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Your vehicleHome›Buick›Enclave› 2017
Buick · Large SUV

2017 Buick Enclave

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls2 critical 3
Complaints6 crash · 6 injured reported 179
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 18 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 Buick Enclave is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Enclave FWD, is EPA-rated at 18 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 179 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Buick Enclave — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Buick Enclave · Photo: HJUdall · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Enclave FWDGasFWD3.6L 6-cyl152218$3,700
Enclave AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl152217$3,950

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37508, 37515.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Enclave AWD, Enclave FWD5–6 / 10Bin 5 / 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
Displacement3.6 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity7 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning

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: Convenience, Leather, Premium). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length202.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)79.1 in
Height71.7 in
Wheelbase118.9 in
Track, front67.3 in
Track, rear66.9 in
Curb weight4,725–4,923 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear55/45

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV FWD. 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 Enclave
Other years The 2027 Enclave Recalls Buick recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 Buick Enclave 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 (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Air Bags

N232404980
995,085 vehicles 51% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N232404980.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V334000 reported May 10, 2023 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Air Bags

N212349040
555 vehicles 76% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect. Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212349040.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V782000 reported Oct 7, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

N202321200
108 vehicles 50% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached. Risk Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V246000 reported Apr 8, 2021 General Motors, 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 Enclave

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. Buick 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 →Buick’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 Buick Enclave, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2017 Buick Enclave

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 Enclave →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
179complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

27 per 10,000 built · Buick reported 65,934 Enclave built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 61 · 2024: 86 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 6

Most-cited components

Air Bags → 145
Electrical System 8
Unspecified 6
Vehicle Speed Control 5
Engine 5
Seat Belts 4

In depth: airbag problems →

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 was rear ended on the highway going 65 mph. The rear driver side was completely crushed. The air bags didn't go off. Seat belts didn't lock up and the driver's seat broke
Air Bags Jun 14, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11527101
First incidence was 11/22/2018 headlights did not function nor did taillights. Manually turned them on; yet was pulled by Ga sheriff for no headlights, who escorted me to my hotel. Put car in the shop on 11/24/2018 for diagnostics. Nothing found.
Exterior Lighting May 26, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11524069
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle however, the battery failed to provide adequate cold cranking amps (CCA) to start the vehicle. The contact replaced the battery himself. The contact noticed the vehicle was unvented. The new battery was reinstalled correctly.
Electrical System at 80,000 miles Apr 21, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11518225
Power steering stops functioning while driving and attempting to make a turn, resulting in a likely car accident. Driving in city making any king of turn either left or right. This has happened twice already. Rough idle when engine is cold
Engine at 27,200 miles Nov 12, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11374379
Engine light with engine power is reduced, traction control service came out several times on the highway with no snow ICE or rain. Very scary moments, need to check out
Vehicle Speed Control at 75,000 miles Feb 17, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11309667
Waiting in line at sonic driveway started reversing at breakneck speeds - finally stopped afte r jumping a curb and hitting a heavy pickup, air bags did not open malfunction of vehicle several days before the gear shift seemed sticky
Structure at 24,000 miles Nov 4, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11145220

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 Buick itself: 31 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 46 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 47 per 100,000 built. Every Enclave model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 43k

miles, typically

Half the 25 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 15,000 and 75,000 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 25 on file: 6 under 10k, 2 10k–20k, 2 20k–30k, 2 30k–40k, 2 40k–50k, 2 50k–60k, 2 60k–70k, 2 70k–80k, 1 80k–90k, 1 90k–100k, 1 100k–150k, 2 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
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆17%

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 GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,006
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1003 service bulletins, 1 warranty extension, 1 service campaign

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Unknown Or Other.

  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT6002C Service bulletin
    2026-07-27 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is to advise about a part concern
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT3271Q Service bulletin
    2026-04-01 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
  • PIP6104 Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
  • PIP4902V Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIP4902U Service bulletin
    2026-01-08 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

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.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0300
P0300 on Buick →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →13 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on Buick →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Buick →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on Buick →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →10 bulletins
P0308
P0308 on Buick →		Cylinder 8 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →7 bulletins
P050D
P050D on Buick →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine7 bulletins
P05CEManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →6 bulletins
P0171
P0171 on Buick →		The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants.Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →5 bulletins
P0174The engine is running lean on bank 2.Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →5 bulletins
B101D
B101D on Buick →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P018B
P018B on Buick →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →3 bulletins
P0442
P0442 on Buick →		A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Electrical System · Gas cap →3 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

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.

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 Buick Enclave failed the emissions check on 5.6% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 5.6%

failed emissions

948 initial inspections of 916 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 EnclaveEvery 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check5.6%3.7%945
Failed the safety inspection1.7%2.1%948
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.21%0.25%948
Miles driven a year10,49710,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer97,40693,238odometer 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).

Enclave by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 22 mpg2026 A 1 2 22 mpg2025 A 0 38 23 mpg2024 A 0 7 21 mpg2023 A 0 22 21 mpg2022 A 1 14 21 mpg2021 B 2 26 21 mpg2020 D 6 61 21 mpg2019 A 1 44 21 mpg2018 A 0 66 21 mpg2017 this page D 3 179 18 mpg2016 F 4 141 18 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 Enclave

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Buick Enclave have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Buick Enclave, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 23V334000, covering Air Bags. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Buick Enclave?

NHTSA gave the 2017 Buick Enclave 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (66/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Buick Enclave?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Buick Enclave, the best EPA combined figure is 18 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Buick Enclave?

Transport Canada measured it at 202.0 in long, 79.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 71.7 in tall, on a 118.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,725–4,923 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 Buick Enclave?

Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Buick Enclave, most often about air bags, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 6 involved a crash, 6 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 Buick Enclave?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Buick Enclave runs 5 to 6 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 — Bin 5, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Buick Enclave?

The manufacturer has filed 1006 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Buick Enclave, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. 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 2017 Buick Enclave do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Buick Enclave failed the emissions check on 5.6% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (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 & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints179NHTSA 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 bulletins1006NHTSA 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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Enclave The Enclave model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Buick recall on file All campaigns filed against Buick vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Enclave 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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