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2021 Buick Encore

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints2 crash · 5 injured reported 62

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 31 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 Buick Encore is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Encore GX FWD, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 62 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Buick Encore — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Buick Encore · Photo: Navigator84 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Encore GX FWD	Gas	FWD	1.3L 3-cyl turbo	30	32	31	$2,150
Encore GX FWD	Gas	FWD	1.2L 3-cyl turbo	28	31	29	$2,300
Encore GX AWD	Gas	AWD	1.3L 3-cyl turbo	26	29	28	$2,400
Encore FWD	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	25	30	27	$2,500
Encore FWD	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	24	32	27	$2,500
Encore AWD	Gas	AWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	24	29	26	$2,600
Encore AWD	Gas	AWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	23	30	26	$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42683, 42521, 42686, 42637, 43574, 42639, 43576.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Encore GX FWD	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Encore AWD, Encore FWD, Encore GX AWD, Encore GX FWD	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Encore AWD, Encore FWD	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 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 style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	1.4 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic

Driver assistance

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

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Parking assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Preferred, Select). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	168.1–171.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	69.7–71.3 in
Height	64.2–65.0 in
Wheelbase	100.8–102.4 in
Track, front	60.6–61.0 in
Track, rear	60.6–61.8 in
Curb weight	3,025–3,358 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	60/40 to 61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV FWD, Gx 4-door SUV AWD, Gx 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.

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

Equipment

A212335470

135,400 vehicles 97% reported repaired

Problem General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use. Risk A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. 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 A212335470.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V440000 reported Jun 10, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Service Brakes

A202307260

3,677 vehicles 98% reported repaired

Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac CT4, CT5 and XT4, 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and 2020-2021 Buick Encore GX vehicles. Sensor connection contamination in the electronic brake boost system may cause an interruption of communication between the sensor and the brake boost system. Risk If communication with the sensor is interrupted, the electronic brake boost assist could be lost. Extra pedal force will be required to slow and stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electronic brake boost module, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is A202307260.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V588000 reported Sep 24, 2020 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 Encore

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. 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 2021 Buick Encore, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

62complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

8.2 per 10,000 built · Buick reported 75,481 Encore built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 17

Most-cited components

Engine 22

Power Train 14

Service Brakes 10

Fuel/Propulsion System 7

Unspecified 7

Electrical System 5

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.

Intermittent Service Brake Assist Light with very hard brake pedal and almost no breaks backing up. Have had it to several shops who said it was a turbo booster issue so scheduled service with Patriot GMC Boyertown Pa. Also intermittently has little to no power causing driving hazard suddenly especially uphill.

Service Brakes May 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11740366

I have continuously had my check engine light pop on. I have took it in twice for them fix the issue which is the purge sensor. It did not fix the issue because the light just pops back on. This has caused issues with me passing emissions and has been an headache shortly street I obtained the vehicle

Engine Nov 11, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11698861

Turbo Charger failed while passing a semi-trailer truck causing a severe lack of power and almost causing a head on collision with on-coming traffic. I had 3 passengers at the time. The problem has been confirmed by a independent service center and I am getting a second opinion from a dealer on 2/3.

Power Train Jan 28, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11639039

Went to install a car seat and the place to hook it to is so far Imbedded into the seat I would have to cut the seat to get to it. I need these car seats attached. I am not cutting the seats

Seats Jan 15, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11636062

The contact's girlfriend owned a 2021 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at 20 MPH, an abnormal, snapping sound emitted from the vehicle as the steering wheel independently shifted to the right and crashed into two parked vehicles.

Suspension at 76,000 miles Nov 19, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11626175

Nothing air bags deployed was leaving a parking lot started went to drive off !! Bang 2000 bounds of pressure in my face! My whole body!! It was a rental !! Look into this vechicail !hair burnt! Fried wire smell still on my burnt jacket!!

