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2017 Dodge Challenger

Gas

Midsize Cars
10 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.

Recalls2 critical 3

Complaints7 crash · 2 fire · 6 injured reported 49

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2017 Dodge Challenger is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Challenger, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 49 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Dodge Challenger — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Dodge Challenger (1959 generation) · Photo: Ermell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Challenger	Gas	RWD	3.6L 6-cyl	19	30	23	$2,900
Challenger GT	Gas	AWD	3.6L 6-cyl	18	27	21	$3,200
Challenger	Gas	RWD	5.7L 8-cyl	16	25	19	$4,000
Challenger	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	15	25	18	$4,550
Challenger	Gas	RWD	5.7L 8-cyl	15	23	18	$4,550
Challenger SRT	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	15	25	18	$4,550
Challenger	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	14	23	17	$4,850
Challenger SRT	Gas	RWD	6.4L 8-cyl	14	23	17	$4,850
Challenger SRT	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	13	22	16	$5,150
Challenger SRT	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	13	21	16	$5,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38316, 38533, 38318, 38319, 38320, 38322, 38410, 38411, 38321, 38323.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Challenger, Challenger GT	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Challenger, Challenger SRT	5 / 10	LEV-II LEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 160	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. Gas-guzzler tax applies to Challenger, Challenger SRT — a federal excise the manufacturer pays and prices in.

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	Coupe
Doors	2
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	3.6 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

305 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain

RWD/Rear-Wheel Drive

Driver assistance

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

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Forward collision warning

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: GT, R/T, R/T 392, SRT 392). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	197.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	75.6 in
Height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	116.1 in
Track, front	63.0 in
Track, rear	63.8 in
Curb weight	3,935–4,169 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 2-door Coupe RWD SRT 392 / Hellcat, 2-door Coupe RWD V6, 2-door Coupe RWD V8, GT 2-door Coupe AWD V6. 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.

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 (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Electrical System

U49,U59-U65,U68,U73

4,815,661 vehicles 77% reported repaired built Apr 7, 2014 – May 23, 2018

Problem Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depress Risk If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash. Fix Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmissi

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V332000 reported May 17, 2018 Chrysler (FCA US LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

T48

1,207 vehicles 82% reported repaired built Feb 6, 2017 – May 30, 2017

Problem Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicles equipped with Hellcat engines. The engine oil cooler (EOC) hoses may fail resulting in a rapid loss of engine oil. Risk If an EOC line fails, oil may spray onto the windshield or contact a hot surface, impairing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash or fire. Fix Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EOC lines, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T48.

NHTSA campaign 17V496000 reported Aug 8, 2017 Chrysler (FCA US LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Power Train

T41

7,802 vehicles 91% reported repaired built Mar 22, 2016 – May 23, 2017

Problem Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 5.7L V8 engines and eight-speed automatic transmissions. The transmission may not remain in the PARK position if that gear is selected, the engine is still running, and the driver exits the vehicle exited. Risk If the vehicle is exited without the transmission remaining in the PARK position and without the parking brake set, the vehicle may roll, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the transmission control module software, free of charge. The recall began 28, 2017. Owners may the Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T41.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 17V431000 reported Jul 7, 2017 Chrysler (FCA US 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

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Challenger

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Dodge 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 →Dodge’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 2017 Dodge Challenger, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

49complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported

10 per 10,000 built · Dodge reported 47,206 Challenger built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 7

Most-cited components

Unspecified 16

Electrical System 16

Engine 6

Suspension 6

Power Train 5

Steering 5

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.

Faulty electric rack and pinion have been such a huge problem. They are not only going bad after a few years, they are expensive to replace. And it’s common problem amongst dodge owners

Steering Jun 25, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11470978

The driver side smart window rolls up and down about a half inch when the vehicle is completely off sometimes causing a dead battery. In addition when driving the window will also Crack open and do the same thing causing loud noise which can easily distract the driver while the vehicle is being operated

Electrical System Mar 15, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11456720

The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH the upper ball joint and the wheel detached without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact called the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.

