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2025 Chevrolet Tahoe

Gas Diesel

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints1 crash · 1 fire · 1 injured reported 51

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 24 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tahoe 2WD, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 51 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Chevrolet Tahoe — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Chevrolet Tahoe · Photo: RL GNZLZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Tahoe 2WD	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	15	20	17	$4,850
Tahoe 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	20	17	$3,950
Tahoe 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	19	17	$3,950
Tahoe 4WD	Gas	4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	14	18	16	$5,150
Tahoe 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	14	18	16	$4,200
Tahoe 2WD	Diesel	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	22	26	24	$4,000
Tahoe 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: 48621, 48623, 48632, 48630, 48953, 49061, 48955.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Tahoe 2WD, Tahoe 4WD	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III ULEV50	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Tahoe 2WD	6 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Tahoe 4WD	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Tahoe 2WD	4 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Tahoe 4WD	4 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	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	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	8
Displacement	5.3 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain

4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Optional: Blind-spot monitoring

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: High Country, LT, Premier, RST). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	210.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	81.1 in
Height	75.6 in
Wheelbase	120.9 in
Track, front	68.5 in
Track, rear	68.1 in
Curb weight	5,355–5,545 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	51/49 to 52/48

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV RWD. 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.

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.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Wheels

N262554630

2,457 vehicles 64% reported repaired built Oct 24, 2024 – Aug 13, 2025

Problem General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2025–2026 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban 1500, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 24-inch wheels. Incorrect bolts may have been installed on the left and right front wheel hubs, which can result in the bolts loosening or deforming over time. Risk A bolt that loosens or breaks during vehicle operation can result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the front left and right wheel hub bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262554630. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 14, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Dealer notice PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V304000 reported May 14, 2026 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

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 →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Tahoe

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2025 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. 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 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

51complaints filed

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

5.2 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 97,895 Tahoe built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2025: 12 · 2026: 39

Most-cited components

Engine 31

Forward Collision Avoidance 12

Service Brakes 10

Electrical System 9

Power Train 5

Unspecified 4

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.

The issue is related to Super Cruise hands free driving. During a recent long trip multiple times the Super Cruise signaled for lane change and tried to move into the passing lane with a car directly beside me.

Forward Collision Avoidance May 11, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11737120

On Friday May 1, 2026 while parked at my home, the rear glass lift gate burst into multiple shards. I have taken a few photos of the outside as I found it. In my surprise, I failed to photograph the glass in the interior of the vehicle. I have owned this car since new, since near the end of July of 2025.

Visibility/Wiper May 4, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11735517

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Premier for repeated brake assist/braking failures. Most recent incident: While driving, the check engine light came on. I turned the vehicle off for approximately 10 minutes and restarted it, but the check engine light remained on.

Service Brakes Apr 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11733952

Vehicle power loss, some shaking with no warning lights on dashboard. Dealer confirmed it was engine failure

Engine Apr 25, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11733760

I was driving when I noticed my vehicle lagging and possibly misfiring, and then the "Service Four-Wheel-Drive" warning appeared. I was just down the road from my house, so I pulled into the driveway and put the car in park, but it wouldn’t turn off. I realized the parking brake was engaged and wouldn’t release either.

Power Train Mar 2, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11721544

My 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 3.0L LZO Duramax with approx. 3,380 miles experienced a sudden and complete engine failure while towing my camper on the interstate at night, in the rain, while traveling alone 375 miles from home.

Electrical System Dec 1, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11702386

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: 7 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 8 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 7.2 per 100,000 built. Every Tahoe model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV 4WD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	22%
SUV RWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	21%

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 466

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-07

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 444 service bulletins, 13 over-the-air updates, 8 service campaigns

Most often about: Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Structure.

PIT6110L Service bulletin
2026-10-07 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is currently investigating.
PIT6477D Service bulletin
2026-10-05 · 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 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.
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.
PIT6549 Service bulletin
2026-09-21 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information communicates an issue with a service column lock message and DTC U3000. Engineering is working on the issue and in the meantime dealerships are to reset/clear the DTC and perform four sleep cycles to verify the DTC does not return.
PIT6550 Service bulletin
2026-09-18 · Unknown Or Other
The Rear Camera Mirror display may appear angled downward. Investigation found that an aftermarket or dealer-installed rear license plate frame can contact the license plate lamp applique, pushing the applique upward and skewing the camera display angle. Remove or reposition the interfering frame, verify proper applique seating, and confirm the Rear Camera Mirror display is correctly aligned.
PIT6426C Service bulletin
2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
If a vehicle has an issue with super cruise inoperative tech is directed to follow a diagnostic path before replacing the Image processing module.

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
P062B P062B on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	6 bulletins
P2714 P2714 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	5 bulletins
B0126 B0126 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	3 bulletins
B1DD0 B1DD0 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	3 bulletins
C1114 C1114 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	3 bulletins
C1197 C1197 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Suspension · Struts and shocks →	3 bulletins
P00FF	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	3 bulletins
P0562 P0562 on Chevrolet →	System voltage is below the operating range.	Service Brakes · Alternator →	3 bulletins
P0606 P0606 on Chevrolet →	An internal processor fault in the engine control module.	Service Brakes · Brake pads →	3 bulletins
U1962 U1962 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	3 bulletins
U3000 U3000 on Chevrolet →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	3 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 0.61%

failed the safety inspection

2,135 initial inspections of 2,118 vehicles.

Measure	The 2025 Tahoe	Every 2025 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the safety inspection	0.61%	0.36%	2,135
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.33%	0.16%	2,135
Miles driven a year	9,715	8,354	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	14,164	12,194	odometer at inspection

New York does not emissions-test model years this new, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Compare the 2025 Tahoe with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2025 Ford Explorer · Large SUV · grade F	Tahoe +6
2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee · Large SUV · grade F	Tahoe +20.1
2025 Toyota Highlander · Large SUV · grade C	Highlander +9.9

Tahoe by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 24 mpg 2026 C 3 27 Do not drive 2025 this page A 1 51 24 mpg 2024 B 3 69 24 mpg 2023 C 5 231 24 mpg 2022 C 4 197 24 mpg 2021 F 16 460 24 mpg 2020 C 3 57 18 mpg 2019 C 2 109 Do not drive 2018 C 3 105 19 mpg 2017 D 4 174 Do not drive 2016 F 10 257 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2025 Tahoe

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe. The most serious on file is 26V304000, covering Wheels. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe?

NHTSA gave the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (92/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe, the best EPA combined figure is 24 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Transport Canada measured it at 210.6 in long, 81.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 75.6 in tall, on a 120.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,355–5,545 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe, most often about engine, forward collision avoidance, service brakes. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 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 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe?

The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe runs 4 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 SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe?

The manufacturer has filed 466 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-10-07. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe failed the safety inspection on 0.61% of first inspections — higher than the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Is the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe better than the 2025 Ford Explorer?

The Chevrolet Tahoe wins clearly, 91.8 to 85.8, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe against the 2025 Ford Explorer — 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.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 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	51	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	466	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	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	8 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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

Sources & method

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

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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