The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the SaferCar app for iOS that lets motorists file vehicle safety complaints and receive automatic notices of vehicle recalls.

The app also features vehicle safety ratings and help with child-seat installation.

"Timely, accurate, and accessible safety data is the lifeblood of our agency's work," said NHTSA chief David Strickland. "The new SaferCar app literally puts the latest in vehicle safety information directly in the hands of consumers so they can make the appropriate purchasing and other decisions for themselves and their families."

The SaferCar app is free and can be downloaded from Apple's iTunes Store.

The new app is easy to navigate but looks like it lacks archive access. Recall searches only go back to 2000 on the app, according to a post on Cars.com Kicking Tires blog. NHTSA's website allows searches as far back as the 1949 model year.

It is the NHTSA's first app of its kind, and the agency plans to roll out an Android version in the near future. NHTSA earlier this year updated its SaferCar.gov website with information on how to locate information on safety defect investigations, complaints and vehicle recalls.

NHTSA has also released an Application Programming Interface (API), giving software developers an opportunity to further develop mobile apps. NHTSA will release an online course to teach developers how to use the APIs.