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2018 Chevrolet Colorado

Gas Diesel

Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
10 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints3 crash · 5 fire · 3 injured reported 183

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large pickup truck with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Colorado 2WD, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 183 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Chevrolet Colorado — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Chevrolet Colorado · Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Colorado 2WD	Gas	RWD	2.5L 4-cyl	20	26	22	$3,050
Colorado 2WD	Gas	RWD	2.5L 4-cyl	20	26	22	$3,050
Colorado 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.5L 4-cyl	19	24	21	$3,200
Colorado 2WD	Gas	RWD	3.6L 6-cyl	18	25	20	$3,350
Colorado 4WD	Gas	4WD	3.6L 6-cyl	17	24	19	$3,550
Colorado ZR2 4WD	Gas	4WD	3.6L 6-cyl	16	18	17	$3,950
Colorado Cab Chassis 2WD	Gas	RWD	3.6L 6-cyl	15	15	15	$4,450
Colorado 2WD	Diesel	RWD	2.8L 4-cyl turbo	22	30	25	$3,850
Colorado 4WD	Diesel	4WD	2.8L 4-cyl turbo	20	28	23	$4,150
Colorado ZR2 4WD	Diesel	4WD	2.8L 4-cyl turbo	19	22	20	$4,800

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39067, 39068, 39076, 39070, 39079, 39080, 39085, 39069, 39077, 39078.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Colorado 2WD, Colorado 4WD, Colorado Cab Chassis 2WD, Colorado ZR2 4WD	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Colorado 2WD, Colorado 4WD	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Colorado 2WD, Colorado ZR2 4WD	3 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Colorado 4WD	3 / 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 vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Pickup
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2.5 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Automatic

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

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: Work Truck, Z71, ZR2). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	212.6–224.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.4 in
Height	70.5 in
Wheelbase	128.3–140.6 in
Track, front	62.2 in
Track, rear	62.2 in
Curb weight	3,948–4,480 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 6 configurations: Crew Cab L/Box 2WD, Crew Cab L/Box 4X4, Crew Cab S/Box 2WD, Crew Cab S/Box 4X4, Extended Cab L/Box 2WD, Extended Cab L/Box 4X4. 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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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

18188 18268

895 vehicles 97% reported repaired built Mar 5, 2015 – Apr 29, 2018

Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line. Risk A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V358000 reported May 31, 2018 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 Colorado

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 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.

NHTSA VIN check →Chevrolet’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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

183complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

14 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 130,221 Colorado built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 13 · 2019: 39 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 24 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 24 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 21 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

Power Train → 78

Unspecified 36

Electrical System 34

Engine 24

Steering 18

Fuel/Propulsion System 14

In depth: transmission and drivetrain 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.

Purchased new chevy Colorado 4X4 extended cab with 3.6-liter v6, transmission 8-speed model 8l45. Transmission developed shudder during light throttle acceleration between 30 and 70 MPH. Shudder is cyclic lasting 4 - 12 seconds, reaccurring 45 - 90 seconds. Shudder feels similiar to driving over mild rumble strips or rough pavement.

Fuel/Propulsion System Apr 11, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11195542

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. While approaching a stop, the vehicle downshifted without warning. The failure occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000

Power Train at 15,000 miles Mar 25, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11191298

Chevrolet montebello delearship in california refused to do any work on our 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. We received a letter about a recall on the airbags of the truck and we took the truck in due to some issues on the truck and the recall.

Air Bags Feb 21, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11181579

Takata recalls hear water rush with a gurgle noise from dashboard this happens when taking off from a stop. Also when the vehicle is in drive with the foot on the brakes it makes loud noise then jumps. Also paint on hood has fisheyes the truck also idols high when starting up

Structure at 14,000 miles Jan 31, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11173429

Brand new 2018 midnight edition chevy Colorado less than 24hrs on the engine and had less than 900 miles on it. Went to go to work one morning and it wouldn't do anything. No revere. No power steering. All lights and gauges were flickering and going crazy. Engine was chugging and making odd noises.

Electrical System at 862 miles Nov 29, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11154787

I have a 2018 Chevrolet Colorado lt 4WD crew cab. Multiple times on a cold start the engine is misfiring. The check engine like comes on, the vsa, and t/c lights all come on and a notification on the dash saying stabilitrak is disabled. The vehicle shakes terribly. The check engine light will flash and then go solid.

Engine at 18,000 miles Nov 18, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11152348

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: 37 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 43 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 28 per 100,000 built. Every Colorado model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 17k

miles, typically

Half the 73 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 35,000 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.

under 10k 25

10k–20k 16

20k–30k 11

30k–40k 6

40k–50k 5

50k–60k 1

60k–70k 4

70k–80k 0

80k–90k 2

90k–100k 1

100k–150k 0

150k + 2

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Power Train	35	19,214	0.56×
Unspecified	16	11,000	—
Engine	13	31,200	0.62×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: power train (0.56×), engine (0.62×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2019 model years the Chevrolet Colorado ranks 18 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.56× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 14,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

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
PU/CC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	21%
PU/CC RWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	22%
PU/EC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	21%
PU/EC RWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	22%

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

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 →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,262

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1257 service bulletins, 3 service campaigns, 1 warranty extension

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Power Train, Fuel/Propulsion System.

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.
PIT5099J Service bulletin
2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
PI to help diagnose A/C concern
PIT5509N Service bulletin
2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
PIT5509M Service bulletin
2026-05-14 · Unknown Or Other
This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
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.

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
P0300 P0300 on Chevrolet →	Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.	Engine · Ignition coils →	12 bulletins
B3055 B3055 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	10 bulletins
B3060 B3060 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	10 bulletins
B3935 B3935 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	10 bulletins
C1114 C1114 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	9 bulletins
C0010 C0010 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	8 bulletins
P0016 P0016 on Chevrolet →	The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
P0308 P0308 on Chevrolet →	Cylinder 8 is misfiring.	Engine · Ignition coils →	7 bulletins
P050D P050D on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	7 bulletins
P2463 P2463 on Chevrolet →	Soot has built up in the diesel particulate filter beyond the allowed limit.	Engine	7 bulletins
P0018 P0018 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	5 bulletins
P0087 P0087 on Chevrolet →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	4 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 5.5%

failed emissions

3,076 initial inspections of 3,011 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 Colorado	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	5.5%	3.0%	3,071
Failed the safety inspection	2.1%	1.9%	3,076
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.23%	0.22%	3,076
Miles driven a year	10,309	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	85,307	82,833	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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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).

Colorado by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 1 18 21 mpg 2025 A 1 27 20 mpg 2024 C 3 124 22 mpg 2023 C 3 137 22 mpg 2022 A 1 56 23 mpg 2021 A 1 79 23 mpg 2020 A 0 86 23 mpg 2019 A 0 150 23 mpg 2018 this page A 1 183 25 mpg 2017 A 1 216 25 mpg 2016 C 4 713 25 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Colorado

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado. The most serious on file is 18V358000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?

Across the 10 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, 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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?

Transport Canada measured it at 212.6–224.8 in long, 74.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 70.5 in tall, on a 128.3–140.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,948–4,480 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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?

Owners have filed 183 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, most often about power train, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado runs 3 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 ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado?

The manufacturer has filed 1262 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado, 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 2018 Chevrolet Colorado do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado failed the emissions check on 5.5% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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	10 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	10 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	183	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	1262	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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