Saleen Recall Check by VIN: S7, S281 and S331 Recalls Plus Ford Recalls That Apply

To check a Saleen for recalls, you usually need two searches, not one. A Saleen Mustang or Saleen truck is a Ford that Saleen altered, so it keeps its Ford VIN and Ford's recalls apply to it, and you check those by VIN like any Mustang. Saleen's own campaigns are filed under the make SALEEN, and when I pulled NHTSA's data on Oct 19, 2026, I found four: one each for the 2001 S281, the 2003-04 S7, the 2005-06 S281 and the 2007 S331 trucks. Miss either half and you can miss a real safety repair.

I tested NHTSA's recall API against every Saleen model name I could think of for 1995 through 2026, read the Federal Register's summary of Saleen's 2003 exemption petition, and the federal rule for companies that alter certified vehicles. Only the results below came back.

Why a Saleen Mustang is still a Ford in NHTSA's eyes

Federal rules treat Saleen's Mustang business as alteration. Under 49 CFR 567.7, an alterer has to leave the original maker's certification label on the vehicle and add its own label saying who altered it and when. The Federal Register notice on Saleen's 2004 exemption renewal describes the company's "other line of business" as "altering Ford Mustang vehicles," and says it had built only 79 Saleen Mustangs by June 11, 2003, against 327 in the same stretch of 2002. NHTSA's vehicle database lists just one model under the make Saleen, the S7, which fits with the Mustangs and trucks decoding as Fords.

So start with the Ford side. Run the VIN on NHTSA's look-up as our guide to checking recalls by VIN explains, or ask a Ford dealer, which our Ford recall check covers. One example of why it matters: Ford's recall 15V-319 covers 2005-2014 Mustangs built April 6, 2004 through June 21, 2014 for driver air bag inflators that could rupture, and NHTSA's record says owners were told not to drive the cars until the repair was done. A 2005-06 Saleen S281 is a Mustang of that era underneath, so its VIN deserves that check.

Get articles like this every week

Field guides, red flags, and the occasional discount.

The recalls filed under SALEEN

02V335 (2001 S281, from Saleen Performance): on supercharged cars, the fuel line crossover hose sat too close to the EGR valve and could burn through and leak fuel. Dealers installed a bracket to move the hose.
05V049 (2003-2004 S7): the front side marker light behind the front wheel didn't meet the federal lighting standard, which wants it as far forward as practical. The fix moved it ahead of the wheel.
06V146 (2005-2006 S281 coupe and convertible): the end fittings on the front hydraulic brake hoses could leak or separate, leaving the front brakes partly or fully inoperable. Dealers replaced the stainless braided front lines.
07V188 (2007 S331 sport trucks, listed as S331 3V and S331 SC): on extended-cab trucks fitted with a brake upgrade, the wheel bearing C-clip might be installed wrong, which could let a wheel, hub and rotor assembly come off. The record says replacement hubs would be fitted by authorized Ford dealers, or a Saleen technician would inspect trucks on dealer lots.

The model names matter. A search for "S281" found the 2001 and 2005-06 campaigns, but nothing for other years, and "S331" alone found nothing until I added "3V" or "SC". A blank result for a year or name isn't proof the car is clean. The recall phone numbers in these records are Saleen numbers from 2002-2007, and I didn't call them, so don't count on them still working.

The S7 is a different case

The S7 is Saleen's own car, which is why it shows up as a Saleen in NHTSA's database. Car and Driver's 2002 first drive described a 550-hp, 7.0-liter aluminum V8 with 525 lb-ft in a carbon-fiber body, and Automobile Magazine put the price at $395,000. The Federal Register notice says production was delayed until March 6, 2003, and that Saleen had sold eight S7s by the time it filed its renewal petition. The Saleen owners club lists 75 S7-related cars from 2001-2007, including race cars.

With so few built, a used S7 sale should come with paperwork, and the 05V049 lighting fix should be visible on the car.

Clones, serial numbers and what to verify

Real Saleen Mustangs carry a Saleen serial number on the car, and Saleen's own letter of authenticity service asks for the Ford VIN plus that serial number to pull the build records. A Mustang with a Saleen body kit and a Saleen sticker isn't a Saleen, and sellers do try. Read our post on how to spot a cloned VIN, and check that the alterer's label is on the door frame next to Ford's. Our used Mustang guide covers the Ford parts underneath.

History report and price

A hard-driven performance car with a salvage brand or a wreck in its past is worth a lot less, and a fake one is worth far less. Check the title on NMVTIS, then pull a CARFAX report or AutoCheck on the Ford VIN for accidents, owners and mileage.

CarVins resells CARFAX and AutoCheck under license and has no affiliation with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian, Saleen or Ford. As of mid October 2026, expect about $5.50 for a guest report, about $4.50 if you're a member, or about $6.75 for both, versus $39.99 to $44.99 or so at retail. Confirm the total at checkout before you pay.