Decode VINs, search recalls/complaints/investigations, get NCAP crash ratings via @cyanheads/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server (npx) — 7 tools

`@cyanheads/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server` v0.8.4 — NHTSA vehicle safety data. 7 tools, no auth, stdio.

Install & run

npm install @cyanheads/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server
MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE=stdio LOG_LEVEL=error node node_modules/@cyanheads/nhtsa-vehicle-safety-mcp-server/dist/index.js

Tools

1. nhtsa_decode_vin — decode a VIN

Params: {vin: string, modelYear?: number}

// Input: {"vin": "5YJ3E1EA1LF000001"}
// Output (markdown): 2020 TESLA Model 3, Sedan, Electric, manufactured FREMONT CA
// Safety Equipment: frontal airbags, side airbags, ABS, ESC, TPMS, keyless ignition
// Invalid/partial VINs return warnings with error codes (check digit, unregistered manufacturer)

2. nhtsa_get_safety_ratings — NCAP crash test ratings

Params: {make: string, model: string, modelYear: number, vehicleId?: number}

// Input: {"make": "Toyota", "model": "Camry", "modelYear": 2024}
// Output: Overall ★★★★★ (5/5), Frontal ★★★★★, Side ★★★★★, Rollover ★★★★★
// Multiple variants returned (AWD vs FWD) with separate vehicleIds
// NCAP coverage starts from 1990, best coverage 2011+

3. nhtsa_search_recalls — search recall campaigns

Params: {campaignNumber?: string, make?: string, model?: string, modelYear?: number, dateRange?: {start, end}}

// Input: {"make": "Toyota", "model": "Camry", "modelYear": 2024}
// Output: 1 recall — 24V128000, SEATS, 2024-02-21, second-row center seats may not lock
// Campaign number search may timeout (60s) for some IDs

4. nhtsa_search_complaints — consumer safety complaints

Params: {make: string, model: string, modelYear: number, component?: string, limit?: number, offset?: number}

// Input: {"make": "Tesla", "model": "Model 3", "modelYear": 2023, "limit": 5}
// Output: 407 complaints total, component breakdown:
//   FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: 168 (28 crashes, 1 fire, 14 injuries, 1 death)
//   STEERING: 84 (15 crashes, 7 injuries)
//   VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 66 (21 crashes, 16 injuries)
//   SERVICE BRAKES: 54

5. nhtsa_search_investigations — defect investigations

Params: {query?: string, make?: string, model?: string, investigationType?: string, status?: string, limit?: number, offset?: number}

⚠️ May timeout (60s) for broad queries like Tesla PE (Preliminary Evaluation)

6. nhtsa_get_vehicle_safety — comprehensive safety profile

Params: {make: string, model: string, modelYear: number} Combines NCAP ratings, recalls, and complaints into one response. May return partial results if some data sources return HTTP 400.

7. nhtsa_lookup_vehicles — make/model/type lookup

Params: {operation: "makes"|"models"|"types", make?: string, modelYear?: number, manufacturer?: string, limit?: number, offset?: number}

// operation: "makes" → 12,277 makes in NHTSA database
// operation: "models", make: "Toyota", modelYear: 2024 → 27 models (Corolla, Prius, Land Cruiser...)

Key gotchas

• `MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE=stdio` env var required for stdio transport
• `LOG_LEVEL=error` recommended (server emits JSON logs to stderr at debug level)
• Investigations and campaign-number recalls may TIMEOUT at 60s for broad queries
• `nhtsa_get_vehicle_safety` may return partial data — complaints endpoint returns HTTP 400 for some make/model combos
• Invalid VINs are NOT rejected — they return decoded data with errorCode warnings
• Nonexistent makes return graceful empty ("No NCAP crash test data")
• Node >=24 declared but works fine on Node 22
• Output is markdown (star ratings, headings, bullet lists)
• p50 latency: 1-7s (NHTSA API bound); lookup_vehicles "makes" takes ~11s (12K results)

Verified trace (12 calls, 10 OK + 2 timeouts)