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Your vehicleHome›BMW›4 Series› 2017
BMW · Compact Sedan

2017 BMW 4 Series

Gas
Compact Cars
15 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2
Complaints1 crash · 1 injured reported 30
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 BMW 4 Series is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 15 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 430i Convertible, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 30 complaints, most often about the engine.

BMW 4 Series — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
BMW 4 Series · Photo: FotoSleuth · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
430i ConvertibleGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233427$3,050
430i CoupeGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233427$3,050
430i Gran CoupeGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233427$3,050
430i xDrive ConvertibleGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223226$3,150
430i xDrive CoupeGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233326$3,150
430i xDrive Gran CoupeGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233326$3,150
430i CoupeGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo213325$3,300
440i CoupeGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo213225$3,300
440i Gran CoupeGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo213225$3,300
440i xDrive CoupeGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo213125$3,300
440i xDrive Gran CoupeGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo213125$3,300
440i ConvertibleGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo212924$3,400
440i xDrive ConvertibleGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo203024$3,400
440i CoupeGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo192923$3,550
440i xDrive CoupeGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo192923$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37880, 37893, 37896, 37881, 37895, 37897, 37894, 37968, 37969, 38018.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
430i Convertible, 430i Coupe, 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Convertible, 430i xDrive Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe8–9 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
440i Convertible, 440i Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440i xDrive Convertible, 440i xDrive Coupe, 440i xDrive Gran Coupe6 / 10LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 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 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3 L

Engine Output

Horsepower320 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity4 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

Optional: Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist

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: 4-Series, GC, xDrive GC). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length182.7 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.0 in
Height54.3–54.7 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Track, front61.0 in
Track, rear62.6 in
Curb weight3,580–4,270 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear49/51 to 50/50

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 7 configurations: 428I xDrive 2-door Cabriolet AWD, 428I xDrive 2-door Coupe AWD, 435I 2-door Coupe RWD, 435I xDrive 2-door Cabriolet AWD, 435I xDrive 2-door Coupe AWD, Gran Coupe 428I xDrive 4-door Sedan 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.

Also on file Beside the 2017 4 Series
Other years The 2027 4 Series Recalls BMW recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 BMW 4 Series 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 (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

292 vehicles 70% reported repaired built Sep 19, 2016 – Oct 7, 2016
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive and M4 vehicles and Rolls-Royce Dawn vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat-mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. Risk If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V115000 reported Feb 23, 2017 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

3,506 vehicles 88% reported repaired built Aug 4, 2016 – Sep 28, 2016
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. Risk If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V914000 reported Dec 20, 2016 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific 4 Series

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. 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 2017 BMW 4 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 2017 BMW 4 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 4 Series →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
30complaints filed

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

15 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 19,924 4 Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Engine 16
Unspecified 6
Electrical System 5
Air Bags 3
Tires 3
Seat Belts 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.

Subject: Safety Defect Report – B58TU Oil Pump Failure Causing Sudden Vehicle Disablement I am submitting a safety defect report regarding BMW vehicles equipped with the B58 Technical Update engine, primarily model years 2019 to 2021 including 340i, 440i, 540i, X3 M40i, and Toyota Supra models using this engine variant.
Engine Feb 28, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11721144
Small drops of liquid from the crankcase ventilation system Are dripping onto the water pump's electrical plug connector which can be a electrical fire risk. Can cause false “low coolant” reading due to corroded wires but there is not loss of coolant
Electrical System Sep 22, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11766021
Took 2017 BMW 440i in for annual state inspection and maintenance. During inspection, service tech noticed that the plastic clip that holds the emergency brake lines in place had failed and needed to be replaced to prevent damage to the emergency brake cables. Service tech replaced the plastic clip with a metal bolt.
Service Brakes Jan 14, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11710856
The Passenger Restraint System was failing and is now constantly showing a Passenger Restraint System alert. It can not tell whether a passenger is in the seat or not. A local BMW specialist says it is a common issue with the passenger occupancy mat
Seats May 10, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11588043
The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2017 BMW 430I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the message indicating a seat occupancy failure was displayed.
Air Bags at 50,000 miles Jan 27, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11503952
I have a BMW 430i Gran Coupe, there was a system coolant leak and now they are saying the entire system needs to be replaced because the plastic cracked and eroded from wear and tear. I began checking and found that over 1 million BMW vehicles were recalled for coolant system problems. My car seems it wasn't covered under the recall.
Fuel/Propulsion System Jan 13, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11501682

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 30 per 100,000 built. Every 4 Series model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 58k

miles, typically

Half the 13 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 50,000 and 73,000 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.

Too few readings for a curve — the 13 on file: 3 30k–40k, 1 40k–50k, 3 50k–60k, 2 60k–70k, 1 70k–80k, 1 80k–90k, 1 100k–150k, 1 150k +.

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

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 4 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 539
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-03
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 534 service bulletins, 5 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

  • B010826 Warranty extension
    2026-09-03 · Structure — Body
  • The coverage period for qualifying lower rear side panel water drain repair that addresses the issues described in the Service Information Bulletin has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles, as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
  • B010224 Warranty extension
    2026-05-05 · 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.
  • B010419 Warranty extension
    2024-09-16 · Engine
  • For this vehicle, the EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles, from the original 10 years/120,000 miles, as determined from the original in-service date. This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and exclusion criteria that apply to the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warr
  • B010224 Warranty extension
    2024-05-02 · Engine
  • EVAP SYSTEM PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150
  • B510819 Service bulletin
    2024-01-16 · Electrical System
  • The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
  • B611305 Service bulletin
    2024-01-11 · Electrical System
  • The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.
  • B011423 Service bulletin
    2023-11-13 · Engine And Engine Cooling
  • PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE (PCV) EXTENDED LTD WTY 15 YEARS/150,000 MILES
  • B513218 Service bulletin
    2023-11-08 · Structure
  • The paint finish on the door jamb (above the door striker) is scratched due to the inner door cavity window seal.

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 2017 BMW 4 Series failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.0% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 4.8%

failed emissions

645 initial inspections of 625 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 4 SeriesEvery 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check4.8%3.7%644
Failed the safety inspection2.0%2.1%645
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.47%0.25%645
Miles driven a year8,41510,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer78,15693,238odometer 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).

4 Series by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 31 mpg2026 B 1 2 31 mpg2025 B 1 8 31 mpg2024 C 2 3 28 mpg2023 C 3 6 28 mpg2022 D 5 8 Park outside2021 F 6 15 Park outside2020 A 1 5 27 mpg2019 C 3 27 27 mpg2018 A 1 43 27 mpg2017 this page B 2 30 27 mpg2016 B 1 56 27 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 4 Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 BMW 4 Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 BMW 4 Series. The most serious on file is 17V115000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 BMW 4 Series?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2017 BMW 4 Series yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (85/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 BMW 4 Series?

Across the 15 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 BMW 4 Series, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 BMW 4 Series?

Transport Canada measured it at 182.7 in long, 72.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 54.3–54.7 in tall, on a 110.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,580–4,270 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 BMW 4 Series?

Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 BMW 4 Series, most often about engine, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 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 BMW 4 Series?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 BMW 4 Series runs 6 to 9 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/PZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 BMW 4 Series?

The manufacturer has filed 539 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 BMW 4 Series, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-03. 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 BMW 4 Series do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 BMW 4 Series failed the emissions check on 4.8% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.0% (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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations15 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates15 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls2NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints30NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins539NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
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 NHTSA10 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 4 Series The 4 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 4 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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