2025 Cadillac Escalade
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Escalade 2WD, is EPA-rated at 17 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 39 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escalade 2WD | Gas | RWD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 15 | 19 | 17 | $4,850 |
| Escalade 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 18 | 16 | $5,150 |
| Escalade V AWD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 11 | 17 | 13 | $6,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 48620, 48629, 48556.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escalade 2WD, Escalade 4WD | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| Escalade V AWD | 2 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125 | 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 vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Displacement | 6.2 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4x2 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert
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: Premium Luxury, Premium Luxury +Touring Pkg, Premium Luxury Platinum, Sport). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 211.8–227.2 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 81.1–82.3 in |
| Height | 76.0–76.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 120.9–136.2 in |
| Track, front | 68.5 in |
| Track, rear | 68.1–68.5 in |
| Curb weight | 5,721–6,111 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 52/48 to 53/47 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 7 configurations: Esv Luxury 4-door SUV, Esv Sport / Premium Luxury 4-door SUV, Esv Sport Platinum / Premium Luxury Platform 4-door SUV, Iq 4-door SUV, Luxury 4-door SUV, Sport / Premium Luxury 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.
The cheapest ownership win
Insurers price the 2025 Escalade very differently, and the gap between the best and worst quote on the same car and driver is usually larger than any option you are weighing on this page.
How to compare cover →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 (1)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseThese 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
Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy open
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or a
Opened Aug 20, 2026 · action EA26005 · the investigation’s page →
Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure closed
On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On April 24, 2025, GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the concern with L87 en
Opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025 · action PE25001 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Escalade
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2025 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Cadillac publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
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 2025 Cadillac Escalade, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade
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 Escalade →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
10 per 10,000 built · Cadillac reported 38,276 Escalade built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2025: 7 · 2026: 32
Most-cited components
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.
My engine had a malfunction. My safety was put at risk due to not knowing if the vehicle would stop before I was able to safely get it to be checked. The dealer has been confirmed by the dealer as engine failure due to bearing failure. This was determined by metal pieces in the oil pan.
On , at approximately 15,200 miles, my 2025 Cadillac Escalade V developed multiple warnings while I was driving at highway speed. These included reduced acceleration, speed limited to 62 mph, service power steering, service traction control, rear axle system off, and unavailable forward-collision and adaptive-cruise functions.
Car was driving fine, randomly at 10k miles, the car started turning off. Thank god I had reached my house before it died out on me. I called the Cadillac dealer and brought it in. Apparently a plug was fusing, which caused a shortage to the engine
The driver-side headlight on my 2025 Cadillac Escalade failed while the vehicle was still under factory warranty. This is a critical safety component that significantly reduces nighttime visibility and creates a safety risk for both myself and other drivers on the road.
On October 1, 2026, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of steering control while I was driving. The steering wheel became mechanically disengaged from steering control and rotated freely. I was able to stop the vehicle narrowly avoiding a collision.
I rented this vehicle from Sixt at Washington National Airport on XXX at 11:53 AM with 21,343 miles on the odometer. That evening I was driving south on XXX in with my father and my two children in the vehicle.
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 Cadillac itself: 7 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 18 per 100,000 built. Every Escalade model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 21% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 21% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Driver-assist crash reports (7)
Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-011 fatality · 1 no injury reported · 5 severity unknown
Jul 2025 to Aug 2026 · 7 with an air bag deployment · 0 towed
What was engaged, and what was hit
System named: Super Cruise 1.0 (4), Level 2 (2), LEVEL 2 (1)
Crash partner: Other 3 · Unknown 3 · SUV 1
Filed by: General Motors, LLC
| Incident | System | Struck | Injury alleged | State | Speed | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | Level 2 · Super Cruise 1.0 | Other | no injury reported | OK | 73 mph | 540-16284 |
| Apr 2026 | Level 2 · Super Cruise 1.0 | Unknown | unknown | FL | 76 mph | 540-14830 |
| Feb 2026 | Level 2 · Super Cruise 1.0 | Unknown | unknown | VT | 51 mph | 540-14062 |
| Dec 2025 | Level 2 · Super Cruise 1.0 | SUV | fatality | NY | 85 mph | 540-13273 |
| Oct 2025 | Level 2 · Level 2 | Other | unknown | PA | 67 mph | 540-11848 |
| Sep 2025 | Level 2 · Level 2 | Unknown | unknown | FL | 70 mph | 540-11767 |
| Jul 2025 | Level 2 · LEVEL 2 | Other | unknown | NY | 74 mph | 540-11376 |
From the manufacturer’s own filing
The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.
