2023 Chevrolet Suburban
The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Suburban 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 148 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

| Trim | Powertrain | Drive | MSRP | HP | Torque | Cargo (2nd row) | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LS | Gas | 2WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 18 in |
| LS | Gas | 4WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 18 in |
| LT | Gas | 2WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 18 in |
| LT | Gas | 4WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 18 in |
| RST | Gas | 2WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 22 in |
| RST | Gas | 4WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 22 in |
| Z71 | Gas | 2WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 20 in |
| Z71 | Gas | 4WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 20 in |
| Premier | Gas | 2WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 20 in |
| Premier | Gas | 4WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 20 in |
| High Country | Gas | 2WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 22 in |
| High Country | Gas | 4WD | — | 355 hp | 383 lb-ft | 93.8 cu-ft | 22 in |
MSRP excludes destination. 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| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,950 |
| Suburban 2WD | Gas | RWD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 20 | 16 | $5,150 |
| Suburban 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 18 | 16 | $5,150 |
| Suburban 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 15 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Suburban 2WD | Diesel | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 21 | 27 | 23 | $4,150 |
| Suburban 4WD | Diesel | 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 20 | 26 | 22 | $4,350 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45624, 45622, 45635, 45636, 45565, 45583.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban 2WD, Suburban 4WD | 6 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| Suburban 2WD | 6 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III ULEV50 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| Suburban 2WD, Suburban 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.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2023 Chevrolet Suburban 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 →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 (4)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseService Brakes, Hydraulic
N242447990Suspension
N232415910Exterior Lighting
N222386380These 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 post recall remedy closed
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 Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026 · action RQ26001 · the investigation’s page →
Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25001). GM determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the supplie
Opened Oct 23, 2025 · action EA25007 · 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 Suburban
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 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 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban
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 Suburban →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 4 injuries · 0 deaths reported
21 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 71,191 Suburban built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 10 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 71 · 2026: 52
Most-cited components
In depth: engine 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.
In October 2024, the vehicle just shut off while we were driving down the road. Had to pull off to the side and got it going after about 5 minutes. Couldn't get the vehicle to replicate the problem so nothing chevy could do. No check engine light. No codes were given. On January 4th the vehicle started making a horrible noise.
The windows would go down all by themselves and not roll up . The infotainment system will flash on and off telling you to start strip all by itself. The door locks will lock you out and in not letting unlock the truck . The key fob is the only way to unlock it.
1/10/25 Complete braking system failure, could no brake, could not use emergency brake. Almost crashed into my garage -Chevy Service Dept. replaced Electronic Braking Control Module 1/24/25 Complete braking system failure, could no brake, could not use emergency brake -Chevy Service Dept.
While driving our 2023 Chevrolet Duramax diesel suburban, I was waiting, at a complete stop, against the median to make a U turn. When the traffic cleared, I began the turn when I suddenly noticed a nearly complete loss of power, hesitancy of engine engagement, and little response to the gas pedal being depressed.
DEF sensor has failed and required placement. Required three visits to the dealer to get them to address it (Grayling, MI, White Lake, MI and Charlottesville VA). Transmission throttle body failed and required replacement. Took 2 visits to get it addressed
The wipers have stopped working on a least 6 different occasions. I have to pull over immediately due to not being able to see out the windshield. I try adjusting the switch through all the settings. I shut off the engine and restart the truck. I also turned off the rain sense function on the vehicle settings.
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): 22 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 22 per 100,000 built. Every Suburban model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 18 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 25,000 and 100,000 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.
Median mileage by component
| Component | Reports | Median miles | Vs same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15 | 50,000 | 1.51× |
Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2023-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: engine (1.51×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | — |
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | — |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N252494003-02Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and…
- 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N252494003-01Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and…
- 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · GM service campaign N252494003Certain vehicles listed above, may have a condition where the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components in these vehicles may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and…
- 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: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Equipment, Power Train.
- PIC6602Y Service bulletin2026-10-17 · Unknown Or Other
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers steps to follow to obtain an IOK radio.
- 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.
- PIT5698F Service bulletin2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- PIT6545A Service bulletin2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
- This PI is created to inform GM dealers that some vehicles may intermittently fail to connect wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto after Bluetooth pairing during the first key cycle. The condition is caused by a software anomaly.
- PIC6629F Service bulletin2026-09-10 · Unknown Or Other
- This PI is to instruct dealer on diagnostic procedures that need to be completed prior to replacing a radio or IPC display
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 Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 14 bulletins |
| U3000 U3000 on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 10 bulletins |
| C1197 C1197 on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Suspension · Struts and shocks → | 9 bulletins |
| P0016 P0016 on Chevrolet → | The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser. | Unknown Or Other | 8 bulletins · 1 owner report |
| C1114 C1114 on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 8 bulletins |
| B2BA1 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 6 bulletins |
| P023F P023F on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 6 bulletins |
| P0606 P0606 on Chevrolet → | An internal processor fault in the engine control module. | Electrical System · Battery → | 6 bulletins |
| P129F P129F on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 6 bulletins |
| P2714 P2714 on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 5 bulletins |
| B1A7A B1A7A on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Air Bags | 4 bulletins |
| P0747 P0747 on Chevrolet → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 1 bulletin · 3 owner reports |
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 2023 Chevrolet Suburban failed the emissions check on 3.0% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.88% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).
failed emissions
1,596 initial inspections of 1,556 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2023 Suburban | Every 2023 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 3.0% | 1.6% | 1,593 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.88% | 1.1% | 1,596 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.06% | 0.16% | 1,596 |
| Miles driven a year | 15,422 | 10,038 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 50,017 | 32,673 | 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 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 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 2023 Suburban
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban. The most serious on file is 25V274000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA gave the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban 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 C (79/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban?
Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, most often about engine, power train, electrical system. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 4 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 2023 Chevrolet Suburban?
The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban runs 3 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 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 2023 Chevrolet Suburban?
The manufacturer has filed 1279 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, most often covering electrical system, unknown or other, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-10-17. 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 2023 Chevrolet Suburban do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Chevrolet Suburban failed the emissions check on 3.0% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.88% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). 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 | 6 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 6 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 4 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 148 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 1279 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 4 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| 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 | none | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | 12 trims | Manufacturer press kit | Transcribed 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.
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.