2022 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas minivan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pacifica Hybrid, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 334 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
| Trim | Powertrain | Drive | MSRP | HP | Torque | MPG comb | Seats | Cargo (2nd row) | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touring | Gas | FWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 22 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 17 in |
| Touring | Gas | AWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 20 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 17 in |
| Touring L | Gas | FWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 22 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 17 in |
| Touring L | Gas | AWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 20 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 18 in |
| Limited | Gas | FWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 22 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 18 in |
| Limited | Gas | AWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 20 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 18 in |
| Pinnacle | Gas | FWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 22 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 20 in |
| Pinnacle | Gas | AWD | — | 287 hp | 262 lb-ft | 20 mpg | 7 | 87.5 cu-ft | 20 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 | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacifica Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | FWD | 3.6L 6-cyl + 89 kW AC Induction | 29 | 30 | 30 (48 MPGe blended) | 32 mi electric | 41 | 2 h | $2,250 |
| Pacifica | Gas | FWD | 3.6L 6-cyl | 19 | 28 | 22 | — | — | — | $3,050 |
| Pacifica AWD | Gas | AWD | 3.6L 6-cyl | 17 | 25 | 20 | — | — | — | $3,350 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44930, 44645, 44647.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacifica Hybrid | 7 / 10 | California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| Pacifica, Pacifica AWD | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | 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 2022 Chrysler Pacifica is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module 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 (10)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseAir Bags
06D, 10D, 11DEquipment Adaptive/Mobility
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Air Bags
06C, 54C, 55CAir Bags
A8BBack Over Prevention
66B, 79BHybrid Propulsion System
03AVisibility
Z80Seats
Z22These 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
Electrical System:Wiring — Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short. open
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE22-008 regarding complaints alleging a loss of motive power condition potentially due to a transmission malfunction in Model Years 2019-2021 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). On January 17, 2023, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) issued safety recall (NHTSA Recall 23V-010) involving 2017-2023 Model Years (MY) Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) produced between August 12, 2016, through January 9, 2023. The recall states that the loss of motive power condition in these vehicles is caused by an internal transmission wiring connector that may short circuit, resulting in an une
Opened Feb 27, 2024 · action RQ24004 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →
Power Train — Transmission fault leading to loss of motive power closed
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE22008 to investigate allegation of loss of motive power, potentially due to transmission malfunction, in certain Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. In a January 17, 2023 letter to NHTSA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) submitted recall notice 23V-010 involving a transmission motor wiring defect in 67,118 model year (MY) 2017-2023 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) manufactured from August 12, 2016 through January 9, 2023. FCA determined that an internal transmission connector short could result in an unexpected engine shutdown under certain conditions. Follow up correspondence with FCA confirmed this defect
Opened Jul 22, 2022 · closed Mar 27, 2024 · action PE22008 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Pacifica
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Chrysler 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 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica
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 Pacifica →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 17 injuries · 1 deaths reported
34 per 10,000 built · Chrysler reported 98,384 Pacifica built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2022: 28 · 2023: 90 · 2024: 86 · 2025: 68 · 2026: 62
Most-cited components
In depth: transmission and drivetrain problems → · engine problems → · electrical 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.
On 3/6/2023 while driving on a freeway, my vehicle experienced a complete loss of motive power and the accelerator was unresponsive. The dash gave me a warning that the vehicle was off. On 3/7/2023, the same incident occurred twice while on the same freeway.
While traveling at full highway speed, the Pacifica turned off entirely without warning. We had to navigate in traffic through 4 lanes to pull over with children in the vehicle. The vehicle would not turn back on after pulled over until hours afterwards. However we towed the vehicle to a dealership due to the safety concern
The contact owns a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V010000 (Electrical System, Hybrid Propulsion System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
The contact owns a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving at 80 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The following day, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was vibrating and the brakes failed to immediately stop the vehicle.
This is a Plug in Hybrid vehicle (Rental from Avis). I was driving on freeway today January 13, 2023 and vehicle lost all propulsion (did no respond to accelerator being depressed) with warning message on screen "Press Brake and Push Button to Start" and "Shift to P to Start" while at 64mph.
It seems that some of the standard safety features are unavailable or missing due to some reason which is mentioned in the optional equipment. below two things seem to be missing: 1. Safety sphere 2. ParkSense Rear Park Assist Additionally, there is also a recall on this vehicle regarding the safety issue.
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 Chrysler itself: 17 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 26 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 17 per 100,000 built. Every Pacifica 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 32 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 20,000 and 54,000 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.
