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Every car sold in America. Real data. Real fixes.
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VIN Decoder
Decode any 17-character VIN to get full vehicle specs, origin, engine, and more.
NHTSA Recalls
Check official government recall data for any vehicle. Know what's been flagged.
Owner Complaints
Read real complaint data from owners submitted to the NHTSA database.
Repair Guides
Step-by-step guides for the most common repairs and maintenance tasks.
Browse Vehicles
Filter by make, model, and year to find your vehicle
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VIN Decoder
Enter any 17-character VIN to get full vehicle details
Repair Guides
Step-by-step guides for common repairs and maintenance
OBD-II Code Lookup
Search any diagnostic trouble code — engine, transmission, ABS, body, and network codes
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Support GarageIQ
GarageIQ is built by one person, for every car owner in America.
Your support keeps the garage lights on.
Keep the developer caffeinated while adding new features.
Helps cover server costs and new API integrations for more vehicle data.
Become a founding supporter and help build the best free car resource online.
Why donate?
- ✅ GarageIQ will always be 100% free — no paywalls, no subscriptions
- ✅ All data comes from official NHTSA and EPA government databases
- ✅ No ads cluttering the guides and vehicle reports
- ✅ Donations fund new features: real-time parts pricing, shop locator, more vehicle coverage
Donation processing will be available soon via PayPal and card. Thank you for your support. 🙏
Get in Touch
Questions, feedback, partnerships, or just want to say hi — we'd love to hear from you.
📬 Contact the Creator
💬 Quick Message
Community Questions?
For vehicle-specific questions, repair help, and peer advice — the GarageIQ Forum is the best place to get fast answers from experienced mechanics and fellow owners.
Joseph Michael
Automotive Technician since 2017
A little about me
Hey, I'm Joseph. I'm 26 and I've been in the automotive field since 2017. I work as a technician so I spend most of my days diagnosing vehicles, doing repairs, and dealing with all the fun stuff that comes with working on cars for a living.
GarageIQ started as just a hobby project. I wanted something that actually gave you real information without making you pay for it or jump through hoops to get it. Most of the sites out there either cost money or give you the most generic advice possible. I wanted something that felt like asking a tech you actually trust.
The torque specs, socket sizes, and repair steps on here come from real experience. I've been that guy at 10pm trying to remember if a drain plug is 14mm or 15mm so I tried to build something I'd actually want to use myself.
Why I built this
Honestly I just got tired of seeing people get charged for information that should be free. Torque specs, recall history, what socket you need to change your brakes. None of that should cost anything to find out.
All the vehicle data pulls straight from NHTSA and the EPA so it's official government information, not something I made up. The repair guides are written the way I'd explain it to someone standing next to me in the shop.
If this helps you save some money on a repair or helps you walk into a shop knowing what you're talking about, that's all I was going for. Hope it helps.
Say Hello
Have a question, found a bug, or want to suggest a feature? I read every message.
Contact me →Join the Community
Ask repair questions, share tips, and connect with other car owners and technicians.
Visit the forum →Support the Project
GarageIQ is free and will stay that way. If it's helped you, consider buying me a coffee.
Support GarageIQ →Joseph Michael
JosephMichaelBusiness@gmail.comPrivacy Policy
Last updated: May 2025
1. Who We Are
GarageIQ ("we", "us") is a free automotive information resource operated by Joseph Michael. Contact: JosephMichaelBusiness@gmail.com
2. What Data We Collect
We collect almost nothing. GarageIQ is designed to be privacy-first:
- Account data (optional): If you create an account, your username, email address, and a hashed version of your password are stored in your browser's localStorage. This data never leaves your device or gets sent to our servers.
- Forum posts: Posts and replies you write are stored in your browser's localStorage. They are not stored on any server.
- Vehicle searches: We do not log or store your vehicle searches, VIN lookups, or OBD code queries.
- No cookies: We do not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or analytics cookies.
- No third-party analytics: We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any other tracking service.
3. Third-Party APIs
Vehicle data is fetched from official government databases:
- NHTSA (nhtsa.gov): Recall data, complaints, VIN decoding. No personal data is sent.
- EPA (fueleconomy.gov): Engine specifications and fuel economy data. No personal data is sent.
- Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons: Reference images for guides and vehicles. No personal data is sent.
- Google Fonts: Typography. Google may log your IP address per their privacy policy.
4. localStorage
All user data (account, forum posts, preferences) is stored in your browser's localStorage — on your device only. Clearing your browser data will delete your GarageIQ account. We cannot recover it. This also means your data is not synced across devices.
5. Children's Privacy
GarageIQ is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
6. Your Rights
Since all data is in your browser, you control it completely. To delete your account and all data, clear your browser's localStorage for this site. To contact us about privacy: JosephMichaelBusiness@gmail.com
7. Changes
We may update this policy. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. Material changes will be noted on this page.
My Garage
Your saved vehicles — click any to view full details
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Search Results
Symptom Checker
Select a symptom to find likely causes, related OBD codes, and repair guides
AI Mechanic
Describe your car problem — I'll help diagnose it, explain the repair, or point you to the right guide
Describe your problem and I'll help you figure out what's going on. I can explain OBD codes, estimate repair difficulty, recommend guides, and tell you when to see a shop.
Try: "My car shakes at highway speed" · "What does P0420 mean?" · "How hard is it to replace struts on a Tacoma?"
AI responses may not be fully accurate. Always verify specs with your service manual. Consult a certified mechanic for safety-critical repairs.
Auto Tools
Handy calculators for DIY mechanics
📅 Maintenance Schedule
Enter your current mileage to see what's due, overdue, or upcoming.
⛽ Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate how much you spend on gas weekly, monthly, and yearly.
🔵 Tire Size Calculator
Parse tire specs and compare two sizes. Format: 225/65R17
🔧 Torque Wrench Correction Calculator
When using an extension on a torque wrench, you must adjust the wrench setting.
Formula: TW = (T × L) ÷ (L + E) — where TW = wrench setting, T = target torque, L = wrench length, E = extension length
🛑 Brake Job Cost Estimator
Estimate DIY parts cost and shop labor for a brake job.
Terms of Use
Last updated: May 2025
1. Acceptance
By using GarageIQ, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use the site.
2. Informational Use Only
GarageIQ is an informational resource, not professional mechanical advice. Vehicle repair involves risks including personal injury, property damage, and voiding warranties. Always consult a certified mechanic (ASE, manufacturer-certified) for safety-critical repairs including — but not limited to — brakes, steering, suspension, fuel systems, and airbags. We are not responsible for any outcome resulting from actions taken based on information found on GarageIQ.
3. Data Accuracy
Vehicle data is sourced from NHTSA and EPA government databases. We make no warranty that data is accurate, complete, or up to date for your specific vehicle. Always verify torque specs, fluid types, and procedures against your vehicle's official service manual before performing work.
4. User Accounts & Community
You are responsible for content you post in the forum. Do not post: spam, illegal content, personal attacks, misinformation, or content that endangers safety. We reserve the right to remove any content and ban accounts that violate these standards.
5. Intellectual Property
GarageIQ's original code, design, and guide content are © 2025 Joseph Michael. Government data (NHTSA, EPA) is public domain. Wikipedia images are licensed under Creative Commons — see individual image pages for specific licenses.
6. Limitation of Liability
GarageIQ is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. In no event shall GarageIQ or its operators be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the service or reliance on its content.
7. Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the United States. Disputes shall be resolved in the applicable courts.