What is a manufacturer campaign code?

The manufacturer's own ID for a recall or service campaign, such as Volkswagen 37M2. It is printed on repair orders and owner letters, while the same recall also carries an NHTSA campaign number.

What happens when a code is not found?

The API returns a 404 with the message "No campaign found for this make and campaign code" and the call is not billed. Check the make spelling and send the code as it was printed.

No. The API takes only a make and a code. For every recall on one car use the VIN lookup, and for a whole model line use recalls by year, make and model.

How current is the data?

The campaign data is refreshed regularly, and each refresh is published as a new dictionary build. dictionary_version identifies the build that answered, so you can tell when a cached answer is out of date.

Which countries are covered?

The API covers campaigns for vehicles sold in the United States. A code used only in another market will not be found.

How does pricing work?

A call that returns a campaign is billed as one Vehicle Recalls call and shares that quota and rate. A miss returns 404 and costs nothing. Current rates are on the pricing page.

Does a campaign code mean a specific car is affected?

No. A campaign covers a range of vehicles inside the listed models and years, not every car built. Confirm with the VIN lookup before telling an owner their vehicle is affected.

Manufacturer codes, decoded

Recall Campaign API

Turn a manufacturer campaign code into the recall behind it.

NHTSA campaign number for a manufacturer code
Defect and remedy description, and the component
Affected models and model years
Safety recalls and manufacturer bulletins

Test API Documentation

Our benefits

The code on the repair order, resolved to the recall.

Codes as the dealer sees them

Look up the code printed on a repair order, owner letter or auction report, such as Volkswagen 37M2, and get the recall campaign behind it.

Integrate in minutes

One GET with a make and a code. Copy the request from the panel below, add your key, and the first call runs in minutes.

Recalls and bulletins

Covers safety recall codes and manufacturer service bulletin codes, so a bulletin code on a repair order resolves as well as a recall.

Kept current

The campaign data is refreshed regularly, and every response names its build in dictionary_version so you can tell when an answer changed.

For developers

One make, one code, one answer.

The panel on the right is a real request for Volkswagen campaign 37M2 and the response it returns. Copy the request into your terminal and swap in the make and code you hold. For every recall on one car, use the VIN lookup.

Spelling does not matter: Codes ignore case, the letter O reads as zero, and VWP1403, VWP 14 03 and VWP-14-03 all match.
Lists, not arrays: models, model_years and nhtsa_campaign_number can hold several values separated by semicolons.
Read the confidence: high means the code came from an identifier field. A code seen only in bulletin text is a prose reference.

Request

curl -G https://api.carsxe.com/v1/recalls-campaigns \
  -d key=YOUR_API_KEY \
  -d make=volkswagen \
  -d code=37M2

Response

{
  "success": true,
  "input": { "make": "volkswagen", "code": "37M2" },
  "data": {
    "campaign_code": "37M2",
    "recall_class": "Safety / Compliance Recall",
    "description": "Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in \"Park.\" Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge.",
    "nhtsa_campaign_number": "19V615000",
    "component": "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE",
    "models": "BEETLE;BEETLE CONVERTIBLE;GOLF;GOLF SPORTWAGEN;GTI;JETTA",
    "model_years": "2011;2012;2013;2014;2015;2016;2017;2018;2019",
    "confidence": "high",
    "matched": true,
    "dictionary_version": 1
  },
  "timestamp": "2026-09-25T12:29:09.352Z"
}

For AI agents

Built into the AI tools you already use

Point your coding agent at the CarsXE MCP server and it can call the API on its own, no client library, no glue code. The same tools are available to chat agents over plain HTTP.

Claude Code
Cursor
GitHub Copilot
Grok Bot
Codex
Gemini
Hermes Agent
OpenClaw
opencode
& more

Explore integrations

One command. Register the CarsXE MCP server with your editor.

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http carsxe https://mcp.carsxe.com/mcp \
  --header "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"

View the docs

Then just ask. The agent picks the right CarsXE tool and returns structured vehicle data.

Prompt

What is Volkswagen recall campaign 37M2?

Agent onboarding. Are you an AI agent? Fetch this skill to get an API key and start pulling vehicle data.

SKILL.md

curl -s https://carsxe.com/agent-onboarding/SKILL.md

View the skill

Fair billing

No data, no charge

A lookup we cannot resolve comes back as a 404 and costs you nothing. You are billed only when the API returns data.

Data found200 OK

Data found

{ "success": true, "input": { "make": "volkswagen", "code": "37M2" }, "data": { "nhtsa_campaign_number": "19V615000", "recall_class": "Safety / Compliance Recall" } }

Billed. One lookup.

No match404 Not Found

No match

{
  "success": false,
  "message": "No campaign found for this make and campaign code"
}

No charge.

Priced per answer, not per request.

US safety campaigns

Robust international support

The API covers recall and service campaign codes for vehicles sold in the United States.

United States

Customer stories

Companies love building with CarsXE

How teams build on CarsXE vehicle data.

“

CarsXE offers MotorTango's customers accurate and reliable vehicle data across many makes and models. Their VIN decoder and specs API are second to none.

Andy Liakos

CTO, MotorTango

“

The API is super easy to work with...it's a damn good API. And trust me, I deal with a lot of third parties and you're the creme de la creme. It's great. Documentation is sound, the result sets are sound. I have nothing to say but, man, it's too easy to work with.

Alan Deitch

Senior Engineering Leader, SpotHero

“

When a customer calls a dealership, we know they have an open recall instantly. That changes what the call is worth. Our agents book the recall alongside whatever the customer originally called about, and the dealer captures service work that used to walk out the door unnoticed. CarsXE's recall data is what makes that possible on every call, at every rooftop we run.

Samee Khan

Founder & CEO, PAM

“

With their VIN decoder and images, we can accurately document what's needed to perform repairs and ADAS calibrations, and we do it much more efficiently — saving dozens of minutes on every single repair. The result is consistent, reliable service at scale for all of our customers, backed by data we trust. CarsXE has become a critical part of our workflow and our ability to grow.

Philip Brossy

Founder & CEO, ADAS Safe

Same key, more endpoints

Keep building from the vehicle record

Vehicle Recalls

Open safety recalls by VIN

Vehicle Specifications

Full factory specs from a 17-character VIN

Year Make Model

Specs and pricing without a VIN

OBD Codes Decoder

Turn a trouble code into a diagnosis

Vehicle History

Title, salvage and odometer records

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our customer support team.

For a make and a manufacturer campaign code: the NHTSA campaign number, whether it is a safety recall or a bulletin, the defect and remedy description, the component, and the affected models and years.

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