⌘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›X5› 2023
BMW · Large SUV

2023 BMW X5

Plug-in hybrid Hybrid Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints3 crash · 1 injured reported 33
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2023 BMW X5 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid, hybrid and gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the X5 sDrive40i, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 33 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

BMW X5 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
BMW X5 (2021 generation) · Photo: Damian B Oh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
X5 xDrive45ePlug-in hybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 83 kW PMSM192220 (32 MPGe blended)31 mi electric635 h$4,100
X5 sDrive40iHybridRWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion212623———$3,550
X5 xDrive40iHybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion212523———$3,550
X5 M50iGasAWD4.4L 8-cyl turbo162218———$4,550
X5 MGasAWD4.4L 8-cyl turbo131815———$5,500
X5 M CompetitionGasAWD4.4L 8-cyl turbo131815———$5,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 46248, 45562, 45572, 45573, 45574, 45575.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
X5 xDrive45e7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
X5 M, X5 M50i, X5 sDrive40i3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
X5 M Competition, X5 xDrive40i3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125All 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 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3 L

Engine Output

Horsepower335 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive

Driver assistance

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

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, 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: M50i, X5 M/M Competition, sDrive40i, xDrive40i). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length194.1 in
Width (body, without mirrors)78.7 in
Height68.9 in
Wheelbase116.9 in
Track, front65.7 in
Track, rear66.5 in
Curb weight4,978–5,368 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear50/50 to 51/49

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: M50I 4-door SUV, xDrive40I 5 Seat 4-door SUV, xDrive40I 7 Seat 4-door SUV, xDrive45E 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 2023 X5
Other years The 2027 X5 Recalls BMW recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 BMW X5 is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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 (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

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

Seats

235 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 M50i, X5 M and X5 xDrive45e vehicles. The head restraints for the second-row outboard seats may have been improperly manufactured without locking tabs in the guide sleeves. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints." Risk A head restraint without a locking tab may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the second-row outboard seat head restraint guide sleeves, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V253000 reported Apr 6, 2023 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seats

4 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 X5 sDrive40i, X5 M50i and X5 xDrive 45e vehicles. One of the four bolts that connects the backrest to the driver's seat frame may not have been correctly installed. Risk A loose driver's seat backrest may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect the driver's seat backrest and if necessary, install an attachment bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 17, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V942000 reported Dec 19, 2022 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Visibility

47 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 X5 sDrive40i, xDrive40i, xDrive45e, and X7 xDrive40i vehicles. The windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle which could allow water to enter the vehicle and contact electrical components, possibly resulting in a short-circuit. Risk An electrical short-circuit increases the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will inspect the windshield seal and as necessary, remove and reinstall the windshield with a new seal, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V820000 reported Nov 2, 2022 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific X5

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →BMW’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 BMW X5, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2023 BMW X5

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 X5 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
33complaints filed

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

5.7 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 57,667 X5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 10

Most-cited components

Power Train 8
Electrical System 8
Unspecified 8
Engine 5
Structure 4
Service Brakes 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.

Noticed noise. Took to dealer. Dealer confirmed bad front pinion/bearing and need front differential. Will be very dangerous if not fixed! Dealer has had this issue before and online forums state big issues
Power Train May 7, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11736421
Drivetrain malfunction creating error message of critical failure on brake system and chassis. The first of 2 such issues so far in 4 months of ownership. Car is under original mfr warranty. Dealer charged $600 to fix. This is a PHEV and with the electrical system issues it prevents the car from functioning safely
Electrical System Mar 17, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11724888
While driving under normal conditions with no external impact, debris, rock strike, or other identifiable cause, the panoramic moonroof shattered explosively (with a loud report resembling a gunshot). Glass fragments dispersed across the roof area, and portions of the panel collapsed inward into the interior mesh roof cover.
Structure Mar 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11722830
While driving the vehicle at highway speed, the vehicle did not respond as expected during braking. Upon attempting to slow the vehicle, control was lost, the vehicle became unstable, left the roadway, and rolled. As a result of the incident, the driver sustained serious injuries requiring emergency transport and hospitalization.
Service Brakes Dec 30, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11707697
While driving, the information LED screen on the car flickered and went black within a second. Other electric components malfunctioned as well, e.g. radio, air conditioning/heating. Obviously, the cameras and safety systems associated with the screen also did not work.
Back Over Prevention Aug 25, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11682887
On the driver's side the headlight's smaller light stopped working. I brought the car to BMW and they said the LED burned out, which also caused burn marks on the headlight assembly, so the entire headlight assembly needs to be replaced
Exterior Lighting Jun 20, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11668105

