Open safety recalls on a ticket

Every car that rolls in is a chance to catch something the owner doesn't know about. When you decode a VIN, Pista checks for open safety recalls tied to that exact vehicle and flags them right on the ticket. It's a safety win for the customer and an easy, honest way to add value to the visit.

Where recalls show up

1. Decode the vehicle by VIN (or by plate, which resolves to a VIN). See Decoding a VIN.
2. If the vehicle has open recalls, Pista shows a recall badge on the RO's vehicle panel.
3. Tap the badge to open the recall list, with each campaign's title, summary, and the safety risk it addresses.

Because the check is keyed to the decoded VIN, you're seeing campaigns for that specific build, not a generic make-and-model guess.

Turn a recall into a conversation

A recall flag is a talking point, not a job you bill. Most safety recalls are repaired free at a franchised dealer for that brand, because the manufacturer covers them. Here's the clean way to handle it:

1. Tell the customer the vehicle has an open recall and what it's for, in plain language.
2. Point them to the dealer. Note that the recall fix is typically performed by the brand's dealer at no charge.
3. Capture the related work you can do. If the recall reveals a real concern the customer wants addressed now (and it isn't the manufacturer's covered repair), build it as its own job and quote it normally.
4. Log the conversation in a note or message so there's a record you disclosed it.

Tip: Recalls are a trust builder. A customer who hears "by the way, your car has an open recall, here's how to get it fixed for free" remembers that shop. Use the messaging inbox to text them the recall details and the dealer info so they have it in hand.

Good to know

• Recall data comes from public NHTSA campaigns. It covers U.S. safety recalls. It does not include manufacturer service bulletins (TSBs) or "customer satisfaction" programs, which aren't safety recalls.
• "No open recalls" can change. A vehicle clean today may have a campaign opened next month. Pista re-checks on each decode, so a returning car gets a fresh look.
• Don't bill the manufacturer's recall repair as shop work. Performing a covered recall is the dealer's job under warranty. Keep your billed work to the separate, customer-authorized repairs you actually perform.
• Heavily modified or very old vehicles may show no data simply because no campaign exists for them, not because they're clear.