Check your caravan for a recall
On two free government sites.
Search your van's make on Vehicle Recalls, then check whether your vehicle identification number (VIN) is on the notice.
Check the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Product Safety list too, for gas fittings and other caravan gear.
Updated . 6 min read • Buying Guide
Search your van's make on the Vehicle Recalls website, then check whether your vehicle identification number (VIN) is covered by the recall notice.
Also check the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Product Safety list, which covers gas fittings and other caravan gear. The federal government says recall repairs are free in most cases.
- Search - vehiclerecalls.gov.au (the federal list for caravans, trailers and motorhomes)
- Also search - productsafety.gov.au (for caravan, motorhome and camper accessories)
- You need - the van's VIN (or the chassis number on an older van)
Check in five steps
The check takes a few minutes and costs nothing. Have the van's paperwork or the van itself in front of you.
- Find the van's VIN on the compliance plate or the chassis. An older van may have a chassis number instead.
- On the Vehicle Recalls website, open the Caravans and motorhomes list, or the Trailers list for a camper trailer, and look for your van's make.
- Open any notice for your make and model. Check whether your VIN or build date falls within what the notice covers.
- Search the ACCC Product Safety list for caravan, motorhome and camper accessories. It lists fitted parts such as gas regulators and cooktops, and some whole vans.
- If you are still unsure, ask the maker or its dealer. Some makers have a recall lookup on their own website.
The lists: caravans and motorhomes, trailers and caravan, motorhome and camper accessories. Our compliance plate guide shows where the VIN usually sits.
Why there are two lists
The Department of Infrastructure is the regulator for road vehicle recalls. That covers caravans, trailers and their approved parts. It publishes every recall notice on the Vehicle Recalls website.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) lists recalls of consumer products. Its list has a category for caravan, motorhome and camper accessories. Recalls of gas regulators, gas pipes and cooktops fitted to vans have appeared there, along with some whole vans.
A van can turn up on either list, so check both.
If your van is recalled
Read the notice first. Each one says what the fault is, what could happen and what owners should do. Some tell you to stop using a part, such as the gas system, until it is fixed.
- Book the repair. Contact the maker or supplier named on the notice. The federal government says recall repairs are free in most cases.
- For a recalled part on the ACCC list, the ACCC's advice is to stop using it and contact the supplier for a repair, replacement or refund.
- Keep your details up to date with the maker, so the next notice reaches you.
- If the supplier will not act, report it to the ACCC. For a problem with the van itself, use the reporting page linked from the Department of Infrastructure.
Motorhome owners: check the base vehicle too
A motorhome can be recalled for its body and fit-out, and the van or truck it is built on can be recalled separately. Search the motorhome brand, then search all recalls for the make and model of the base vehicle.
Check your car for recalls too
Car recalls are listed on the same Vehicle Recalls website as caravan recalls. Search for your car's make and model, then check each notice against your car's VIN.
- Use the car maker's own check. Many car makers have a tool on their website that looks up open recalls by VIN, and some by rego.
- Don't wait to hear from the maker. The maker or supplier should contact you by phone, email, post or text. If you have moved or not updated your registered address, you may not hear from them.
- Check the towing gear as well. Search both recall lists for your towbar, brake controller or weight distribution hitch.
Before you tow
Your car may have a recall that has not been fixed yet. If it affects the brakes, steering, engine cooling or towing gear, read what the notice tells owners to do. Talk to the maker or dealer before you tow. The federal government says recall repairs are free in most cases.
Check before you buy a used van
A used van can carry an open recall from its first owner. Run the five steps with the van's VIN before you pay.
- Match the VIN. The VIN on the van should match the VIN on the registration papers.
- Ask about any recall you find. Ask the seller for proof the repair was done, or ask the maker's dealer.
- Run a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check as well. It shows whether money is owed on the van. Our PPSR check guide covers it.
The used caravan buying guide has the full checklist.
Recall scams
The Department of Infrastructure has warned about people posing as dealership staff and offering to collect vehicles for recall repairs. Recall repairs are generally done at an appointment with an authorised service centre. If someone offers to collect your van, call the maker or dealer on a number you looked up yourself before you agree.
To hear about new recalls, sign up for ACCC email alerts and choose the caravan, motorhome and camper accessories category. Vehicle Recalls has its own subscribe link on its website.
Caravan recall questions, answered
Do I have to pay for a caravan recall repair?
The federal government says recall repairs are free in most cases. You usually take the van to the maker or its authorised service centre for the fix. For a product on the ACCC list, contact the supplier for a repair, replacement or refund.
Will the maker tell me if my caravan is recalled?
Usually. The maker or supplier contacts owners by post, email, phone or text message. If you have moved or bought the van second-hand, the notice may not reach you, so check the government lists yourself.
Why are some caravan recalls on the ACCC site and not Vehicle Recalls?
The Department of Infrastructure runs recalls of road vehicles, including caravans and trailers, and their approved parts. The ACCC lists recalls of consumer products, and its list has a category for caravan, motorhome and camper accessories. Checking both covers the van and the gear fitted to it.
Can I search a recall by number plate?
On some makers' websites, yes. On Vehicle Recalls, search by make and model, then check the notice against your VIN. Maker lookups take the VIN, and some also accept a registration number.
My motorhome is built on a van or truck. Do I check that too?
Yes. The motorhome body and the vehicle it is built on can each be recalled. Search the motorhome brand, then search all recalls for the make and model of the base vehicle.
Should I check my car for recalls as well as my caravan?
Yes. Car recalls are listed on the same Vehicle Recalls website as caravan recalls. Search your car's make and model, then check the notice against your car's VIN. Many car makers also have a VIN check on their own website.
What if the supplier will not fix a recalled product?
Report it. The ACCC takes reports when a supplier is not providing a repair, replacement or refund for a recalled product. For a safety or compliance problem with the van itself, the Department of Infrastructure has its own reporting page.
Should I check for recalls before I buy a used caravan?
Yes. Run the same check with the van's VIN before you pay. If the van is on a recall, ask the seller for proof the repair was done, or ask the maker's dealer whether it was.
How do I hear about new caravan recalls?
Both government sites send email alerts. On the ACCC alerts page you can choose the caravan, motorhome and camper accessories category, and gas products if you want those too. Vehicle Recalls has its own subscribe link.