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2021 Chevrolet Camaro

Gas
Subcompact Cars
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
68 / 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.
Recalls1 critical 4
Complaints1 crash · 3 injured reported 20
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg
202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro is sold in the U.S. as a gas coupe with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Camaro, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 20 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Chevrolet Camaro — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Camaro (2015 generation) · Photo: Bull-Doser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
CamaroGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223025$3,300
CamaroGasRWD3.6L 6-cyl182922$3,050
CamaroGasRWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192922$3,750
CamaroGasRWD3.6L 6-cyl162620$3,350
CamaroGasRWD6.2L 8-cyl162620$4,100
CamaroGasRWD6.2L 8-cyl162419$4,350
CamaroGasRWD6.2L 8-cyl142016$5,150
CamaroGasRWD6.2L 8-cyl132116$5,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42889, 42882, 42888, 42883, 42886, 42887, 42884, 42885.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Camaro5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Camaro6 / 10California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Camaro1 / 10California LEV-III LEV160 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 160All 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. Gas-guzzler tax applies to Camaro — a federal excise the manufacturer pays and prices in.

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 styleCoupe
Doors2
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.6 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity4 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainRWD/Rear-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, 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: 1LS/1LT, 1LZ/1SS, 2LT/3LT, 2SS). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length188.2 in
Width (body, without mirrors)74.0 in
Height53.1 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Track, front62.6–63.0 in
Track, rear63.0–63.8 in
Curb weight3,373–3,955 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear52/48

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 6 configurations: 2.0L 2-door Convertible, 2.0L 2-door Coupe, 3.6L 2-door Convertible, 3.6L 2-door Coupe, 6.2L 2-door Convertible, 6.2L 2-door Coupe. 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.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Power Train

N242480630
90,081 vehicles 71% reported repaired
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up. Risk Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242480630.
NHTSA campaign 25V148000 reported Mar 6, 2025 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

N212327220
30 vehicles 90% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles. The plastic "Camaro" emblem, located on the steering wheel air bag cover, may separate during deployment of the frontal driver air bag. Risk In the event of a crash, plastic pieces of emblem may act as projectiles from deployment of the driver air bag can increase the risk of injury. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the frontal driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212327220.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V211000 reported Mar 25, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

N212331000
8 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles. The left or right axle shaft may be missing a retaining ring, which could allow the axle shaft to separate while driving. Risk A separated axle shaft can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right axle shaft as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212331000.
NHTSA campaign 21V188000 reported Mar 18, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

N202322230
470 vehicles 94% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle. Risk If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V811000 reported Dec 23, 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 Camaro

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. Chevrolet 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 2021 Chevrolet Camaro, 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 2021 Chevrolet Camaro

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 Camaro →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
20complaints filed

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

7.9 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 25,248 Camaro built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 9

Most-cited components

Power Train 10
Electrical System 4
Fuel/Propulsion System 4
Engine 3
Unspecified 3
Air Bags 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

I experienced a known issue with my transmission with the MIL code P2812. The TSB PIP5799 which has to do with the Electrical fault in Transmission Control Solenoid Valve 7 (Line Pressure Solenoid). I took it to the dealership and left it there for a week only for them to be unable to figure out the root cause and fix it.
Power Train Sep 26, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11767071
Rear view mirror camera will not function. This camera is used to give one a better view of what is behind them. It was working great one day and then the next time I drove the car it would not funtion. Checked fuses and they were good
Electrical System Sep 26, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11767186
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle lost power and did not accelerate as intended intermittently and began to shake.
Fuel/Propulsion System at 49,330 miles May 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11737665
Dealership replaced all 16 lifters and replaced camshaft. Dealerships repair took 28 days. Repair cost $4k out of my pocket and Chevrolet Corporate covered $4700 due to the know lifter issue with their engines.
Engine Apr 29, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11734471
We were hit perpendicular to the passenger side door of our 2021 Camaro. The side airbag(s) did not go off. The other vehicle was going about 15-20 mph upon impact. The right side of our car was seriously smashed in. Its a good thing the passenger was not killed or injured and this is a law of physics abnormality
Air Bags Feb 27, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11454319
I experienced a known issue with my transmission with the MIL code P2812. The TSB PIP5799 which has to do with the Electrical fault in Transmission Control Solenoid Valve 7 (Line Pressure Solenoid)
Power Train Sep 17, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11764878

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 Chevrolet itself: 19 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 23 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 75 per 100,000 built. Every Camaro 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
2 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★8%
2 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★8%
2 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★8%
2 DR RWDnot rated★★★★☆not rated★★★★★8%
C RWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★★8%
C RWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★★8%
C RWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★★8%
C RWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★★8%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 6 filings 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 877
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 853 service bulletins, 10 service campaigns, 8 emissionss

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.
  • PIP5700H Service bulletin
    2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI communicates the proper part numbers for transmission connectors and internal harness to prevent confusion when ordering
  • 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.
  • PIC6551C Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT5966F Service bulletin
    2026-06-23 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
  • PIC6423A Service bulletin
    2026-05-11 · Unknown Or Other
  • Pi created to provide GM dealers with information on gathering information for projection issue
  • PIC6551B Service bulletin
    2026-05-11 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues

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 Chevrolet →
Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →21 bulletins
P0106
P0106 on Chevrolet →
The manifold pressure sensor reading does not track what the engine is doing.Engine10 bulletins
P0506
P0506 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine · Throttle body →10 bulletins
P023F
P023F on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →7 bulletins
P129F
P129F on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →7 bulletins
U0155
U0155 on Chevrolet →
A module has stopped hearing from the instrument cluster.Electrical System · Battery →7 bulletins
P0747
P0747 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train5 bulletins
P12A6
P12A6 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine4 bulletins · 1 owner report
B3055
B3055 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Air Bags4 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Air Bags4 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on Chevrolet →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Air Bags4 bulletins
P0016
P0016 on Chevrolet →
The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.Equipment4 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 2021 Chevrolet Camaro failed the emissions check on 7.8% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 7.8%

failed emissions

423 initial inspections of 408 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 CamaroEvery 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check7.8%1.9%423
Failed the safety inspection1.4%1.5%423
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.19%423
Miles driven a year5,69510,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer30,12754,681odometer 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).

Common questions about the 2021 Camaro

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V148000, 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 2021 Chevrolet Camaro?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (68/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro?

Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro?

Transport Canada measured it at 188.2 in long, 74.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 53.1 in tall, on a 110.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,373–3,955 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 Chevrolet Camaro?

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro, most often about power train, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 3 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 Chevrolet Camaro?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro runs 1 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 — California LEV-III LEV160, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 160, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro?

The manufacturer has filed 877 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro, 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 Chevrolet Camaro do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro failed the emissions check on 7.8% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations8 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates8 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 complaints20NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings8 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins877NHTSA 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.

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