Once you have the VIN, you can check for recalls through these sources:
* NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration): This is the official US government source. Go to their website (nhtsa.gov) and use their recall lookup tool. They will require the VIN.
* GM (General Motors): GM's website also has a recall lookup tool that uses the VIN.
Using the VIN is crucial because recalls are vehicle-specific, not model-year specific. A 2003 Avalanche built early in the year might have different recalls than one built later in the year, or even those with different options.