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): 8 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 10 per 100,000 built. Every X5 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV RWDnot rated★★★★☆★★★★★not rated16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

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 160
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 135 service bulletins, 15 service campaigns, 8 emissionss

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Equipment, Structure, Seats.

  • B110723 Emissions
    2026-08-26 · Engine
  • The return springs on the exhaust camshaft followers (switchable rocker arm) may break.
  • B510726 Service campaign
    2026-07-10 · Structure — Body
  • In the affected vehicles, an incorrect screwlocking device (circled) may have been usedfor the mounting bolts of the door latch locks.
  • B120326 Emissions
    2026-07-10 · Engine
  • Due to an implementation error in various OBD diagnostics in the vehicle's control units, in very rare cases itmay happen that stored fault memory codes (DTCs) and the MIL (warning light) are not automaticallydeleted even though the underlying malfunction has already been rectified. This does not comply with the statutory OBD specifications.
  • 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.
  • B120626 Service campaign
    2026-06-11 · Electrical System
  • In these vehicles with an S68 engine, an incorrect diagnosis of the Valvetronic (VVT) may occur. Undercertain operating conditions, the software may detect a short-circuit in the valve control system even thoughthere is no fault. When the above-mentioned fault occurs, the red Check Control warning light ‘Drive system fault’ illuminates. This can result in the intake valves closing gradually, which
  • B652724 Service bulletin
    2026-05-19 · Air Bags
  • A check control message (CCM) for the restraint system (Air bag) appears. In the instrument cluster, the redair 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's
  • B120626 Service campaign
    2026-05-11 · Engine
  • DELIVERY STOP: VARIABLE VALVE TIMING
  • B652025 Service bulletin
    2026-05-05 · Electrical System
  • After replacing the Multifunctional Display (MFD), the Central Information Display (CID) is black. The backlight of the CID is illuminated, and touch function does register an audible sound.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 BMW X5 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.53% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).

New York inspections 1.3%

failed emissions

2,468 initial inspections of 2,410 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 X5Every 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.3%1.6%2,456
Failed the safety inspection0.53%1.1%2,468
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.08%0.16%2,468
Miles driven a year11,03110,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer35,32032,673odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

X5 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A* 0 0 26 mpg2026 B 2 28 25 mpg2025 C 5 63 25 mpg2024 D 8 145 25 mpg2023 this page C 4 33 23 mpg2022 A 1 75 23 mpg2021 F 12 111 23 mpg2020 F 11 113 23 mpg2019 F 13 193 22 mpg2018 F 5 73 25 mpg2017 F 6 75 25 mpg2016 F 5 74 25 mpg

Common questions about the 2023 X5

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 BMW X5 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 BMW X5. The most serious on file is 23V821000, covering Power Train. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 BMW X5?

NHTSA gave the 2023 BMW X5 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (76/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 BMW X5?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 BMW X5, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2023 BMW X5?

Transport Canada measured it at 194.1 in long, 78.7 in wide (body, without mirrors), 68.9 in tall, on a 116.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,978–5,368 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 BMW X5?

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 BMW X5, most often about power train, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 3 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 2023 BMW X5?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 BMW X5 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, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 BMW X5?

The manufacturer has filed 160 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 BMW X5, most often covering electrical system, engine, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-08-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 BMW X5 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 BMW X5 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.53% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

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

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints33NHTSA 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 bulletins160NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA8 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 X5 The X5 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 X5 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