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Your vehicleHome›BMW›3 Series› 2023
BMW · Midsize Sedan

2023 BMW 3 Series

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas
Compact Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
69 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 4
Complaints4 crash · 2 injured reported 14
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 29 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2023 BMW 3 Series is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 330i Sedan, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 14 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2023 BMW 3 Series

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
330e SedanPlug-in hybridRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 80 kW PMSM243227 (39 MPGe blended)22 mi electric483 h$3,050
330e xDrive SedanPlug-in hybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 80 kW PMSM223226 (36 MPGe blended)20 mi electric453 h$3,150
M340i SedanHybridRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion233126———$3,150
M340i xDrive SedanHybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion233226———$3,150
330i SedanGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253429———$2,850
330i xDrive SedanGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327———$3,050

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47215, 47216, 45603, 45493, 45765, 46130.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
330e Sedan7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
330e xDrive Sedan7 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
M340i Sedan5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
M340i xDrive Sedan5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
330i Sedan, 330i xDrive Sedan7 / 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 styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower181 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelElectric

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Blind-spot monitoring, Lane keeping assist, 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: 3-Series, 330xe, xDrive). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length185.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.0 in
Height56.7 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Track, front62.2 in
Track, rear63.0 in
Curb weight3,494–3,902 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear52/48

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 330E 4-door Sedan, 330I xDrive 4-door Sedan, M340I xDrive 4-door Sedan. 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 2023 3 Series
Other years The 2027 3 Series Recalls BMW recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 BMW 3 Series is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module 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 →

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Electrical System

87,394 vehicles 32% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Toyota Supra, 2022-2023 2 Series Coupe, 2021-2024 5 Series (xDrive), 2021-2022 Z4, 2022-2024 4 Series (Gran Coupe), 2021-2024 4 Series (Convertible and xDrive Convertible), 2021-2023 4 Series (Coupe), 2021-2024 3 Series, 2021-2023 X4, 2021-2024 X3 vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of all models. The engine starter may overheat and catch fire due to wear on an internal component. Risk Fire increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 24, 2026.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V056000 reported Jan 30, 2026 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

Toyota - 23TA14
552 vehicles 97% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota GR Supra, 3 Series Sedan (330i xDrive, M340i xDrive, M3), 5 Series Sedan (530i, 530i xDrive, M5), 4 Series Gran Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 4 Series Convertible (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive), 8 Series Coupe (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Convertible (840i, M850i xDrive, M8), 8 Series Gran Coupe (850i xDrive, M8), X3 SAV (X3 xDrive30i, X3M), X4 SAV (X4 xDrive30i), X5 SAV (X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5M), X6 SAV (X6 xDrive40i, X6 M50i, X6M), and Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i vehicles. The weld seam of the integrated transmission control unit's cover may not have been manufactured prop Risk Transmission oil that leaks into the control unit can lead to a seizure of the transmission gears, causing a sudden loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics module and the automatic transmission fluid, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V821000 reported Dec 6, 2023 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

120 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, 330e, 330e xDrive, 430i Convertible, 430i xDrive, M440i, 2022-2023 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. During a service visit, a replacement electronic control unit (ECU) may have been installed with incorrect programming, which can cause the automatic door locking (ADL) function to not lock the doors as intended. Risk Doors that do not lock as intended while the vehicle is in motion may open during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V118000 reported Feb 23, 2023 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

1,296 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330e and 330e xDrive hybrid electric vehicles. After shifting into reverse, the rearview camera software may cause a portion of the rearview image to be obstructed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk An obstructed rearview image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-80-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V747000 reported Oct 7, 2022 BMW of North America, LLC 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 3 Series

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW 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 →BMW’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 2023 BMW 3 Series, 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 2023 BMW 3 Series

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 3 Series →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
14complaints filed

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

4.6 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 30,212 3 Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Electrical System 5
Unspecified 4
Exterior Lighting 4
Engine 3
Service Brakes 2
Forward Collision Avoidance 2

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.

