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Your vehicleHome›Dodge›Charger› 2022
Dodge · Large Sedan

2022 Dodge Charger

Gas
Large Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
83 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3
Complaints3 crash · 1 injured reported 16
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2022 Dodge Charger is sold in the U.S. as a gas large sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Charger, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 16 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Dodge Charger — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Dodge Charger (1966 generation) · Photo: HJUdall · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
ChargerGasRWD3.6L 6-cyl193023$2,900
Charger AWDGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl182721$3,200
ChargerGasRWD5.7L 8-cyl162519$4,000
ChargerGasRWD6.4L 8-cyl152418$4,550
Charger WidebodyGasRWD6.4L 8-cyl152418$4,550
Charger SRT WidebodyGasRWD6.2L 8-cyl122115$5,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45080, 45085, 45081, 45082, 45084, 45083.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Charger, Charger AWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Charger3 / 10California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Charger, Charger SRT Widebody, Charger Widebody1 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 160All 50 states (federal, all altitudes)—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Gas-guzzler tax applies to Charger SRT Widebody — 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 styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement3.6 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower292 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainRWD/Rear-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

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, SRT Hellcat, SXT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length198.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)75.2 in
Height58.3 in
Wheelbase120.1 in
Track, front63.4–64.2 in
Track, rear63.8 in
Curb weight3,935–4,575 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 5 configurations: 4-door Sedan AWD, 4-door Sedan RWD Hellcat, 4-door Sedan RWD R/T Scat Pack/Srt392, 4-door Sedan RWD V6, 4-door Sedan RWD V8. 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.

Also on file Beside the 2022 Charger
Other years The 2027 Charger Recalls Dodge recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2022 Dodge Charger 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 (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

ZB3
5,834 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Charger and Durango vehicles. The shifter assembly was not properly heat-treated, which can prevent the shifter from properly engaging in the "drive" position. Risk An improperly engaged shifter assembly may slip out of the "drive" position, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall ZB3.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V866000 reported Nov 23, 2022 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Tires

ZB5
44,212 vehicles 85% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems." Risk Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios can result in tire failure and increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB5. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-504.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V808000 reported Oct 27, 2022 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Tires

Z68
52,340 vehicles 86% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems." Risk Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios can result in tire failure and increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z68.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V504000 reported Jul 14, 2022 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Charger

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. 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 2022 Dodge Charger, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2022 Dodge Charger

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 Charger →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
16complaints filed

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

2.1 per 10,000 built · Dodge reported 77,181 Charger built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2023: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 8

Most-cited components

Air Bags 4
Electrical System 4
Power Train 3
Engine 3
Fuel/Propulsion System 3
Tires 2

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 center read “race track” light has water intrusion which will short the circuit and there is no way to drain or dry the light. It appears to be a widespread issue based on what I’ve seen online similar to the Durango
Exterior Lighting Sep 19, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11765526
My climate control system and airbags malfunction. This seems to be related to the UConnect system. My vehicle is available for inspection as needed. It has not been to a dealer for inspection yet, but an appointment is scheduled. The warning lamp that comes on as the climate control systems fails tells me the airbag system has failed
Air Bags Sep 1, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11761289
The car wont move Fwd Until it suddenly Catches its gear Especially when its hot when the car is running for a long period of time and at a stop , or during a turn. The engine runs fine but the physical power is not reaching the wheels , Car will shut off if its not reaching it power , Cars feels like goes into Natural when it slips and…
Power Train Aug 11, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11756240
The replaced TPMS sensors failed prematurely on this vehicle. The recall never was fixed when the vehicle was serviced
Tires Aug 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11755058
The car is a 2022 with only 17k miles it started by smelling like gas really bad in the car and outside of it and eventually leaking gas badly so i took it into the dealership and it turns out there is a defective weld on the fuel filler neck and it had been leaking for a while.
Fuel/Propulsion System Mar 9, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11722987
I’m getting a indicator that I need to service my shifter and it’s making a strange noise and having problems shifting
Electrical System Mar 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11722299