Air Bags Nov 28, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11557296

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: 11 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 10 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 15 per 100,000 built. Every Encore model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 45k

miles, typically

Half the 16 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 22,000 and 58,000 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 16 on file: 3 under 10k, 1 10k–20k, 1 20k–30k, 2 30k–40k, 2 40k–50k, 3 50k–60k, 1 60k–70k, 1 70k–80k, 2 80k–90k.

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

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	18%
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	18%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	20%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 4 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Buick warranty extension N242450640-02Certain 2021 model year Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail.
15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM warranty extension N242450640-01Certain 2021 model year Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · GM warranty extension 22-NA-244This warranty administration service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · GM warranty extension N242450640Certain vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail.

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 1,211

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1195 service bulletins, 6 service campaigns, 5 warranty extensions

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

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.
PIT5995B Service bulletin
2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary Information provides the dealer information of the location of the rear seat child anchors.
N242450640-02 Warranty extension
2026-09-01 · Engine
Special Coverage. Certain 2021 model year Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles, equipped with a 1.2L engine, may have a condition that could cause the turbocharger to fail. If this condition occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) will illuminate, and a diagnostic trouble code will set. Additionally, a message may be displayed indicating the vehicle’s available
PIT6196A Service bulletin
2026-08-28 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary Information provides a diagnostic tip for diagnosing an issue with Cruise Control, Adaptive Cruise and Lane Keep Assist Turns Off or Inoperative.
PIC6551C Service bulletin
2026-08-20 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
PIC6548B Service bulletin
2026-07-23 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates to the technician the direction needed when encountering an issue with switching between adaptive cruise control and regular cruise control or an issue with automatic high beam feature after the front camera was replaced.
PIT5099J Service bulletin
2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
PI to help diagnose A/C concern

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.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0299 P0299 on Buick →	The turbocharger or supercharger is not making the boost the computer asked for.	Engine	9 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0234 P0234 on Buick →	The turbocharger or supercharger is making more boost than the computer asked for.	Engine	9 bulletins
P219A P219A on Buick →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	9 bulletins
C0051	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
P023F P023F on Buick →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
P0442 P0442 on Buick →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Engine · Gas cap →	7 bulletins
P129F P129F on Buick →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
P0300 P0300 on Buick →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Engine · Ignition coils →	6 bulletins
P0455 P0455 on Buick →	A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.	Electrical System · Gas cap →	6 bulletins
B000A B000A on Buick →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	5 bulletins
B3055 B3055 on Buick →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	5 bulletins
B3060 B3060 on Buick →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	5 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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 4.0%

failed emissions

3,124 initial inspections of 3,079 vehicles.

Measure	The 2021 Encore	Every 2021 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	4.0%	1.9%	3,115
Failed the safety inspection	1.8%	1.5%	3,124
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.29%	0.19%	3,124
Miles driven a year	8,522	10,343	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	45,428	54,681	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Encore by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 1 4 30 mpg 2025 A 1 15 30 mpg 2024 B 2 32 30 mpg 2023 A 0 28 30 mpg 2022 A 1 42 30 mpg 2021 this page B 2 62 31 mpg 2020 C 4 89 31 mpg 2019 B 2 88 28 mpg 2018 A 0 74 30 mpg 2017 B 2 90 30 mpg 2016 B 2 80 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 Encore

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Buick Encore have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Buick Encore. The most serious on file is 21V440000, covering Equipment. 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 2021 Buick Encore?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Buick Encore 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 B (85/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Buick Encore?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Buick Encore, the best EPA combined figure is 31 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Buick Encore?

Transport Canada measured it at 168.1–171.3 in long, 69.7–71.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 64.2–65.0 in tall, on a 100.8–102.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,025–3,358 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Buick Encore?

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Buick Encore, most often about engine, power train, service brakes. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 5 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 2021 Buick Encore?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Buick Encore runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Buick Encore?

The manufacturer has filed 1211 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Buick Encore, 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 2021 Buick Encore do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Buick Encore failed the emissions check on 4.0% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

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

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	62	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	1211	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No 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 NHTSA	11 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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