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Your vehicleHome›BMW›X4› 2022
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 SUV

2022 BMW X4

Hybrid Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
58 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls3 critical 5
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 4
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 24 mpg
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2022 BMW X4 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the X4 xDrive30i, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 4 complaints, most often about the service brakes.

BMW X4 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
BMW X4 · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
X4 M40iHybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion212623$3,550
X4 xDrive30iGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212824$3,400
X4 MGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo152017$4,850
X4 M CompetitionGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo152017$4,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44316, 44315, 44317, 44318.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
X4 M40i5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
X4 xDrive30i7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
X4 M, X4 M Competition3 / 10California LEV-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 styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3 L

Engine Output

Horsepower382 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

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

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Lane keeping 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: M40i, X4 M/M Competition). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length187.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)75.6 in
Height63.8 in
Wheelbase113.0 in
Track, front63.8 in
Track, rear65.7 in
Curb weight4,147–4,323 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 2 configurations: M40I 4-door SUV, xDrive30I 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2022 X4
Other years The 2024 X4 Recalls BMW recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2022 BMW X4 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 →

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Recalls (5)

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 →
!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.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V636000 reported Sep 23, 2025 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Power Train

4 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022 330i, 530i, X3 xDrive30i, and X4 xDrive30i vehicles. The mechatronics unit inside the transmission may not have been assembled properly, which could result in an internal leak. Risk An internal transmission leak can result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will replace the transmission mechatronics unit, free of charge. All of the vehicle population for this recall have been repaired. Owner notification letters were not mailed. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V070000 reported Feb 9, 2022 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Exterior Lighting

2,577 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022 X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, and X4M vehicles. The rear license plate may not be illuminated properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Risk The incorrectly positioned license plate lamp cutouts could cause confusion to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will modify the rear license plate bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V831000 reported Oct 22, 2021 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Tires

13 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain X4 xDrive30i vehicles. The tire label may contain the wrong tire size and pressure information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Risk Incorrect tire size and pressure information could result in the wrong tires being installed, or improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the tire information label, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V646000 reported Aug 18, 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific X4

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. 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 2022 BMW X4, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2022 BMW X4

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 X4 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
4complaints filed

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

3.7 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 10,822 X4 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 2
Structure 1
Lane Departure 1
Power Train 1
Engine 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.

On several occasions, the brake pedal has gone soft. Giving you the feeling that you have no breaks. on the highway when this happens, the brake pedal goes soft and then about halfway into the pedal the brakes lock up and the car veerers sharply in one direction or another.
Service Brakes Feb 3, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11640324
My 2022 BMW X4 M40i was taken to Flow BMW in on XXX to have the cabin air filter replaced. While there, a courtesy inspection showed that the Transmission Bushing needed replacement, the Differential seal needed to be replaced, and the Valve Cover needed to be replaced.
Power Train Sep 15, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11764436
Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, I am writing to report a significant safety concern involving my 2022 BMW X4 M40i. The issue pertains to an anti-corroding substance inside the tailgate panel that has been leaking, causing damage to my vehicle's bumper and obstructing the view on my rear camera.
Structure Aug 12, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11608127
2022 Bmw X4. Consumer writes in regards to defective brakes. The consumer stated the vehicle lunges, rocks, and jerks when the brakes were applied. The vehicle was road tested the lunges were aknowledged, but the dealer stated the vehicle was operating as designed. The manufacturer was notified and stated the vehicle operated as designed
Service Brakes Mar 4, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11455176

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): 3 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 28 per 100,000 built. Every X4 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

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 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every BMW warranty extension (46) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 92
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-06-29
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 89 service bulletins, 2 warranty extensions, 1 emissions

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

  • B010324 Warranty extension
    2026-06-29 · 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.
  • B641224 Service bulletin
    2026-05-04 · Structure — Body
  • 1. Use of aftermarket accessory hang-on cellular phone holders and/or air fresheners can break the instrument panel air vent slats. Damage and/or issues caused by outside influences are not covered under the BMW limited warranties. Originally, the air vent slats were only repairable by replacing the entire front center dash vent assembly; which in some applications, also included the IHKA control
  • B661323 Service bulletin
    2026-01-05 · Forward Collision Avoidance — Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Various Check Control messages (CCM) can be displayed to the customer, which indicate a restrictedfunction or an unavailability of the driver assistance systems or driver assistance functions. During the diagnosis, the following fault memory entries are entered individually or in combination: 800AC4 - Camera calibration failed 800AC8 - Permanent calibration error 800A24 - Temporary software fault
  • B310122 Service bulletin
    2026-01-03 · Suspension
  • During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/orouter CV boots.
  • B661323 Service bulletin
    2025-10-29 · Forward Collision Avoidance — Warnings
  • Various Check Control messages (CCM) can be displayed to the customer, which indicate a restricted function or an unavailability of the driver assistance systems or driver assistance functions. During the diagnosis, the following fault memory entries are entered individually or in combination: 800AC4 - Camera calibration failed 800AC8 - Permanent calibration error 800A24 - Temporary software fault
  • B120125 Emissions
    2025-06-06 · Electrical System
  • EMISSIONS RECALL 25E-A03: PROGRAM CONTOL UNITS (DME)
  • B652624 Service bulletin
    2024-10-17 · Air Bags
  • A check control message (CCM) for the restraint system (Air bag) appears. In the instrument cluster, the red air bag warning light lights up permanently. One of the following fault codes is stored in the ACSM (air bag control unit): 930949 - Knee airbag, driver: Short circuit to negative terminal 93094F - Knee airbag, front passenger: Short circuit to negative terminal 93094C - Knee airbag driver'
  • B410722 Service bulletin
    2024-04-04 · Structure
  • While driving the vehicle on normal roads at10mph and above, a "cracking" sound from the top of the B-pillar(s) is heard.

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 2022 BMW X4 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.58% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%).

New York inspections 1.3%

failed emissions

693 initial inspections of 676 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2022 X4Every 2022 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.3%1.7%691
Failed the safety inspection0.58%1.4%693
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.29%0.18%693
Miles driven a year9,81210,455odometer at inspection
Average odometer41,62844,815odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2022 vehicle” is every 2022 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

X4 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2025 A 1 4 24 mpg2024 A 1 3 24 mpg2023 C 2 8 24 mpg2022 this page F 5 4 Park outside2021 F 7 6 Park outside2020 F 10 15 Do not drive2019 D 7 11 25 mpg2018 B 1 11 23 mpg2017 C 2 3 23 mpg2016 C 2 10 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2022 X4

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2022 BMW X4 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2022 BMW X4, 3 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 2022 BMW X4?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2022 BMW X4 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (58/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 BMW X4?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 BMW X4, the best EPA combined figure is 24 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2022 BMW X4?

Transport Canada measured it at 187.4 in long, 75.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 63.8 in tall, on a 113.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,147–4,323 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 2022 BMW X4?

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 BMW X4, most often about service brakes, structure, lane departure. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2022 BMW X4?

The EPA smog rating for the 2022 BMW X4 runs 3 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 ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 BMW X4?

The manufacturer has filed 92 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 BMW X4, most often covering electrical system, equipment, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-06-29. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2022 BMW X4 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 BMW X4 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.58% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & 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.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints4NHTSA 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 bulletins92NHTSA 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 2024 X4 The X4 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 1 recall.Recalls Every BMW recall on file All campaigns filed against BMW vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this X4 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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