Dealerships are prohibited from selling new cars with open recalls. Automakers are typically required to fix recall issues for vehicles up to 10 years old. So if you're buying a new car from a dealer, an open recall shouldn't be an issue because the dealer must resolve any issues before selling the car. However, dealerships may be allowed to sell used vehicles with open recalls depending on the state. If you're buying a car with a recall from a private seller or dealership, you should research the recall and find out if the seller has addressed it. If the seller has not repaired the recall issue, it's a good idea to resolve it as soon as possible after the transaction is complete.