2017 Acura TLX
The 2017 Acura TLX is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the TLX FWD, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 71 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLX FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 24 | 35 | 28 | $2,950 |
| TLX AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 21 | 31 | 25 | $3,300 |
| TLX FWD | Gas | FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 21 | 34 | 25 | $3,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37756, 37758, 37757.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLX AWD, TLX FWD | 6 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2.4 L |
| Engine configuration | In-Line |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 206 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) |
| Transmission speeds | 8 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Lane departure warning
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: ADVANCE V6, Base, SH-AWD ADVANCE V6, SH-AWD TECH V6). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 190.2 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 72.8 in |
| Height | 57.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 109.4 in |
| Track, front | 63.0 in |
| Track, rear | 63.0 in |
| Curb weight | 3,481–3,748 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 60/40 to 61/39 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door Sedan FWD, 4-door Sedan Sh-Awd. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2017 Acura TLX is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (3)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseEngine And Engine Cooling
XG1, GG0Fuel System, Other
N3X, P3WThese are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages open
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020
Opened Mar 26, 2025 · action EA25004 · the investigation’s page →
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with ma
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific TLX
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Acura publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 Acura TLX, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2017 Acura TLX
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this TLX →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported
32 per 10,000 built · Acura reported 22,410 TLX built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 17 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 11
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
Auto Stop/Start feature fails to restart vehicle, rendering vehicle inoperable. Powering off the vehicle and then powering up the vehicle thus far has restarted everything, much to the frustration of myself and the drivers behind me
Auto start-stop system failed on several occasions, the car shut itself down Since then every time I start the cat I disable it. Transmission feels clunky, there is kick to it between 2nd and 3rd gear, many complaints found on the web. Bought the car with 16xxx miles 2 years old
Rear rotors warped after only about 15000 miles. Calipers failed early too. This causes the vehicle to shake very hard when braking, and creates an unsafe condition. Competent mechanics have inspected the vehicle and confirmed this
After completing grocery shopping in walmart I retuned to my parked vehicle in the parking lot and, to my horror the certified preowned 2017 Acura Tlx that I just took delivery on 12/23/20 would not start. Got roadside assistance for jump start, car started but could not put in reverse, drive, or neutral.
I bought my Acura about 3 months ago but saw they had some recalls on over 400k of these vehicles with fuel issues! Is this going to be an issue for me later with this vehicle? Right now my vehicle is fine though, just wanted it to be known
The contact owns a 2017 Acura Tlx. The contact stated that the instrument panel illuminated, indicating that the front passenger's side door was open even though the door was securely locked. The audible chime was heard and the vanity light and interior light were illuminated.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Acura itself: 11 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 12 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 49 per 100,000 built. Every TLX model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 28 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 11,000 and 48,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Median mileage by component
| Component | Reports | Median miles | Vs same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 12 | 33,000 | 0.57× |
Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2017-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: engine (0.57×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Driver-assist crash reports (1)
Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-011 severity unknown
— to — · 0 with an air bag deployment · 0 towed
What was engaged, and what was hit
System named: not named in the filings
Crash partner: Unknown 1
Filed by: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
| Incident | System | Struck | Injury alleged | State | Speed | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Level 2 | Unknown | unknown | UN | — | 62-1524 |
From the manufacturer’s own filing
The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.
Customer called inquiring about his loan with Honda Finance and gap insurance. Subject vehicle was T-boned by another car that ran a red light. Driver states airbags did not deploy and seat belt broke. The other driver exited the car and left the scene.
A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Acura bulletin BEBM09252026901Dealer Message - The fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification.
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Acura bulletin B26-025The factory fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification.
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Acura bulletin B26-023The factory fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification.
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Acura bulletin B22-009"Service bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque.
The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Honda warranty extension (66) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Engine, Electrical System, Equipment, Fuel/Propulsion System, Power Train.
- B26-025 Service bulletin2026-09-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Service Bulletin - The factory fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification. As a result, small contamination particles inside the fuel fill neck may prevent the primary shut-off valve flap seal from sealing properly. This may result in a fuel smell from the fuel fill neck area and may cause DTC P0455 or P0456 (EVAP system leak detected) to be set.
- B26-023 Service bulletin2026-09-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Service Bulletin - The factory fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification. As a result, small contamination particles inside the fuel fill neck may prevent the primary shut-off valve flap seal from sealing properly. This may result in a fuel smell from the fuel fill neck area and may cause DTC P0455 or P0456 (EVAP system leak detected) to be set.
- BEBM09252026901 Other2026-09-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Dealer Message - The fuel fill pipe assembly may not have been manufactured to specification. As a result, small contamination particles inside the fuel fill neck may prevent the primary shut-off valve flap seal from sealing, resulting in fuel smell from the fuel fill neck area and may cause DTC P0455 or P0456 (EVAP system leak detected) to be set.
- B22-009 Service bulletin2025-07-07 · Engine
- Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the client can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button.
- B24-022 Service bulletin2025-02-19 · Engine
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on with one or more AWD DTCs having been set due to water intrusion into the electric oil pump motor connector area corrodes the terminals.
- B24-022 Service bulletin2024-11-22 · Structure — Body
- Service Bulletin - The AWD warning light is on potentially due to water intrusion into the rear differential pump motor connector area that corrodes the terminals.
- B16-008 Service bulletin2024-09-04 · Engine
- Service Bulletin - Drivers may experience a chirping sound coming from the engine area with the engine warmed up due to the high pressure fuel pump is making a chirp.
- ONL6AX07052023 Service bulletin2023-07-05 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Acura is providing a product update with new PGM-FI software update to fix this issue.
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0171 P0171 on Acura → | The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor → | 16 bulletins |
| P0174 P0174 on Acura → | The engine is running lean on bank 2. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor → | 16 bulletins |
| P219A P219A on Acura → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump → | 16 bulletins |
| P0430 P0430 on Acura → | The catalytic converter on bank 2 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should. | Engine · Catalytic converter → | 8 bulletins · 1 owner report |
| P0420 P0420 on Acura → | The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should. | Engine · Catalytic converter → | 6 bulletins |
| P0716 P0716 on Acura → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 5 bulletins |
| P0A11 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 5 bulletins |
| P0A94 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 5 bulletins |
| P16E5 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 5 bulletins |
| P2652 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 4 bulletins |
| P3400 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 4 bulletins |
| P0455 P0455 on Acura → | A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off. | Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap → | 3 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Acura TLX failed the emissions check on 5.1% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).
failed emissions
732 initial inspections of 716 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2017 TLX | Every 2017 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 5.1% | 3.7% | 731 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.4% | 2.1% | 732 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.41% | 0.25% | 732 |
| Miles driven a year | 9,724 | 10,048 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 90,350 | 93,238 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
TLX by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2017 TLX
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2017 Acura TLX have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Acura TLX. The most serious on file is 23V858000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2017 Acura TLX?
NHTSA gave the 2017 Acura TLX 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (81/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Acura TLX?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Acura TLX, the best EPA combined figure is 28 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2017 Acura TLX?
Transport Canada measured it at 190.2 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1 in tall, on a 109.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,481–3,748 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2017 Acura TLX?
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Acura TLX, most often about engine, power train, unspecified. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2017 Acura TLX?
The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Acura TLX is 6 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Acura TLX?
The manufacturer has filed 146 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Acura TLX, most often covering engine, electrical system, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-09-25. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2017 Acura TLX do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Acura TLX failed the emissions check on 5.1% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 3 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 71 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 146 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 2 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | 1 | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 13 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.