⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›BMW›5 Series› 2017
BMW · Midsize Sedan

2017 BMW 5 Series

Gas
Midsize Cars
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2
Complaints2 crash · 1 injured reported 38
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 BMW 5 Series is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 530i, 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 38 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

BMW 5 Series — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
BMW 5 Series · Photo: Benespit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
530iGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243427$3,050
530i xDriveGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233327$3,050
540iGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo203024$3,400
540i xDriveGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo202923$3,550
535i Gran TurismoGasRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo192722$3,750
535i xDrive Gran TurismoGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo182621$3,900
550i xDrive Gran TurismoGasAWD4.4L 8-cyl turbo152418$4,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38543, 38544, 38545, 38546, 37632, 37633, 37388.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
530i, 530i xDrive8–9 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
540i, 540i xDrive7 / 10LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
535i Gran Turismo, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo6 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEVAll 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

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower241 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, Electronic stability control

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

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

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length194.5–195.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.6 in
Height57.9 in
Wheelbase117.3 in
Track, front63.4 in
Track, rear64.2 in
Curb weight3,560–4,156 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear51/49 to 54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 10 configurations: 520D 4-door Sedan, 520D xDrive 4-door Sedan, 530D 4-door Sedan, 530D xDrive 4-door Sedan, 530E 4-door Sedan, 530I 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 2017 5 Series
Other years The 2027 5 Series Recalls BMW recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 BMW 5 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

33 vehicles 88% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive and 2017-2018 530e xDrive vehicles. Prior exposure to excessive levels of humidity within the driver and passenger head air bag inflators may affect the proper deployment of the head air bags. Risk In the event of a crash of sufficient severity, deployment of the head air bag may be impaired and/or the igniter could separate from the inflator, increasing the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right head air bag, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V243000 reported Apr 29, 2020 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

3,506 vehicles 88% reported repaired built Sep 16, 2016 – Oct 12, 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 5 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 5 Series, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2017 BMW 5 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 5 Series →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
38complaints filed

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

22 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 17,123 5 Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 4

Most-cited components

Air Bags 11
Seat Belts 8
Unspecified 4
Electrical System 4
Seats 4
Engine 3

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.

1.) The Steering Column 2.) The Column will get stuck and cannot be adjusted. 3.) Dealer has confirmed the problem & BMW USA has confirmed the problem 4.) No 5.) No Warnings BMW USA has offered a Fix for this issue and free fix if the car is under 50k miles however this is more of a safety issue as you cannot properaly adjust the…
Electrical System Apr 15, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11731280
The contact owned a 2017 BMW 530i. The contact stated while the unknown driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was involved in a collision. The contact stated the vehicle was driven without the contact's authorization. The contact stated the air bags did not deploy.
Air Bags at 105,000 miles Apr 10, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11653952
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 530I. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle, the contact became aware that the headlights were inoperable. The contact stated that the headlights failed to function properly, and the lights failed to illuminate.
Exterior Lighting at 105,453 miles Apr 4, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11652858
Seatbelt alarm goes off on passengers seat and no one is seated in the seat. Received a notification from BMW that the warranty was extended to cover this problem with this model but the BMW dealership says my VIN number is not covered.
Seat Belts Jul 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11749205
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 540I equipped with a Zenna Tires, Tire Line: Argus/UHP, Tire Size: 275/30/ZR20, DOT Number: 045YNAUY84924. The contact stated the driver's side rear tire was slowly deflating. The vehicle was taken to a Tire Shop, and the technician became aware of bubbles on the tire.
Tires at 70,000 miles Feb 25, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11720421
The contact owns a 2017 BMW 530I. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Refill Coolant" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered a puddle of blue liquid underneath the vehicle.
Engine Jan 29, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11714234

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: 3 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 18 per 100,000 built. Every 5 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 21k

miles, typically

Half the 13 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 15,000 and 60,000 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: 2 under 10k, 3 10k–20k, 3 20k–30k, 1 40k–50k, 1 60k–70k, 1 70k–80k, 2 100k–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
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
5 HB AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%
5 HB RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★9%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 9 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

3 more in this page’s JSON.

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 1,721
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-03
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1705 service bulletins, 14 warranty extensions, 1 over-the-air update

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

  • B010921 Warranty extension
    2026-08-03 · Engine
  • The NVLD limited emissionrelated warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.
  • 11029012 Over-the-air update
    2026-02-25 · Power Train
  • It was determined that during start-up, there is a possibility that the vehicle cannot be put into gear. If this happens, a fault message will say “No drive position change possible.”
  • B720125 Warranty extension
    2026-02-11 · Electrical System
  • A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a “fasten seat belt” warning and a front passenger seat air bag deactivation message appears. If the situation is currently present, sit in the seat and move the seat to a slightly different position. The POL (Passenger Occupancy Light) light should now function correctly. In some cases, the Air bag Warning Light was il
  • B010122 Service bulletin
    2026-01-21 · Engine
  • N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR
  • B720125 Warranty extension
    2025-10-29 · Air Bags
  • A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a “fasten seat belt” warning and a front passenger seat air bag deactivation message appears. If the situation is currently present, sit in the seat and move the seat to a slightly different position. The POL (Passenger Occupancy Light) light should now function correctly. In some cases, the Air bag Warning Light was il
  • B120425 Emissions
    2025-06-11 · Electrical System
  • EMISSIONS RECALL 25E-A02: PROGRAM CONTROL UNITS
  • B010525 Warranty extension
    2025-05-19 · Engine
  • The high-temperature (HT) coolant expansion tanks breathing line/pipe limited warranty for defects in materials and / workmanship has been extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles as determined from the original first in-service / delivery date.
  • B011524 Warranty extension
    2024-12-11 · Engine
  • the NVLD limited emissionrelated warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 15 years/150,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date.

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 5 Series failed the emissions check on 5.9% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.73% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 5.9%

failed emissions

824 initial inspections of 796 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 5 SeriesEvery 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check5.9%3.7%819
Failed the safety inspection0.73%2.1%824
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.36%0.25%824
Miles driven a year9,21810,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer85,62393,238odometer 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).

5 Series by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A* 0 0 31 mpg2026 B 1 1 31 mpg2025 F 6 2 31 mpg2024 F 7 18 30 mpg2023 C 3 10 28 mpg2022 F 4 19 Park outside2021 F 9 27 Park outside2020 F 8 15 Park outside2019 C 3 40 Park outside2018 F 7 89 Park outside2017 this page B 2 38 27 mpg2016 F 7 83 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 5 Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 BMW 5 Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2017 BMW 5 Series. The most serious on file is 20V243000, 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 5 Series?

NHTSA gave the 2017 BMW 5 Series 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (85/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 BMW 5 Series?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 BMW 5 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 5 Series?

Transport Canada measured it at 194.5–195.3 in long, 73.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.9 in tall, on a 117.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,560–4,156 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 5 Series?

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 BMW 5 Series, most often about air bags, seat belts, unspecified. Of those, 2 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 5 Series?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 BMW 5 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, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 BMW 5 Series?

The manufacturer has filed 1721 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 BMW 5 Series, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-08-03. 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 5 Series do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 BMW 5 Series failed the emissions check on 5.9% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.73% (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 & configurations7 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates7 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 complaints38NHTSA 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 bulletins1721NHTSA 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 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 5 Series The 5 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 5 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.

JSON for this page · API