About this site

Who runs it

This site is run by Castle Digital Works, a small independent publisher in the Coachella Valley, California, with hands-on experience on the retail side of the car business. We built it because owners kept asking the same questions about engine and anti-theft programs and could not get a straight answer in one place. Nothing here is legal advice; it is a starting point for the conversation you will have at the service desk.

This is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Hyundai Motor America, Kia America, Genesis, any dealership, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hyundai, Kia and Genesis are trademarks of their owners and are used here only to identify vehicles.

Where the information comes from

• VIN decoding: NHTSA vPIC (vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov), called directly from your browser.
• Recalls, complaints, investigations, service bulletins: NHTSA public APIs (api.nhtsa.gov).
• Program lists (hand-built, re-checked quarterly), each rule citing its document:
  • Hyundai Theta II engine settlement and Kia engine settlement (settlement agreement)
  • Hyundai KSDS Campaign 953 and Kia KSDS PI1802 dealer letter
  • Hyundai Engine II settlement and the Kia Engine II settlement (final approval order, April 9, 2024)
  • Hyundai anti-theft Campaign 993 bulletin, Kia anti-theft software page, Kia theft settlement notice
  • Multistate Attorneys General anti-theft settlement

Matching is done by decoded make, model, year and engine. That can't prove settlement class membership, so results say "may be eligible" and link to the official lookup. Data can be incomplete or out of date. Nothing here is legal advice. If you spot an error, tell us: hello@castledigitalworks.com.

Affiliate disclosure

Some pages may include affiliate links, for example to compare vehicle service contracts, auto refinance rates or car insurance quotes. If you click one and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links are always labeled where they appear.

Our rules: we never show affiliate offers on results where a free recall, campaign or settlement program may apply. Affiliate relationships never change what the checker shows. A vehicle service contract is not a factory warranty; read its exclusions before buying.

Privacy

• VIN checks: your browser sends the VIN directly to NHTSA's public API to decode it and look up data. This site's server doesn't receive or store it.
• Email alerts (only if you sign up): we store your email address, the VIN you entered and its make, model and year, the recall numbers we've already told you about, the consent text you agreed to, and the dates you signed up and confirmed. The VIN is kept so alert emails can link straight to the official open-recall lookup for your car. We use them only to send recall alerts. We never sell them. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe link.
• Analytics and ads: none at the moment. If that changes, this notice will be updated first.
• Contact / data deletion requests: hello@castledigitalworks.com

Last updated 2026-10-09.