⌘K
Your vehicleHome›BMW›4 Series› 2021
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
BMW · Compact Sedan

2021 BMW 4 Series

Hybrid Gas
Subcompact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
57 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical 6
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 15
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 29 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 BMW 4 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 430i Coupe, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 15 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

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*
M440i ConvertibleHybridRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion233126$3,150
430i CoupeGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo263429$2,850
430i ConvertibleGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327$3,050
430i xDrive CoupeGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243327$3,050

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43815, 43034, 43814, 43035.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
M440i Convertible5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
430i Convertible, 430i Coupe, 430i xDrive Coupe7 / 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 styleConvertible/Cabriolet
Doors2
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower255 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity4 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainRWD/Rear-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

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

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, 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, xDrive). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length182.7–187.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.0–72.8 in
Height54.3–54.7 in
Wheelbase110.6–112.2 in
Track, front61.0–62.2 in
Track, rear62.6 in
Curb weight3,708–4,171 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear49/51 to 54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 6 configurations: 430I 2-door Cabriolet, 430I xDrive 2-door Coupe, Gran Coupe 430I xDrive 4-door Sedan, Gran Coupe 440I xDrive 4-door Sedan, M440I 2-door Cabriolet, M440I xDrive 2-door Coupe. 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.

Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 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 (6)

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.
NHTSA campaign 26V056000 reported Jan 30, 2026 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

Park outside 199,674 vehicles 60% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 BMW 330i, 2019-2022 BMW Z4, 2020-2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4, Toyota Supra, 2021-2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible, and 2022 BMW 230i vehicles. The engine starter relay may corrode, causing the relay to overheat and short circuit. Risk A short circuit in the starter relay may increase the risk of a fire. Fix Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Dealers will replace the engine starter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov November 14, 2025.
NHTSA campaign 25V636000 reported Sep 23, 2025 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Seat Belts

144 vehicles 91% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the driver to fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk An audible chime that does not properly alert the driver to fasten their seat belt increases the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will update the receiver audio module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 12, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 23V584000 reported Aug 16, 2023 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

21,537 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper Risk During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417; 1-866-825-1525 (MINI); 1-877-877-3735 (Rolls Royce); and 1-888-270-9371 (Toyota).
NHTSA campaign 21V554000 reported Jul 21, 2021 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

1,850 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 430i and M440i 4 Series Convertible vehicles. In certain side-impact crashes, the head-thorax air bag may not deploy as intended. Risk An air bag that deploys incorrectly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will update the software, at no charge. All affected vehicles are still in dealer inventory, and therefore no owner letters will be mailed. The recall began March 9, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 21V176000 reported Mar 15, 2021 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

13,858 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 43 Risk If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign 21V096000 reported Feb 19, 2021 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 4 Series

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 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.

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 2021 BMW 4 Series, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2021 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
15complaints filed

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

21 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 7,179 4 Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Electrical System 6
Seat Belts 3
Engine 3
Tires 1
Power Train 1
Unspecified 1

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.

I received a recall notice dated 9/23/2025. The recall is listed as URGENT safety issue that could cause a fire. The notice instructs not to drive the car or park in garage. It has been over 6 months now and there is still no fix. I am requesting the manufacture buyback my vehicle
Electrical System Mar 16, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11724645
The recall was issued more than 8 months ago but the remedy is still not yet available, which is very concerning as the problem may cause the event of fire even when the vehicle is parked. Issued SEP 23, 2025 Description of Problem It is possible for water to contact and enter the engine starter.
Engine Apr 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11734108
The contact owns a 2021 BMW 430I. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt chest strap was shredded. The contact was concerned that the seat belt would not safely secure the driver in a crash.
Seat Belts at 13,000 miles Mar 3, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11721698
The contact owns a 2021 BMW 430I. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic light, the light turned green; however, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the power train warning light was illuminated.
Power Train at 33,000 miles Jul 22, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11603683
Pirelli Cinturato 7 all season 225/40R19 I found front and rear bump side wall tires and miles driven 5300 miles. I’m very concern about this issues
Tires Sep 12, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11432662
The contact called for the owner of the 2021 BMW 430I. The owner received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted.
Electrical System Feb 4, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11715568

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.

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 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 135
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-05-06
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 133 service bulletins, 1 service campaign, 1 warranty extension

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Visibility/Wiper.

  • B010126 Warranty extension
    2026-05-06 · Engine
  • The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship has been extended to 15 years / 150,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
  • 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.
  • B630222 Service bulletin
    2025-04-25 · Visibility/Wiper
  • Excessive condensation in one or both headlights.
  • B110521 Service campaign
    2024-12-06 · Engine
  • The belt pulley on the mechanical coolant pump may fracture allowing the engine drive belt to come off thecoolant pump and alternator.
  • B120721 Service bulletin
    2024-03-04 · Engine And Engine Cooling
  • Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or one or more of the following other issues are also occurring: Noise in the area of the belt drive.
  • B640422 Service bulletin
    2024-02-16 · Visibility — Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
  • An interference noise (groaning noise) can be heard from within the heating and air-conditioning unit in thecenter of the instrument panel. The groaning noise always occurs when either a ventilation flap, air stratification flap or the recirculated airflap moves to a different position. Due to the complex design of the heating and air-conditioning unit, the kinematics causing it (top or bottom,l
  • B510819 Service bulletin
    2024-01-16 · Visibility — Power Window Devices And Controls
  • 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.

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 2021 BMW 4 Series failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.71% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 1.3%

failed emissions

701 initial inspections of 689 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 4 SeriesEvery 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.3%1.9%700
Failed the safety inspection0.71%1.5%701
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.19%701
Miles driven a year7,44910,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer39,69654,681odometer 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 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 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).

Common questions about the 2021 4 Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 BMW 4 Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2021 BMW 4 Series, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V056000, covering Electrical System. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 BMW 4 Series?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2021 BMW 4 Series yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (57/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 BMW 4 Series?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 BMW 4 Series, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 BMW 4 Series?

Transport Canada measured it at 182.7–187.8 in long, 72.0–72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 54.3–54.7 in tall, on a 110.6–112.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,708–4,171 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 2021 BMW 4 Series?

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 BMW 4 Series, most often about electrical system, seat belts, engine. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 BMW 4 Series?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 BMW 4 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 2021 BMW 4 Series?

The manufacturer has filed 135 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 BMW 4 Series, most often covering equipment, electrical system, 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 2021 BMW 4 Series do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 BMW 4 Series failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.71% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). 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 & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints15NHTSA 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 bulletins135NHTSA 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.

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.

JSON for this page · API