My car was on for about 5 minutes. I didn’t mean to step on the gas but I did and the car wouldn’t stop accelerating. Like the car is in park and I took my foot ass the gas but it’s still an uncontrolled acceleration issue. It revved up to the redline or highest rpm and stayed like that for 2 minutes.
Electrical System Sep 25, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11766839
I own a 2023 BMW 330i xDrive. The factory passenger-side/right-front inner LED daytime running light has failed while the other headlight functions continue to operate normally.
Exterior Lighting Sep 1, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11761472
The contact owned a 2023 BMW 525i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the mouth of the garage, his foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator pedal, and he drove through the rear garage wall into the kitchen and crashed into the concrete block. The electrical circuit was damaged.
Service Brakes at 67,000 miles Dec 5, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11703295
While parallel parking in a parking structure; my car accelerated full throttle backing up hitting the back wall ; then I tried going forward to straighten the car up, it accelerated full throttle forward hitting the front wall. I had an doctors appt.
Engine Oct 7, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11769578
On one occasion, the car automatically applied the breaks and parked itself while driving on a main road. On another occasion, while parking the car at the home it accelerated aggressively and almost crashed into the garage- driver lost complete control of the car.
Vehicle Speed Control Mar 23, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11726457
The contact owns a 2023 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V056000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted.
Electrical System Jul 21, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11751860

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 BMW itself: 6 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 7 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 20 per 100,000 built. Every 3 Series 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
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%
4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★9%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 2 filings 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 BMW warranty extension (46) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 196
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-05-06
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 193 service bulletins, 2 warranty extensions, 1 service campaign

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Power Train, Structure.

  • B010324 Warranty extension
    2026-05-06 · Engine
  • The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.
  • B652025 Service bulletin
    2026-05-05 · Electrical System
  • After replacing the Multifunctional Display (MFD), the Central Information Display (CID) is black. The backlight of the CID is illuminated, and touch function does register an audible sound.
  • B410725 Service bulletin
    2025-08-20 · Structure — Body
  • While driving on a smooth and/or uneven road, a “cracking” sound is heard from the rear wheel arch area (highlighted in orange) on either the right or left side.
  • B010425 Warranty extension
    2025-05-19 · Engine
  • The high-voltage battery assemblys refrigerant circuit expansion valves limited warranty for defects in materials and/ or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from theoriginal first in-service / delivery date.
  • B513019 Service bulletin
    2025-04-29 · Structure — Body
  • A groaning noise is present from the door frame of any door, most commonly when driving over rough roadsor during body flex. This situation may be worse in vehicles which are regularly waxed in th e area of the door jamb.
  • B511223 Service bulletin
    2025-04-15 · Structure — Body
  • A vehicle listed above may arrive with a Check Control Message (CCM), and/or malfunction indicator lamp(MIL) illuminated. After carrying out the vehicle test, one or more of the stored faults indicate that the operation of the frontbottom active air flap is obstructed or blocked.
  • B310223 Service bulletin
    2024-10-31 · Steering
  • When turning the steering wheel while stationary or when driving on uneven roads; cracking, creaking, or knocking noises may be heard.
  • B270220 Service bulletin
    2024-08-16 · Power Train
  • There is a jerking or shuddering during either or both of the following: Cornering or accelerating from low speeds Driving with low to medium loads There are no warning lights or Check Control messages.

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.

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 2023 BMW 3 Series failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).

New York inspections 1.8%

failed emissions

1,407 initial inspections of 1,369 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 3 SeriesEvery 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.8%1.6%1,403
Failed the safety inspection1.1%1.1%1,407
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.21%0.16%1,407
Miles driven a year8,48910,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer27,35232,673odometer 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 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 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).

3 Series by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A* 0 0 2026 A 0 1 31 mpg2025 B 1 6 31 mpg2024 C 2 11 29 mpg2023 this page D 4 14 29 mpg2022 D 3 15 30 mpg2021 F 9 33 Park outside2020 F 13 53 Park outside2019 F 9 41 Park outside2018 F 7 73 Park outside2017 F 4 80 Park outside2016 F 6 106 Park outside

Common questions about the 2023 3 Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 BMW 3 Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 BMW 3 Series, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V056000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 BMW 3 Series?

NHTSA gave the 2023 BMW 3 Series 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 D (69/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 BMW 3 Series?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 BMW 3 Series, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2023 BMW 3 Series?

Transport Canada measured it at 185.4 in long, 72.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 56.7 in tall, on a 112.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,494–3,902 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 2023 BMW 3 Series?

Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 BMW 3 Series, most often about electrical system, unspecified, exterior lighting. Of those, 4 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 2023 BMW 3 Series?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 BMW 3 Series runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. 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, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 BMW 3 Series?

The manufacturer has filed 196 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 BMW 3 Series, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-05-06. 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 2023 BMW 3 Series do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 BMW 3 Series failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.1% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). 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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints14NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins196NHTSA 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 NHTSA8 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 3 Series The 3 Series model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every BMW recall on file All campaigns filed against BMW vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this 3 Series 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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