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Your vehicleHome›Chevrolet›Equinox› 2026
Chevrolet · Compact SUV

2026 Chevrolet Equinox

Electric Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
87 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3
Complaints5 crash · 1 fire · 7 injured reported 86
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 319 mi
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox is sold in the U.S. as an electric and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Equinox EV FWD, is EPA-rated at 319 miles with 108 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 86 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Chevrolet Equinox — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Equinox · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →
TrimPowertrainDriveMSRPHPTorqueCargo (2nd row)Wheels
LTGasFWD$28,800175 hp184 lb-ft29.8 cu-ft17 in
LTGasAWD$28,800175 hp203 lb-ft29.8 cu-ft17 in
RSGasFWD$33,600175 hp184 lb-ft29.8 cu-ft19 in
RSGasAWD$33,600175 hp203 lb-ft29.8 cu-ft19 in
ACTIVGasFWD$33,600175 hp184 lb-ft29.8 cu-ft17 in
ACTIVGasAWD$33,600175 hp203 lb-ft29.8 cu-ft17 in
Equinox EVElectricFWD—220 hp243 lb-ft26.4 cu-ft19 in
Equinox EVElectricAWD—300 hp355 lb-ft26.4 cu-ft21 in

MSRP excludes destination. Chevrolet files one press kit for the Equinox family (RS and the Equinox); the table lists all of it, and the prices quoted for the 2026 Equinox elsewhere on this page are the Equinox trims only. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Equinox EV FWDElectricFWD180 kW AC Induction117100108 MPGe319 mi31.19.5 h$700
Equinox EV AWD (11 kW Charger)ElectricAWD67 and 180 kW AC Induction11295103 MPGe307 mi32.69.5 h$750
Equinox EV AWD (19 kW Charger)ElectricAWD67 and 180 kW AC Induction1038896 MPGe288 mi35.15.9 h$800
Equinox FWDGasFWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo262927———$2,500
Equinox AWDGasAWD1.5L 4-cyl turbo252926———$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49953, 49955, 49956, 49442, 49480.

New-vehicle warranty

Source: manufacturer press kits, make-level
Basic 3 yr / 36,000 mi Powertrain 5 yr / 60,000 mi Roadside 5 yr

As stated in Chevrolet's press kits for the 2025–2027 model years (4 kits); this model year's own kit states no warranty terms, so the make's are shown. Confirm the term for this car with the dealer.

Also on file Beside the 2026 Equinox
Head to head vs the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Ranking Safest compact SUVs Report card The 2026 year, graded Other years The 2027 Equinox
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The cheapest ownership win

Insurers price the 2026 Equinox 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 →

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
○minor

Equipment

N252540430
5,861 vehicles 74% reported repaired built Sep 23, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026
Problem General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the req Risk Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26,
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V114000 reported Feb 26, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

N252530690
81,177 vehicles 95% reported repaired built Apr 7, 2025 – Dec 16, 2025 Electric only
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Equinox EV vehicles. The pedestrian alert sound system may not produce a sufficient change in volume between the vehicle being stopped and moving at low speeds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles." Risk A vehicle that does not emit sufficient sound may fail to alert pedestrians of a moving vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252530690. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 18, 2025.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V878000 reported Dec 18, 2025 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Tires

N252525030
22,914 vehicles 90% reported repaired built Apr 9, 2025 – Sep 18, 2025 Electric only
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Cadillac Optic and 2025-2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles equipped with 21-inch Continental all-season tires. One or more of these tires may experience partial or full tread detachment. Risk Tire tread detachment increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect all four tires and replace those manufactured during DOT week 4024, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 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 N252525030. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 16, 2025.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V704000 reported Oct 16, 2025 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes — Electronic Brake Module Component Failure open

On April 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24011 after receiving complaints concerning a loss of brake assist in 2023 MY Cadillac Lyriq vehicles. These complaints allege a hard brake pedal, followed by a “Brake System Failure” message at start up or while driving. GM shared records regarding several internal investigations for loss of brake assist due to alleged spindle fractures in the eBoost system. GM has stated that in the event of a spindle fracture, anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability control, and traction control remain functional until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. At this point, ABS, brake assist, stability control, and tractio

Opened Aug 21, 2026 · action EA26006 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Equinox

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2026 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 2026 Chevrolet Equinox, 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 2026 Chevrolet Equinox

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 Equinox →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
86complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

3.0 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 289,037 Equinox built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2025: 9 · 2026: 77

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance 39
Service Brakes 23
Power Train 18
Unspecified 13
Electrical System 13
Visibility/Wiper 9

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.

