CODA Recall Check by VIN: How to Look It Up

To check a CODA for recalls, enter its VIN at NHTSA and then read the two CODA campaigns yourself, because CODA Automotive no longer exists to chase repairs. NHTSA lists the 2012 CODA sedan under the make CODA, and both recalls in its file involve the side curtain air bags. If you are buying one of these rare electric sedans, confirm that the second, later fix was done.

What the CODA was

The CODA was a small all-electric sedan sold in California for the 2012 model year by CODA Automotive, a startup that later filed for bankruptcy. Very few were built, so used ones are rare and parts are a problem. The battery pack and body parts are the hard pieces to find, which makes crash history even more important than usual.

The two NHTSA recalls

When I queried NHTSA on Nov. 5, 2026, the 2012 CODA returned two campaigns:

• 12V409000: side curtain air bags may not have been installed properly, so they might not deploy as designed in a crash. The recall began Aug. 29, 2012. NHTSA lists a CODA owner phone number of 1-855-464-2632, but with the company gone you should not count on it.
• 13V229000: the curtain air bags may have been improperly rolled. This one supersedes 12V409000. The remedy was to replace both side curtain air bags, and it began June 11, 2013, under CODA campaign R84002.

The practical point is simple. A CODA that only had the first repair may still need the second. Ask the seller for paperwork showing both curtains were replaced, and treat a missing record as an open recall.

How to run the check

• Read the 17-character VIN off the dash plate and the door jamb label, and make sure they match the title.
• Enter it at the NHTSA recall lookup. It shows unrepaired recalls the manufacturer reported for that VIN.
• Decode it with NHTSA vPIC to confirm the make, model and year.
• If the VIN tool comes back empty, search NHTSA by year, make and model and read each campaign yourself.

Our NHTSA recall check by VIN guide walks through the screens. For defunct brands the VIN tool can be less reliable, because a company that no longer exists may not be updating repair status. That is the reason to read the campaigns by model too.

Why a history report still matters

A recall lookup tells you about factory defects. It does not tell you about a salvage title, flood damage, odometer problems or a long string of owners. Small-volume vehicles like this get rebuilt and resold more than you would expect. Our guide on NHTSA recall vs CARFAX covers how the two sources differ, and open recall on CARFAX explains how a report shows recall status. Then check title brands through NMVTIS and pay for a pre-purchase inspection.

Save a screenshot of the NHTSA result with the date on it, and keep any recall invoices with the title. If you sell the vehicle later, that record answers the first question a careful buyer will ask. It also helps if a recall is reopened or a new campaign is filed against the same part, which does happen with air bags and fuel systems.

What to do if the recall is open

With no CODA dealer network, getting a recall fixed can be hard. Start with NHTSA, which keeps the campaign file and can tell you whether any party took over the remedy. An independent shop with SRS experience may be able to source parts, but price that work into your offer or pass on the car. A side curtain air bag that may not deploy is not a small issue.

Pricing a rare car

Asking prices for a CODA swing widely because so few change hands. Base your offer on the condition of the battery, the recall status and the title, not on how rare the car is. A clean title and documented curtain air bag replacement are worth paying for. A salvage brand on a car with no parts support is a reason to walk.

Other checks on a used CODA

Ask for a battery health readout and charging history, test the charging port with a Level 2 charger, and check that every warning light clears after start-up. Look for repaint and panel gaps that hint at a crash, since replacement body panels are scarce. If the car has a salvage or rebuilt brand, assume the price should be far lower.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

Sources

• NHTSA recallsByVehicle, 2012 CODA, queried Nov. 5, 2026; NHTSA recalls
• NHTSA vPIC
• NMVTIS
• FuelEconomy.gov