# io.github.cyanheads/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server (remote · nhtsa.caseyjhand.com)

Decode VINs, search recalls, complaints, crash ratings, and investigations.

- Trust score: 64/100 (medium)
- Change this week: +1
- Registry status: active
- Liveness: live
- Owner verified: no
- Last scored: 2026-08-03

## Components

- remote · `nhtsa.caseyjhand.com`: 64/100 (this document), [markdown](https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/nhtsa.md), [page](https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/nhtsa)
- npm · `@cyanheads/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server`: 35/100, [markdown](https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server.md), [page](https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server)

## Channel facts

- Endpoint: `https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp`
- Transports: `streamable-http`
- Auth: `none`
- Version: `0.9.4`

## Trust breakdown

How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically against the live server, and we only credit what we can confirm. Scores are 0–100 per category. Scoring method: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring (what has changed: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring/changelog)

Scored 2026-08-03.

- **Endpoint Security**: 66/100
  - The endpoint's TLS certificate is valid, in date, and uses a strong key.
  - Authorisation not fully verified: no authorisation is required to call this server, and 7 tool(s) never declared a destructiveHint. The MCP spec treats an absent hint as destructive by default, so we cannot call this surface safe.
  - HTTPS is enforced; there's no plaintext access path.
  - The HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security) header is present.
  - DNSSEC is configured correctly; the domain's records validate against the full chain to the root.
- **Transport & Reachability**: 100/100
  - Verified streamable-http transport via a live MCP handshake.
- **Schema Quality & AI Usability**: 63/100
  - AI-judged instruction clarity (excellent).
  - Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 1541 tokens (~220/item across 7 items; 7 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params.
  - Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples.
- **Stability & Change Management**: 0/100
  - Stability check failed: schema churn in the 8 days we've observed: 0 tool removals, 7 breaking changes, 0 auth/transport breaks, 0 additions.
- **Tool Coverage**: 100/100
  - 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).
  - 100% of tool parameters carry a description.
  - Structured output schemas are declared (100% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.
- **Capabilities**: 100/100
  - Implements a supported MCP spec version (2025-11-25); the latest is 2026-07-28.

## Install

### Claude

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp
```

### Codex

```toml
[mcp_servers.cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server]
url = "https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp"
```

### opencode

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp",
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
```

### OpenClaw

```bash
openclaw mcp add cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server --url https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp --transport streamable-http
```

### Hermes

```yaml
mcp_servers:
  cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server:
    url: "https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp"
```

### Other

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

The mcpServers block is a cross-client convention. Remote transports vary, so check your client's docs.

## Changelog

Every change recorded for this component, newest first. Days that predate change tracking, or that we cannot explain, say so: "we were watching and nothing happened" and "we were not watching" are different claims.

### 2026-07-31 (score 64, +2)

- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server

### 2026-07-30 (score 62, −3)

- [security regression] Stability: 0.10 → fail
- [security] Tool “nhtsa_search_investigations” rewrote its description, which is the text the model reads
- [functional regression] Schema quality: 198 → 220
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_lookup_vehicles” changed the type of “modelYear”: number → integer
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_get_vehicle_safety” changed the type of “modelYear”: number → integer
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_decode_vin” changed the type of “modelYear”: number → integer
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_get_safety_ratings” changed the type of “modelYear”: number → integer
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_search_recalls” changed the type of “modelYear”: number → integer
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_search_complaints” changed the type of “modelYear”: number → integer
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_search_investigations” changed the type of “limit”: number → integer
- [functional regression] “nhtsa_search_investigations” changed the type of “offset”: number → integer
- [functional] MCP protocol: Implements a supported MCP spec version (2025-11-25); the latest is 2026-07-28.
- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server
- [functional] Server version: 0.9.3 → 0.9.4
- [functional] Server version: 0.9.1 → 0.9.3
- [functional] Server version: 0.9.0 → 0.9.1
- [functional] Server version: 0.8.4 → 0.9.0
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_investigations” added an optional parameter “nhtsaId”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_lookup_vehicles” reworded the description of “modelYear”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_get_vehicle_safety” reworded the description of “modelYear”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_decode_vin” reworded the description of “modelYear”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_get_safety_ratings” reworded the description of “modelYear”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_recalls” reworded the description of “modelYear”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_recalls” reworded the description of “campaignNumber”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_investigations” reworded the description of “query”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_complaints” reworded the description of “offset”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_complaints” reworded the description of “modelYear”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_investigations” reworded the description of “status”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_investigations” reworded the description of “offset”
- [cosmetic] “nhtsa_search_investigations” reworded the description of “limit”

### 2026-07-29 (score 65, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 7 to 10. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 2 days of observed history at the previous scan, 3 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-07-28 (score 64, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 3 to 7. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 1 days of observed history at the previous scan, 2 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-07-27 (score 63, 0)

- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server

### 2026-07-26 (score 63)

First indexed and scored.

## MCP tools (7)

### `nhtsa_get_vehicle_safety` (~124 tokens)

Nhtsa Get Vehicle Safety

Get a comprehensive safety profile for a vehicle. Combines NCAP crash test ratings, recalls, and complaint summary into a single response. Use as the default when asked about vehicle safety, reliability, or purchase decisions.

