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Your vehicleHome›Audi›Q3› 2022
Audi · Compact SUV

2022 Audi Q3

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5
Complaints1 crash · 2 injured reported 34
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 26 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2022 Audi Q3 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Q3 quattro, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 34 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Audi Q3 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Audi Q3 · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Q3 quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233026$2,600
Q3 S line quattroGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212824$2,800

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44148, 44147.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Q3 S line quattro, Q3 quattro7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 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 vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower184 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Parking assist, Rear cross-traffic alert

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: S Line quattro Premium, S Line quattro Premium Plus, quattro Premium, quattro Premium Plus). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length176.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.2 in
Height63.8 in
Wheelbase105.5 in
Track, front62.2 in
Track, rear62.2 in
Curb weight3,384 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door SUV. 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.

Also on file Beside the 2022 Q3
Other years The 2027 Q3 Recalls Audi recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2022 Audi Q3 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 (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

91Ei
6,076 vehicles 93% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V806000 reported Oct 26, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Visibility

64H4
4 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Audi Q3 vehicles. A window manufacturing error may allow the rear window to crack or break. Risk A broken rear window may result in loose pieces of glass and increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will check the manufacturing date of the vehicle's rear window and replace it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 11, 2022. Owners may contact Audi 's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 64H4.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V701000 reported Sep 19, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

20DS
13,004 vehicles 95% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Audi Q3 vehicles. The vent pipe within the fuel tank may have been damaged during fuel tank assembly. Risk A damaged vent pipe may allow fuel to spill out of the filler neck when the fuel cap is opened, increasing the risk of an injury. Fix Dealers will inspect the internal vent pipe for damage and replace the charcoal canister and the fuel tank, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20DS.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V673000 reported Sep 8, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91DF
665 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022 Audi Q3 vehicles that failed to receive the software update under Recall 21V-825 (91CR). A software error may prevent the rearview image from initially displaying when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91DF.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V064000 reported Feb 7, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91CR
2,857 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021 Audi A8 and S8, 2022 Audi A5 Sportback, A4 Sedan, E-Tron GT, Q3, Q5, RS6 Avant, A3 Sedan, S5 Sportback, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RSQ8, SQ7, SQ8, and S3 Sedan vehicles. A software error may prevent the rear-view image from initially displaying when the vehicle begins to reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the infotainment unit parameters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 9, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91CR.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V825000 reported Oct 20, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Q3

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Audi publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Audi’s own VIN lookup →

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 2022 Audi Q3, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2022 Audi Q3

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 Q3 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
34complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

11 per 10,000 built · Audi reported 31,754 Q3 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 6

Most-cited components

Electrical System 9
Fuel/Propulsion System 9
Back Over Prevention 8
Unspecified 5
Forward Collision Avoidance 4
Lane Departure 4

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.

Backup camera malfunctioned, and went black. It also didn’t stop me from backing into a car
Forward Collision Avoidance Aug 25, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11682906
The electrical system in the car had failed producing multiple warnings ranging from: speed control system: currently unavailable. See owner's manual Audi pre sense: currently limited. See owner's manual Audi pre sense: malfunction! Please contact service Tire pressure: malfunction! Please see owner's manual Steering: malfunction!
Electrical System Jul 19, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11674730
The fuel pump is what the issues is with my 2022 Audi Q3 it has been replaced twice in three years of me having the vehicle the first time was in November 2022 a year after I got it came out of the store, and it would not start.
Fuel/Propulsion System Dec 27, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11632611
Two issues: The rear view camera is not reliable. It sometimes fails to engage or becomes covered up by another graphics layer such as the user authentication screen. In some cases it comes late or the steering angles lines are rendered very late or missing. Second, the forward ultrasound park assist chimes often do not chime.
Back Over Prevention Sep 7, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11613189
According to the owner’s manual, “Lane guidance provides corrective steering to assist the driver with keeping the vehicle in the center of the lane.” On delivery of the vehicle, I noticed that in highway conditions the system consistently steered the vehicle to hug the right side of the lane.
Lane Departure Mar 12, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11577019
The break and gas pedal are made of hard plastic and they are very slippery. The should have been made of rubber to prevent slippage. I’m my opinion this is a safety issue
Service Brakes May 12, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11521756

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 Audi itself: 4 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 13 per 100,000 built. Every Q3 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

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 warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 800
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-30
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 787 service bulletins, 11 others, 2 warranty extensions

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Structure, Engine.

  • TSB_2083444_1 Service bulletin
    2026-09-30 · Electrical System
  • This TSB prvoides informaiton when there is a distance warning + ACC is not available/Audi pre sense fault; DTC U101400, B203200.
  • TSB_2083409_1 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
  • TSB_2069531_2 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Engine
  • This bulletin provides information when the MIL is on, EVAP pressure/temp sensor incorrect DTC displayed: P202400, P045000, P045200, P24D600, P24D800, P2B7B00.
  • TSB_2052680_2 Service bulletin
    2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
  • TSB_2074846_5 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Steering
  • This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
  • TSB_2020552_15 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Visibility/Wiper
  • This bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
  • TSB_2078648_4 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Structure — Body
  • This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel.
  • TSB_2068573_6 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Electrical System
  • This bulletin provides information when the rear parking sensor sometimes does not work, rear parking sensor loose, rear parking sensor fault message.

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 complaints

Codes 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.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P2004
P2004 on Audi →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 bulletin
P2006Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 bulletin
P2014Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 bulletin
P2015
P2015 on Audi →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 bulletin

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 DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Audi Q3 failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.98% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%).

New York inspections 1.8%

failed emissions

1,524 initial inspections of 1,487 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2022 Q3Every 2022 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.8%1.7%1,520
Failed the safety inspection0.98%1.4%1,524
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.07%0.18%1,524
Miles driven a year8,41310,455odometer at inspection
Average odometer35,83044,815odometer 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 2022 vehicle” is every 2022 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).

Q3 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 24 mpg2026 A 1 6 25 mpg2025 A 1 4 25 mpg2024 B 2 18 25 mpg2023 A 1 2 25 mpg2022 this page C 5 34 26 mpg2021 C 3 15 25 mpg2020 C 3 66 22 mpg2019 C 4 10 22 mpg2018 A 1 26 23 mpg2017 B 3 8 23 mpg2016 B 3 28 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2022 Q3

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2022 Audi Q3 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2022 Audi Q3. The most serious on file is 22V673000, 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 2022 Audi Q3?

NHTSA gave the 2022 Audi Q3 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (79/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Audi Q3?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Audi Q3, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2022 Audi Q3?

Transport Canada measured it at 176.4 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 63.8 in tall, on a 105.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,384 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2022 Audi Q3?

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Audi Q3, most often about electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, back over prevention. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 2 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 2022 Audi Q3?

The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Audi Q3 is 7 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 — California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Audi Q3?

The manufacturer has filed 800 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Audi Q3, most often covering electrical system, equipment, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-09-30. 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 2022 Audi Q3 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Audi Q3 failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.98% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%). 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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints34NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins800NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe 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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Q3 The Q3 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Audi recall on file All campaigns filed against Audi vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Q3 by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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.

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