WHERE THE INFORMATION COMES FROM

Data sources.

Every signal has a source and a scope. When a source is unavailable, the report says so.

SourceWhat it tells youStatus
NHTSA vPIC ↗VIN identity, including year, make, model, and configuration.Available when you submit a VIN.
NHTSA Recalls ↗Recall records for the make, model, and year. Confirm completion against the VIN.Model/year context.
NHTSA Complaints ↗Complaint counts and common components for the make, model, and year. This is context, not a diagnosis.Background signal.
User-provided listingListing text, mileage, price, location, and seller-reported details.Reported information.

How we use evidence

Car Verdict starts with the question a source can actually answer. It does not turn a missing record, a model-year pattern, or a seller statement into a verified fact about one vehicle.

  1. Scope first: every signal keeps its source and coverage scope visible.
  2. Separate facts from inference: reported details, source records, and suggested next steps stay labeled separately.
  3. Safety before convenience: high-risk symptoms get a stop-driving boundary and a recommendation for qualified inspection.
  4. Freshness matters: public endpoints can change, so pages show when the guide was last verified.

These pages are buyer guidance and product documentation, not a professional inspection. An independent pre-purchase inspection remains the final safety check.

Coverage has limits. A recall or complaint record does not prove that this vehicle has a defect. Public endpoint availability can change.