Input parameters:

- `make` (string, required): Vehicle manufacturer (e.g., "Toyota", "Ford"). Case-insensitive.
- `model` (string, required): Vehicle model (e.g., "Camry", "F-150"). Case-insensitive.
- `modelYear` (integer, required): Model year, a whole number (e.g., 2020).

Output parameters:

- `complaintSummary` (object): Summary of consumer complaints
- `effectiveQuery` (string): The vehicle queried, as "make model modelYear".
- `notice` (string): Guidance when no NHTSA records matched the vehicle — e.g. how to verify make/model/year spelling.
- `recalls` (array): All recalls for this vehicle when available
- `safetyRatings` (array): Crash test ratings per vehicle variant (e.g., FWD vs AWD)
- `sectionStatus` (object): Availability of each data section in this response
- `warnings` (array): Warnings about sections that could not be loaded from NHTSA

### `nhtsa_search_recalls` (~166 tokens)

Nhtsa Search Recalls

Search recall campaigns by vehicle or campaign number. Use for specific recall lookups, recall history for a vehicle, or looking up a known campaign number.

Input parameters:

- `campaignNumber` (string): NHTSA campaign number (e.g., "20V682000"). When provided, returns the campaign detail plus every vehicle it covers. Mutually exclusive with make/model/modelYear.
- `dateRange` (object): Filter recalls by received date. Applied locally since the API lacks native date filtering.
- `make` (string): Vehicle manufacturer. Required with model and modelYear when not using campaignNumber.
- `model` (string): Vehicle model. Required with make and modelYear.
- `modelYear` (integer): Model year, a whole number. Required with make and model.

Output parameters:

- `effectiveQuery` (string): The search key used: campaign number, or "make model modelYear" for vehicle queries.
- `notice` (string): Guidance when no recalls are found — e.g. how to verify make/model/year spelling.
- `recalls` (array): Matching recall campaigns
- `totalCount` (number): Total recalls matching criteria

### `nhtsa_search_complaints` (~197 tokens)

Nhtsa Search Complaints

Search consumer safety complaints filed with NHTSA for a specific vehicle. Returns a component breakdown over all matching complaints plus a paginated slice of the most recent complaints. Use for common problems, failure patterns, or owner-reported issues.

Input parameters:

- `component` (string): Filter to a specific component (uppercase, e.g., "ENGINE", "AIR BAGS", "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM"). Matches within comma-separated component lists. Omit to see all.
- `limit` (integer): Max complaint narratives to return. Defaults to 20; max 50. componentBreakdown always reflects all matching complaints.
- `make` (string, required): Vehicle manufacturer.
- `model` (string, required): Vehicle model.
- `modelYear` (integer, required): Model year, a whole number.
- `offset` (integer): Pagination offset into the filing-date-descending complaint list. Defaults to 0. componentBreakdown is unaffected by pagination.

Output parameters:

- `complaints` (array): Paginated slice of the most recent complaints, date-descending
- `componentBreakdown` (array): Complaints grouped by component, sorted by frequency
- `effectiveQuery` (string): "make model modelYear" with optional component filter applied, as the server used it.
- `limit` (number): Pagination limit used for this page
- `notice` (string): Guidance when no complaints match the vehicle, or when the requested page overshoots the result set.
- `offset` (number): Pagination offset used for this page
- `returned` (number): Number of complaints in this page
- `totalCount` (number): Total complaints matching criteria

### `nhtsa_get_safety_ratings` (~172 tokens)

Nhtsa Get Safety Ratings

Get NCAP crash test ratings and ADAS feature availability for a vehicle. Use when the user specifically wants crash test stars, rollover risk, or wants to compare safety features across vehicles. NCAP data available from 1990+, best coverage for 2011+.

Input parameters:

- `make` (string): Vehicle manufacturer. Required with model and modelYear when vehicleId is omitted.
- `model` (string): Vehicle model. Required with make and modelYear when vehicleId is omitted.
- `modelYear` (integer): Model year, a whole number. Required with make and model when vehicleId is omitted. NCAP coverage increases significantly for 2011+.
- `vehicleId` (number): Specific NCAP vehicle ID (from prior results). Skips the year/make/model lookup.

Output parameters:

- `notice` (string): Guidance when no NCAP ratings are found — e.g. coverage notes or adjacent year suggestion.
- `ratings` (array): Safety ratings per vehicle variant

### `nhtsa_decode_vin` (~147 tokens)

Nhtsa Decode Vin

Decode a Vehicle Identification Number to extract make, model, year, body type, engine, safety equipment, and manufacturing details. Pass a single 17-character VIN string, or an array of up to 50 VINs for batch decode. Partial VINs accepted — use * for unknown positions.

Input parameters:

- `modelYear` (integer): Model year, a whole number. Helps resolve ambiguity for pre-1980 or partial VINs.
- `vin` (required): A single 17-character VIN (e.g., "1HGCM82633A004352") or an array of up to 50 VINs for batch decode. Partial VINs accepted — use * for unknown positions.