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: 14 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 17 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 18 per 100,000 built. Every Charger model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%
4 DR RWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 211
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-30
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 207 service bulletins, 4 others

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

  • S2621000004 Service bulletin
    2026-09-30 · Power Train
  • The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement. The Tech May Find Damaged and/or Worn Transmission Output Shaft Splines (850RE Transmission Only)
  • 9100896 Service bulletin
    2026-09-02 · Service Brakes
  • CALIPER ASSEMBLY Disc Brake Only applies to brake sales code BR9. Ensure caliper leaks are verified prior to part replacement. Excess supplier-process grease around piston seal is being mistaken for brake fluid leaks in majority cases. Clean and inspect the area thoroughly to confirm an active leak.
  • S2208000045 REV. D Service bulletin
    2026-06-26 · Structure — Body
  • Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
  • 111831 Service bulletin
    2026-05-13 · Electrical System
  • SENSOR – KNOCK
  • 111830 Service bulletin
    2026-05-13 · Electrical System
  • SENSOR – KNOCK
  • 18-044-26 Service bulletin
    2026-03-21 · Engine
  • Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) 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): ● **P0111-00 - Intake Air Temperature Sensor 1 Circuit Range Performance Bank 1. (In Active or Stored status) ● P0071-00 - Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Performance. (In Acti
  • S2208000045 REV. C Service bulletin
    2026-03-18 · Unknown Or Other
  • Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
  • 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.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0301
P0301 on Dodge →		Cylinder 1 is misfiring.Exterior Lighting · Ignition coils →2 bulletins
P0440
P0440 on Dodge →		A general fault in the evaporative emissions system — the sealed circuit that stops fuel vapour escaping.Power Train · Gas cap →2 bulletins
P0441
P0441 on Dodge →		The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should.Power Train · EVAP purge valve →2 bulletins
P0455
P0455 on Dodge →		A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.Power Train · Gas cap →2 bulletins
P0456
P0456 on Dodge →		A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Power Train · Gas cap →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 DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Dodge Charger failed the emissions check on 3.0% of first inspections — higher than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%).

New York inspections 3.0%

failed emissions

1,080 initial inspections of 1,052 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2022 ChargerEvery 2022 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.0%1.7%1,075
Failed the safety inspection1.2%1.4%1,080
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.28%0.18%1,080
Miles driven a year9,35010,455odometer at inspection
Average odometer40,28344,815odometer 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).

Charger by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 1 0 267 mi2026 A 1 5 295 mi2025 B 3 39 308 mi2024 B 3 24 308 mi2023 B 2 26 23 mpg2022 this page B 3 16 23 mpg2021 C 2 35 23 mpg2020 C 3 58 23 mpg2019 D 5 120 23 mpg2018 F 6 122 23 mpg2017 D 4 128 23 mpg2016 D 5 182 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2022 Charger

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2022 Dodge Charger have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2022 Dodge Charger. The most serious on file is 22V866000, covering Power Train. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2022 Dodge Charger?

NHTSA gave the 2022 Dodge Charger 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (83/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Dodge Charger?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Dodge Charger, 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 2022 Dodge Charger?

Transport Canada measured it at 198.4 in long, 75.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 58.3 in tall, on a 120.1 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,935–4,575 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 2022 Dodge Charger?

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Dodge Charger, most often about air bags, electrical system, power train. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 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 2022 Dodge Charger?

The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Dodge Charger runs 1 to 5 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 ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 160, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Dodge Charger?

The manufacturer has filed 211 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Dodge Charger, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-09-30. 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 Dodge Charger do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Dodge Charger failed the emissions check on 3.0% of first inspections — higher than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints16NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins211NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe 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.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Charger The Charger model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 1 recall.Recalls Every Dodge recall on file All campaigns filed against Dodge vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Charger by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

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

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

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