2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Mustang Mach-E RWD Extended, is EPA-rated at 320 miles with 106 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 48 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang Mach-E RWD Extended | Electric | RWD | 216 kW AC PMSM | 111 | 100 | 106 MPGe | 320 mi | 31.8 | 10.1 h | $700 |
| Mustang Mach-E RWD | Electric | RWD | 197 kW AC PMSM | 106 | 98 | 102 MPGe | 250 mi | 32.9 | 7.1 h | $750 |
| Mustang Mach-E AWD Extended | Electric | AWD | 78 and 210 kW AC PMSM | 103 | 94 | 99 MPGe | 300 mi | 34.2 | 10 h | $750 |
| Mustang Mach-E AWD | Electric | AWD | 198 and 198 kW AC PMSM | 95 | 88 | 91 MPGe | 230 mi | 36.9 | 7.5 h | $850 |
| Mustang Mach-E GT | Electric | AWD | 210 and 210 kW AC PMSM | 95 | 85 | 90 MPGe | 280 mi | 37.4 | 9.9 h | $850 |
| Mustang Mach-E Rally | Electric | AWD | 210 and 210 kW AC PMSM | 90 | 81 | 86 MPGe | 265 mi | 39.4 | 10.2 h | $900 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47823, 47822, 47825, 47824, 47826, 47827.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang Mach-E RWD, Mustang Mach-E RWD Extended | 10 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
| Mustang Mach-E AWD, Mustang Mach-E AWD Extended, Mustang Mach-E GT, Mustang Mach-E Rally | 10 / 10 | California ZEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
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 vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Electric |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | RWD/Rear-Wheel Drive |
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, Premium, Select). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 185.8 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 74.0 in |
| Height | 63.0 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.9 in |
| Track, front | 64.2 in |
| Track, rear | 64.2 in |
| Curb weight | 4,394–4,588 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 47/53 to 49/51 |
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.
The cheapest ownership win
Insurers price the 2024 Mustang Mach-E very differently, and the gap between the best and worst quote on the same car and driver is usually larger than any option you are weighing on this page.
How to compare cover →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 (5)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseStructure
26S56Power Train
25C69Latches/Locks/Linkages
25S65Visibility
24S51These 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:Adas — Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise open
On April 25, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24012) to assess BlueCruise, a partial driving automation system available on certain vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford). NHTSA opened the investigation after the agency received notice of two fatal collisions involving BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Based on the incidents, NHTSA scoped the investigation to 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with BlueCruise. In June 2024, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Ford requiring that it provide certain information pertaining to crashes, non-crash reports, and technical specifications that relate t
Opened Jan 17, 2025 · action EA25001 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Adas — Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise closed
On April 25, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24012) to assess BlueCruise, a partial driving automation system available on certain vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford). NHTSA opened the investigation after the agency received notice of two fatal collisions involving BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Based on the incidents, NHTSA scoped the investigation to 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with BlueCruise. In June 2024, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Ford requiring that it provide certain information pertaining to crashes, non-crash reports, and technical specifications that relate t
Opened Apr 25, 2024 · closed Jan 17, 2025 · action PE24012 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Mustang Mach-E
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2024 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Ford 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 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
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 Mustang Mach-E →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
12 per 10,000 built · Ford reported 41,393 Mustang Mach-E built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2024: 7 · 2025: 24 · 2026: 17
Most-cited components
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.
I am reporting a serious safety defect involving the electronic front door latches on my 2024 Ford Mustang Mach E. During a 12V battery discharge, the electric latches can fail, preventing the doors from opening in the outside.
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V404000 (Electrical System, Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
Sudden unintended acceleration event. I was pulling into a parking spot going very slow and lifted my leg off the accelerator when the car suddenly surged forward and crashed into a tree, a wall and a nearby parked car (no people in the car). This put my safety at risk.
On 5/14/2025 at aprox 5:35pm I was completely stopped in traffic when all of a sudden my car started to accelerate without me pressing on the accelerator. I pressed the brake pedal, however the car continued to move forward, by this time the brake pedal was pressed to the floor and the car was continuing to more forward.
Vehicle has a bearing noise in the front. Now vehicle has door fault, transmission not in park, auto hold fault and hill assist not available when driving the car. The car will engage parking brake randomly and when the brakes are wet the brakes will not engage for up to 50 feet. The car has become extremely unsafe and unpredictable.
Purchased new 2024 Ford Mach E on 03/31/25. Had 15 miles when purchased. On 04/10/25 at 185 miles on odometer, car experienced 2 malfunctions, Powertrain and High Voltage. This placed the car at alternating restricted speed of 5-12 mph on a highway. Towed vehicle to dealership same day as unsafe to drive.