Output parameters:

- `effectiveQuery` (string): Number of VINs decoded and the path taken (single or batch).
- `notice` (string): Present when one or more VINs decoded with VPIC warnings (errorCode != 0) — check errorCode/errorText per vehicle.
- `vehicles` (array): Decoded vehicle information per VIN

### `nhtsa_search_investigations` (~467 tokens)

Nhtsa Search Investigations

Search NHTSA defect investigations from the ODI flat file — covering Preliminary Evaluations (PE), Engineering Analyses (EA), Defect Petitions (DP), Recall Queries (RQ), Audit Queries (AQ), and additional ODI types. make, model, and component are structured filters against the investigation record's vehicle associations. All filters are ANDed. Use nhtsaId to fetch one investigation by its exact ID — including the investigationId nhtsa_search_recalls returns for a campaign. Investigations may link to a resulting recall campaign via recallCampaign.

Input parameters:

- `component` (string): Structured filter — matches against the investigation's affected components (e.g., "STEERING"). ANDed with other filters.
- `investigationType` (string): Filter by ODI investigation type code (the leading letters of the NHTSA ID). Named types: "PE" (Preliminary Evaluation), "EA" (Engineering Analysis), "DP" (Defect Petition), "RQ" (Recall Query), "AQ"…
- `limit` (integer): Max investigations to return. Defaults to 20; max 25. The cap is lower than the other paginated tools because a single investigation summary can run several thousand characters and is rendered in ful…
- `make` (string): Structured filter — matches against the investigation's associated vehicle makes (e.g., "TOYOTA"). ANDed with other filters.
- `model` (string): Structured filter — matches against the investigation's associated vehicle models. ANDed with other filters.
- `nhtsaId` (string): Exact NHTSA investigation ID (e.g. "EA23003"), case-insensitive. Fetches that one record — mutually exclusive with every other filter.
- `offset` (integer): Pagination offset into the matching investigations. Defaults to 0.
- `query` (string): Free-text search across investigation ID, subject, and summary.
- `status` (string): Filter by status: "O" (Open) or "C" (Closed). Omit to include both.

Output parameters:

- `effectiveQuery` (string): Applied filters as a readable string, e.g. make="Ford" status="O".
- `investigations` (array): Matching investigations
- `limit` (number): Pagination limit used for this page
- `notice` (string): Guidance when no investigations match the filters, or when the requested page overshoots the result set.
- `offset` (number): Pagination offset used for this page
- `returned` (number): Number of investigations in this page
- `totalCount` (number): Total matching investigations

### `nhtsa_lookup_vehicles` (~202 tokens)

Nhtsa Lookup Vehicles

Look up valid makes, models, and vehicle types in NHTSA's database. Use to resolve ambiguous vehicle names, find correct make/model spelling, or discover what models a manufacturer produces.

Input parameters:

- `limit` (integer): Max results in the returned slice. Defaults to 100; max 200.
- `make` (string): Make name (required for "models" and "vehicle_types"). Partial match supported.
- `manufacturer` (string): Manufacturer name or ID (for "manufacturer" operation). Partial match supported.
- `modelYear` (integer): Filter models to a specific year, a whole number. Only for "models" operation.
- `offset` (integer): Pagination offset into the full result list. Defaults to 0.
- `operation` (string, required): "makes" (all NHTSA makes), "models" (models for a make), "vehicle_types" (types for a make), "manufacturer" (manufacturer details).

Output parameters:

- `cap` (number): Maximum manufacturer records a single lookup retrieves.
- `effectiveQuery` (string): The operation with key args, e.g. "models make=Toyota year=2020".
- `limit` (number): Pagination limit used for this response
- `makes` (array): Results for "makes" operation
- `manufacturers` (array): Results for "manufacturer" operation
- `models` (array): Results for "models" operation
- `notice` (string): Guidance when the result set is empty or the page is out of bounds.
- `offset` (number): Pagination offset used for this response
- `operation` (string): The operation that was performed
- `returned` (number): Number of results in the returned slice
- `shown` (number): Manufacturer records retrieved before pagination, when the cap was reached.
- `totalCount` (number): Results retrieved before pagination. For "manufacturer" this is capped — check the truncated field, since VPIC reports no match total.
- `truncated` (boolean): True when the "manufacturer" lookup stopped at its retrieval cap and further matches may exist upstream.
- `vehicleTypes` (array): Results for "vehicle_types" operation

## Diagnostics

Captured diagnostic sections: TLS, DNSSEC, Authorisation, Transports. The full working is on the page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/nhtsa#diagnostics

## Score history

- 2026-08-03: 64
- 2026-08-02: 64
- 2026-08-01: 64
- 2026-07-31: 64
- 2026-07-30: 62
- 2026-07-29: 65
- 2026-07-28: 64
- 2026-07-27: 63
- 2026-07-26: 63

## Links

- Remote endpoint: https://nhtsa.caseyjhand.com/mcp
- Repository: https://github.com/cyanheads/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server
- Changelog RSS feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/nhtsa/changelog.xml
- Changelog JSON feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/nhtsa/changelog.json
- HTML version of this page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/cyanheads-nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/nhtsa