On April [redacted], 2026, a 2025 Cadillac Escalade was travelling northbound on [redacted] in Jasper, Florida with Super Cruise engaged and and active. Crash data indicates a frontal impact occurred that deployed airbags and front seat belt pretensioners. The driver and passenger were wearing their seat belts at the time of the incident.
On August [redacted], 2026, a 2025 Cadillac Escalade was travelling southbound on [redacted] in Durant, Oklahoma, with Super Cruise engaged and active. Crash data indicates there was a frontal impact that deployed the frontal airbags and front seat belt pretensioners, and that the driver and front passenger were wearing their seat belts at the time of…
On December [redacted], 2025, a 2025 Cadillac Escalade was travelling northwest on [redacted] in Albany, New York, with Super Cruise engaged and active. Crash data indicated a frontal impact occurred that deployed the front seat belt pretensioners and airbags. The driver and front passenger were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.
A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- 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.
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 →
Most often about: Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Structure, Engine, Power Train.
- PIT6558 Service bulletin2026-10-19 · Unknown Or Other
- Squeaking or creaking noise from the rear upper front control arm bushing, over bumps or when turning.
- PIT6110L Service bulletin2026-10-07 · Unknown Or Other
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is currently investigating.
- PIT6477D Service bulletin2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other
- This preliminary PI was created to advise techniians in the field that they will not be able to perform a GDS automated bleed with the scan tool dues to a issue with the software in the scan tool
- PIT6457C Service bulletin2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
- This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform any part replacements. They should follow the notes mentioned prior to anything being replaced.
- PIC6540K Service bulletin2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio.
- PIT6368E Service bulletin2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
- This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the virtual garage door opener not programming to a garage opener. Engineering is working on a new module.
- PIT5698F Service bulletin2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- PIT6549 Service bulletin2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other
- This preliminary information communicates an issue with a service column lock message and DTC U3000. Engineering is working on the issue and in the meantime dealerships are to reset/clear the DTC and perform four sleep cycles to verify the DTC does not return.
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 complaintsCodes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| P062B P062B on Cadillac → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 14 bulletins |
| U3000 U3000 on Cadillac → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 10 bulletins |
| P2714 P2714 on Cadillac → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 9 bulletins |
| C055F C055F on Cadillac → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 8 bulletins |
| B0126 B0126 on Cadillac → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 6 bulletins |
| B1DD0 B1DD0 on Cadillac → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 6 bulletins |
| C1197 C1197 on Cadillac → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Suspension · Struts and shocks → | 6 bulletins |
| P00FF | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 6 bulletins |
| P0562 | System voltage is below the operating range. | Service Brakes · Alternator → | 6 bulletins |
| P0606 P0606 on Cadillac → | An internal processor fault in the engine control module. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 6 bulletins |
| U1962 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 6 bulletins |
| C1114 C1114 on Cadillac → | 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.
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 DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade failed the safety inspection on 0.29% of first inspections — close to the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected.
failed the safety inspection
1,381 initial inspections of 1,373 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2025 Escalade | Every 2025 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.29% | 0.36% | 1,381 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.14% | 0.16% | 1,381 |
| Miles driven a year | 9,699 | 8,354 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 14,127 | 12,194 | odometer at inspection |
New York does not emissions-test model years this new, so the safety inspection is the record here. 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 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 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).
Escalade by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2025 Escalade
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2025 Cadillac Escalade have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade. The most serious on file is 26V304000, covering Wheels. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?
NHTSA gave the 2025 Cadillac Escalade 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (92/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade, the best EPA combined figure is 17 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?
Transport Canada measured it at 211.8–227.2 in long, 81.1–82.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 76.0–76.8 in tall, on a 120.9–136.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,721–6,111 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 2025 Cadillac Escalade?
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Cadillac Escalade, most often about engine, electrical system, power train. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?
The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade runs 2 to 5 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 ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade?
The manufacturer has filed 1245 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Cadillac Escalade, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-10-19. 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 2025 Cadillac Escalade do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade failed the safety inspection on 0.29% of first inspections — close to the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. 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 | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 1 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 39 | 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 | 1245 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 2 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | 7 | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 8 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.