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 Ford itself: 4 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 9.7 per 100,000 built. Every Mustang Mach-E 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 AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 9% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Driver-assist crash reports (2)
Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-012 no injury reported
Sep 2024 to Oct 2024 · 0 with an air bag deployment · 2 towed
What was engaged, and what was hit
System named: CoPilot 360 Active2.0 (2)
Crash partner: Other 1 · Passenger Car 1
Filed by: Ford Motor Company
| Incident | System | Struck | Injury alleged | State | Speed | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2024 | Level 2 · CoPilot 360 Active2.0 | Other | no injury reported | TX | 60 mph | 502-8983 |
| Sep 2024 | Level 2 · CoPilot 360 Active2.0 | Passenger Car | no injury reported | MI | 15 mph | 502-8738 |
From the manufacturer’s own filing
The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.
Ford received the police report on November 11, 2024, which indicates that a fourth vehicle was involved and left the scene. The police report also notes that one passenger complained of back pain, but no medical attention was provided at the scene.
The driver of the Mach-E reported that on October [redacted], 2024, while traveling on the freeway, the vehicle accelerated and collided with a barricade. The driver claimed they were using BlueCruise at the time of the incident. There were no reported injuries and no airbag deployment the vehicle was towed following the incident.
A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Power Train, Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Departure.
- TSB 26-2442 Service bulletin2026-10-14 · Electrical System
- This bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display screen after welcome animation. The rear-view camera will still function when shifting the vehicle to reverse under these conditions.
- SSM 55242 Service bulletin2026-10-13 · Service Brakes
- Some 2021-2026 Mustang Mach-E vehicles may exhibit an illuminated brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) C1013:92 stored in the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module. This may be due to brake pads being out of specification for compressibility, which can alter the brake system's pressure-volume and falsely indicate an internal hydraulic failure. The pinpoint test for C1013:92 in
- 26B07 Other2026-09-24 · Electrical System
- Recommended Repair Prior to Sale Customer Satisfaction Program 26B07 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E Vehicles Undesired Acceleration Due to Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Activation
- SSM 55194 Service bulletin2026-09-23 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E, 2025-2026 Navigator and 2024 F-150 vehicles may exhibit inoperative welcome/approach detection lights. This may be due to the body control module (BCM) software. To correct the condition, download and run the "BCM - Programmable Module Installation (PMI)" application using the latest software level of the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) scan tool. If the cond
- TSB 26-2421 Service bulletin2026-09-18 · Unknown Or Other
- This bulletin updates 25-2622. Reason for update: * Update the Service Procedure to: - Remove Step related connecting a battery charger - Add Step 7 and Step 29 along with Figure 4 to include mass damper remove and install. * Update the Parts list: - Updated to include rear electric drive assembly studded bolts and nuts to secure the mass damper. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement
- TCU-26.2.12.2.2 Mach E, F Over-the-air update2026-09-16 · Unknown Or Other
- Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail
- ECG-26.2.12.3 F-150LtMac Over-the-air update2026-09-16 · Electrical System
- Quality improvements include: -ePrivacy enhancements
- SSM 55031 Service bulletin2026-07-23 · Electrical System
- Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) while the charging system is operating properly with no charging related diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) stored. This may be due to someone using an aftermarket programmer to c
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| U3000 U3000 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 bulletins |
| B118C | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Lane Departure | 2 bulletins |
| B118D | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Lane Departure | 2 bulletins |
| P07E6 P07E6 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 2 bulletins |
| U0565 U0565 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 bulletins |
| U2018 U2018 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 bulletins |
| U2100 U2100 on Ford → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 2 bulletins |
| U3002 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 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 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E failed the safety inspection on 0% of first inspections — lower than the 0.74% for every 2024 model-year vehicle inspected.
failed the safety inspection
965 initial inspections of 951 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2024 Mustang Mach-E | Every 2024 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the safety inspection | 0% | 0.74% | 965 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.10% | 0.17% | 965 |
| Miles driven a year | 6,350 | 9,424 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 13,837 | 21,104 | odometer at inspection |
Electric vehicles get no emissions test in New York, 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 2024 vehicle” is every 2024 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).
Mustang Mach-E by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2024 Mustang Mach-E
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V582000, covering Electrical System. 2 of them were filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. The manufacturer's own estimate for when a fix would be ready: December 2026. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
NHTSA gave the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E 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 D (63/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, the longest EPA range is 320 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
Transport Canada measured it at 185.8 in long, 74.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 63.0 in tall, on a 116.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,394–4,588 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 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, most often about electrical system, unspecified, power train. Of those, 3 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
The EPA smog rating for the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is 10 out of 10. 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 ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E?
The manufacturer has filed 90 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-10-14. 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 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E failed the safety inspection on 0% of first inspections — lower than the 0.74% for every 2024 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.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 6 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 6 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 5 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 48 | 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 | 90 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 2 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | 2 | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 5 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.