So, you want to buy a used or new car. How do you tell whether the vehicle has been recalled and whether the repair associated with the recall has been completed? Given the large number of high-volume recalls in the last few years, used cars in particular may be the subject of recalls, and you'll want to know before you buy whether the repair has been made. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has this new tool. It's free. Just plug in the car's VIN (vehicle identification number) and find out the car's recall and repair status. Go to NHTSA's website to learn more about the tool.