Three times over the past month, this car has slammed the automatic emergency brakes, thinking there was an obstacle in the road. Each time, it has caused whiplash to everyone in the car, feeling like we were slammed by another car. It is related to the collision avoidance and is triggered by either a shadow on the road or a glare.
Forward Collision Avoidance Aug 16, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11757249
On Saturday, August 29, 2026, at approximately 12:00 PM, I was driving my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV RS on the highway at about 65 mph. The weather conditions were clear and sunny. Without warning, the vehicle's automatic emergency braking (AEB) system abruptly engaged with full force, causing a severe and sudden deceleration.
Service Brakes Aug 31, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11761002
On numerous occasions, while driving either on highways or streets, vehicle would brake on its own or aggressive braking when this type of braking was unnecessary. I was hospitalized for whiplash in one incident. After braking for NO REASON!!! GM sent a tow truck to pick up my vehicle, and I have not heard back for more than 100 days.
Vehicle Speed Control Jul 17, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11751192
Incident Date: February 10, 2026 Mileage: 1,260 On the morning of February 10, 2026, my 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV (1,260 miles) would not start. The instrument cluster simultaneously displayed three warning messages: 1)“Service Battery Fault — Vehicle Won’t Restart,” 2)“Charging is unavailable,” and 3)“Charge Vehicle Soon.” The vehicle…
Electrical System Mar 28, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11727675
Blind spot indicator malfunction. Seat sensors alert for no reason. Cruise control stops working. Vehicle automatically brakes for no reason. Information screen malfunction and goes black at random
Seat Belts Feb 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11715792
GM has redesigned the gear shift of the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox to be placed on the steering wheel. That's fine except engineers put it in the exact spot of where the windshield wiper lever traditionally is AND made it look and act and move like a windshield wiper lever, which instinctively means you as a driver will hit that gear shift…
Power Train Jan 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11709597

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: 16 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 22 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 5.5 per 100,000 built. Every Equinox model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 4k

miles, typically

Half the 13 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 1,000 and 10,000 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 13 on file: 9 under 10k, 3 10k–20k, 1 30k–40k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★10%
SUV AWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWDnot ratednot rated★★★★★★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 320
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-20
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 281 service bulletins, 21 over-the-air updates, 16 service campaigns

Most often about: Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Service Brakes, Structure, Fuel/Propulsion System.

  • N262566800 Service campaign
    2026-10-20 · Engine
  • Certain vehicles listed above may have a condition in which the incorrect transmission parts were used. Dealers will replace the transmission.
  • N262545360-01 Service campaign
    2026-10-20 · Service Brakes
  • Service Update. Certain vehicles listed above may experience a condition in which the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) may be perceived as activating earlier than expected during certain braking scenarios on slippery road conditions, such as ice- or snow-covered surfaces. Dealers will reprogram the brake system control module and drive motor control module.
  • PIP6138 Service bulletin
    2026-10-17 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates the potential for shudder and all cylinder misfire concerns on RPO LSD
  • PIT6556 Service bulletin
    2026-10-15 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary Information, describes a condition where the HVAC will make noise when changing modes while HVAC is warm. Engineering is aware and no fix available at the time.
  • PIT6555 Service bulletin
    2026-10-15 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information describes an issue where the fuel pump makes a loud noise that engineering is currently investigating.
  • N262545360 Service campaign
    2026-10-07 · Service Brakes
  • Service Update. Certain vehicles listed above may experience a condition in which the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) may be perceived as activating earlier than expected during certain braking scenarios on slippery road conditions, such as ice- or snow-covered surfaces. Dealers will reprogram the brake system control module and drive motor control module.
  • PIT6457C Service bulletin
    2026-09-28 · 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 bulletin
    2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio.

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
P16F4Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other4 bulletins
P0237Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other3 bulletins
P0299
P0299 on Chevrolet →		The turbocharger or supercharger is not making the boost the computer asked for.Unknown Or Other3 bulletins
P0604
P0604 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other3 bulletins
P0607
P0607 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other3 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 bulletins
C0750Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 bulletins
C0755Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 bulletins
C0760Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 bulletins
C0765Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Unknown Or Other2 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.

Compare the 2026 Equinox with

Any vehicle, your weights →
Head-to-headVerdict
2026 Toyota RAV4 · Compact SUV · grade AToss-up

Equinox by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 1 319 mi2026 this page B 3 86 319 mi2025 C 6 401 319 mi2024 B 2 190 319 mi2023 C 3 99 28 mpg2022 D 6 186 28 mpg2021 C 4 100 28 mpg2020 C 4 318 28 mpg2019 C 4 306 32 mpg2018 C 5 410 32 mpg2017 A 0 276 25 mpg2016 A 1 399 26 mpg

Common questions about the 2026 Equinox

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The most serious on file is 25V704000, covering Tires. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?

NHTSA gave the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (87/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions) and the longest EPA range is 319 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?

Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox, most often about forward collision avoidance, service brakes, power train. Of those, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 7 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox?

The manufacturer has filed 320 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, service brakes. The most recent is dated 2026-10-20. 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.

Is the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox better than the 2026 Toyota RAV4?

Too close to call: Chevrolet Equinox 87.7 vs Toyota RAV4 86.6 with these weights. The Toyota RAV4 is ahead on safety and space & cargo. Raise the safety weight from 4 to 4.7 and it flips. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox against the 2026 Toyota RAV4 — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

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 & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificatesnoneEPA emission certificatesThe EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints86NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins320NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
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 NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment8 trimsManufacturer press kitTranscribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

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

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Head to head 2026 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2026 Toyota RAV4 Scored on price, fuel, safety, space, performance and warranty — the weights are yours.Ranking Safest 2026 compact SUVs Every compact SUV of this model year by NHTSA recall record, best first.Report card Every 2026 vehicle graded B The 2026 model year graded A–F; this one sits in the B group.Recall Watch Watch this Equinox by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

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

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

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