Recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs) are different things, and the difference affects who pays for the repair. CheckCarFault lists safety recalls only, so it helps to understand what falls outside that.

What a safety recall is

A safety recall is a formal action for a defect that creates an unreasonable safety risk or for noncompliance with a federal safety standard. It is filed with NHTSA, owners are notified by mail, and the remedy is provided free of charge by the manufacturer. Recalls are listed in NHTSA’s public database.

What a technical service bulletin is

A TSB is guidance a manufacturer sends to its dealers describing a known problem and the recommended way to diagnose and fix it. TSBs commonly cover issues like a noisy component, a software glitch, a leak or hard shifting. They are not necessarily safety-related and they are not recalls. Owners are usually not notified by mail, and a TSB does not by itself oblige the manufacturer to pay for a repair.

Side-by-side comparison

• Purpose: a recall addresses a safety defect or noncompliance. A TSB addresses a known problem that may or may not be safety-related.
• Cost to you: a recall repair is free. A TSB repair may be covered by warranty, covered as goodwill, or charged to you, depending on the age of the vehicle, the warranty terms and the manufacturer’s policy.
• Notification: recall owners are mailed a notice. TSBs are generally sent to dealers, not owners.
• Where to find it: recalls appear in NHTSA’s recall lookup. TSBs are available through NHTSA’s manufacturer communications listings and through manufacturer and dealer systems.

Related terms you may hear

• Customer satisfaction campaign: a manufacturer program to fix a problem, often at no cost, that is not formally a safety recall.
• Warranty extension: the manufacturer extends the warranty on a specific component for certain vehicles.
• Special policy or goodwill repair: a case-by-case arrangement where the manufacturer covers some or all of a repair.

How to check for a TSB on your vehicle

1. Ask the dealer’s service department to look up open TSBs and campaigns for your VIN and describe your symptom.
2. Search NHTSA’s listings for manufacturer communications for your make, model and year.
3. Check your manufacturer’s owner portal, which often lists campaigns and warranty extensions by VIN.

If you have a problem that you believe is a safety issue and no recall exists, you can report it to NHTSA. See our guide on reporting a safety defect.