Across 2018–2022 model years the Chrysler Pacifica ranks 29 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.74× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 16,300 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 12% |
| MV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 11% |
| MV AWD | not rated | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | not rated | 12% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Chrysler warranty extension 44D44D - Hybrid Control Module Software - Dealer Notification Hybrid Control Processor (HCP) on about 69,189 of the above vehicles may have software that does not correctly report On-Board Diagnostic…
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Chrysler warranty extension NEWSLETTER VOL 12 ISSUE 5A Addition of 2.0L T4 Long Block or Complete Engine to the Powertrain Service Center (PTSC) Pre-Approval Program
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Chrysler warranty extension NEWSLETTER 12 ISSUE 5Warranty Newsletter – Volume 12, Issue 5
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Chrysler warranty extension WICKB0049073RevAF-26-01 Upfit Reimbursement Allowance for Select Fleet Vehicles - Safety Recalls 54C, 55C, 06C, 06D, 10D, and 11D - Side Curtain Airbag (Rev.
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Chrysler warranty extension 104093B (XE1) eFlite Si-eVT Transmission Repair – Certain 2017 - 2023 Chrysler Pacifica (RU)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Stellantis warranty extension 100209Warranty Newsletter Volume 10 Issue 8_ID
2 more in this page’s JSON.
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 Stellantis warranty extension (117) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Structure, Engine, Unknown Or Other.
- S2621000006 Service bulletin2026-10-02 · Electrical System
- Note: Document released 10/2/2026. Multiple Warning Indicators On In The IPC. ESM - PRNDL Flashing. And The Vehicle Will Not Shift Into Gear. The Wipers May Be On, With An Electric Parking Brake Unavailable.
- 08-334-26 Service bulletin2026-09-19 · Electrical System
- Flash: Integrated Dual Charge Module (IDCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ● **P0D21-00 - Battery Charger "A" Output Voltage Too Low. ● B22A9-87 - ECU Internal Performance-Missing Message.** ● B22A9-64 - ECU Internal Performance - Signal Plausib
- 114507 Service bulletin2026-09-10 · Unknown Or Other
- COMPRESSOR - AIR CONDITIONING
- 114505 Service bulletin2026-09-10 · Unknown Or Other
- COMPRESSOR - AIR CONDITIONING
- 9100900 Service bulletin2026-09-08 · Structure — Body
- Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
- 113550 Service bulletin2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
- EVAPORATOR - AIR CONDITIONING
- 113551 Service bulletin2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
- EVAPORATOR - AIR CONDITIONING
- 9100860 Service bulletin2026-07-07 · Electrical System
- Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0A43 P0A43 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 7 bulletins · 7 owner reports |
| P0073 P0073 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Exterior Lighting · Headlight assembly → | 9 bulletins |
| U11E9 U11E9 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Exterior Lighting · Headlight assembly → | 8 bulletins |
| P0A3F P0A3F on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 7 bulletins |
| P0070 P0070 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Exterior Lighting · Headlight assembly → | 6 bulletins |
| U0485 U0485 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 6 bulletins |
| P0E15 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 4 bulletins · 1 owner report |
| B1E21 B1E21 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 4 bulletins |
| P0513 P0513 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 4 bulletins |
| P0A45 P0A45 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 2 bulletins · 1 owner report |
| P0A78 P0A78 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 3 bulletins |
| B1560 B1560 on Chrysler → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 2 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica failed the emissions check on 4.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.6% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%).
failed emissions
2,552 initial inspections of 2,496 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2022 Pacifica | Every 2022 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 4.9% | 1.7% | 2,546 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.6% | 1.4% | 2,552 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.16% | 0.18% | 2,552 |
| Miles driven a year | 14,220 | 10,455 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 61,133 | 44,815 | 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 2022 vehicle” is every 2022 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 2022 Pacifica
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 10 recall campaigns for the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V362000, covering Electrical System. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica?
NHTSA gave the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (52/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, the best EPA combined figure is 30 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica?
Owners have filed 334 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, most often about power train, engine, electrical system. Of those, 9 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 17 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 2022 Chrysler Pacifica?
The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica runs 5 to 7 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 ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica?
The manufacturer has filed 751 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, most often covering electrical system, equipment, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-10-02. 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 2022 Chrysler Pacifica do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Chrysler Pacifica failed the emissions check on 4.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.6% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%). 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 | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 10 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 334 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 3 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 751 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 3 | 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 | 8 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.