Suspension at 57,469 miles Dec 16, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11443980

I wanted to report that I was injured on 10/6/2020. When my 2017 v6 Challenger went out of gear from "park" and drug me down, as it rolled backwards (while in "park"). I sustained multiple injuries all over my body. I went to the e.r. And followed up with primary doctor. I also have an appointment with an orthopedist.

Power Train at 26,000 miles Nov 2, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11372675

The dashbord says that the transmission needs service. I put the car on park, it starts blinking saying car not on park and once I take my foot off the brake the engine turns off. Plus the switch stays on so I had to unhook the battery

Engine at 46,000 miles Aug 29, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11252275

Rear trunk will not open with key fob, rear trunk button or trunk button located inside the car only way trunk can be opened is with emergency pull down thru rear back seats.

Structure at 10,000 miles May 16, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11094071

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 Dodge itself: 29 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 34 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 61 per 100,000 built. Every Challenger model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 30k

miles, typically

Half the 22 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 12,000 and 45,000 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 22 on file: 3 under 10k, 4 10k–20k, 3 20k–30k, 4 30k–40k, 4 40k–50k, 2 50k–60k, 1 70k–80k, 1 150k +.

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
2 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%
2 DR RWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 194

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-03-09

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 194 service bulletins

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Power Train, Engine, Structure.

S2621000003 REV. A Service bulletin
2026-03-09 · Power Train
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95. Transmissions may exhibit the following diagnostic codes: P07E4, P1DB2, P0716, P1B14, P0733, P1D90, P1DB7, P1B13.
S2608000010 Service bulletin
2026-03-05 · Electrical System
Active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) B1A10-00, B1A11-00, B1A12- 00, B1A13-00-, B1A14-00, B1A15-00, B1A16-00, and B1A17-00 in The Radio Frequency Hub (RFH)
9100735 Service bulletin
2025-12-10 · Electrical System
Verify "Z" part number availability. Order a "Z" part number for all Exchange Orders: Warranty, Mopar, Customer pay and Service contract. Order"68" part number for New unsold units only
108463 Service bulletin
2025-11-18 · Service Brakes
PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
108464 Service bulletin
2025-11-17 · Service Brakes
PAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
31-001-25 REV. B Service bulletin
2025-08-16 · Structure — Body
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
31-001-25 REV. A Service bulletin
2025-08-14 · Structure — Body
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
31-001-25 Service bulletin
2025-08-13 · Structure — Body
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates

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
P06DD P06DD on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P2122 P2122 on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	2 bulletins
P2127 P2127 on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	2 bulletins
P2299 P2299 on Dodge →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 7.6%

failed emissions

739 initial inspections of 715 vehicles.

Measure	The 2017 Challenger	Every 2017 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	7.6%	3.7%	737
Failed the safety inspection	1.6%	2.1%	739
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.41%	0.25%	739
Miles driven a year	6,679	10,048	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	62,086	93,238	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 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 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).

Challenger by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2023 B 2 43 23 mpg 2022 B 2 9 23 mpg 2021 B 2 19 23 mpg 2020 A 1 20 23 mpg 2019 B 3 59 23 mpg 2018 C 3 75 23 mpg 2017 this page D 3 49 23 mpg 2016 B 1 78 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 Challenger

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Dodge Challenger have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Dodge Challenger, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V332000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Dodge Challenger?

NHTSA gave the 2017 Dodge Challenger 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (66/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Dodge Challenger?

Across the 10 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Dodge Challenger, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Dodge Challenger?

Transport Canada measured it at 197.6 in long, 75.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1 in tall, on a 116.1 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,935–4,169 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 2017 Dodge Challenger?

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Dodge Challenger, most often about unspecified, electrical system, engine. Of those, 7 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 6 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 2017 Dodge Challenger?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Dodge Challenger runs 5 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 — Federal Tier 3 Bin 160, Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110, LEV-II LEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Dodge Challenger?

The manufacturer has filed 194 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Dodge Challenger, most often covering equipment, electrical system, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-03-09. 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 2017 Dodge Challenger do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Dodge Challenger failed the emissions check on 7.6% of first inspections — higher than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.6% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). 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	10 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	10 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	49	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	194	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	11 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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

Sources & method

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

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

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