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Your vehicleHome›GMC›Sierra 3500HD› 2018
GMC · Pickup truck

2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD

Heavy-duty pickup
0 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
44 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls4 critical 6
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 14
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD is a pickup truck; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 14 complaints, most often about the service brakes.

GMC Sierra — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
GMC Sierra · Photo: Ethan Llamas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

No EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body stylePickup
Doors4
GVWR classClass 3: 10,001 - 14,000 lb (4,536 - 6,350 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders8
Displacement6 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

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: Denali, SLE, SLT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length220.1–254.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)79.9–96.1 in
Height77.2–78.3 in
Wheelbase133.5–167.7 in
Track, front68.9 in
Track, rear67.7 in
Curb weight5,774–8,014 lb

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 16 configurations: Crew Cab L/Box Drw 2WD, Crew Cab L/Box Drw 4X4, Crew Cab L/Box Drw 4X4 Denali, Crew Cab L/Box Srw 2WD, Crew Cab L/Box Srw 4X4, Crew Cab M/Box 2WD …. 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 2018 Sierra 3500HD
Other years The 2025 Sierra 3500HD Recalls GMC recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD 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 (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Air Bags

N242474500
2,061 vehicles 54% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture. Risk A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash. Fix Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N242474500.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V756000 reported Oct 10, 2024 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Diesel

N222368030
22,132 vehicles 63% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall. Risk An engine stall increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on March 15, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 21, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222368030
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V047000 reported Feb 2, 2023 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Equipment

N212329840
338,020 vehicles 81% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater. Risk An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. In
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V496000 reported Jul 1, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Engine

N182206310, -11, -12
318,374 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Jul 16, 2016 – Apr 18, 2019
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail. Risk A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire. Fix GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N182206310.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V328000 reported Apr 25, 2019 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

N182204190
18,574 vehicles 59% reported repaired built Sep 26, 2015 – Oct 6, 2017
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank. Risk If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire. Fix GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2019. GM's number for this recall is N182204190.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V088000 reported Feb 7, 2019 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

17368, 17375, 17376
38,048 vehicles 70% reported repaired
Problem General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks. The front seat belt retractor assemblies were built with the incorrect torsion bar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Risk The seat belt retractors may not perform as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front seat belt retractor assemblies, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's numbers for this recall are 17368, 17375, and 17376.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V567000 reported Sep 14, 2017 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Sierra 3500HD

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. GMC 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 →GMC’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 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD, 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 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD

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 Sierra 3500HD →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
14complaints filed

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

8.1 per 10,000 built · GMC reported 17,249 Sierra 3500HD built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 6
Steering 3
Exterior Lighting 2
Visibility/Wiper 2
Electrical System 2
Engine 1

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 contact owns a 2018 Gmc Sierra 3500. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed the vehicle suddenly shutoff, the vehicle was coasted to side of the road. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V739000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair.
Fuel/Propulsion System at 177,000 miles Apr 30, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11734912
Driving on the freeway going approx 70 MPH and the ABS warning light, and Stabilitrak warning light suddenly turned on. I’m sure you can imagine how panicked I was going that fast on the freeway and having my brake warnings suddenly turn on. Especially with my entire family in the vehicle with me at the time.
Service Brakes Dec 16, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11705328
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway to restart the vehicle. After the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle hesitated to stop while depressing the brake pedal.
Electrical System at 53,800 miles Jul 29, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11605067
The contact owns 2018 GMC Sierra 3500. The contacted stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the vehicle started and the defrost system was activated and the contact's daughter entered the vehicle and saw that it was smoking and informed the contact.
Visibility/Wiper at 70,000 miles Feb 14, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11571837
The contact owns a 2018 Gmc Sierra 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v328000 (engine). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was also contacted and made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Engine Oct 2, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11265682
Shaking or flickering, headlights when driven on rough road surfaces flicker or shake like blinking you're eyes real fast very distracting for myself and other drivers w.s.p. Said it is a defective equipment issue send complaint to a.g. Wa. A.g. Ida. Idaho also send complaint to b.b.b. And n.h.t.s.a.
Exterior Lighting Feb 6, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11174779

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 GMC itself: 3 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 2 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 17 per 100,000 built. Every Sierra 3500HD model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 755
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 750 service bulletins, 3 service campaigns, 1 warranty extension

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

  • PIP6133 Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI was created to help address the correct repair regarding a low coolant message on the DIC
  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • PIT5680B Service bulletin
    2026-07-23 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides information to repair the door water deflector which is not sealed properly allows water into the door jam/sill area.
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT5509N Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
  • PIT5544J Service bulletin
    2026-06-24 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates information on a hydraulic rush type noise from the power steering gear. This noise is a characteristic of the new Active Hydraulic Assist System RPO NV8 and no repairs should be made.  The noise is most noticeable in the cab at idle, in park, with all accessories turned off.
  • PIT5509M Service bulletin
    2026-05-14 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.

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
P0300
P0300 on GMC →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →8 bulletins
P2463
P2463 on GMC →		Soot has built up in the diesel particulate filter beyond the allowed limit.Engine7 bulletins
C0710
C0710 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electronic Stability Control6 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →5 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →5 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →5 bulletins
P2459
P2459 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine5 bulletins
C1114
C1114 on GMC →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P0101
P0101 on GMC →		The mass air flow sensor is reporting a figure the engine computer does not believe for the conditions.Equipment · Mass air flow sensor →4 bulletins
P0263Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment4 bulletins
P0266Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment4 bulletins
P0269Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment4 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.

Sierra 3500HD by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 B 2 5 2025 A 1 17 2024 C 3 50 2023 A 1 28 2022 D 3 32 Park outside2021 F 5 20 Park outside2020 F 8 51 2019 F 7 13 2018 this page F 6 14 2017 F 7 13 2016 F 7 19

Common questions about the 2018 Sierra 3500HD

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD, 4 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 24V756000, covering Air Bags. 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. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (44/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD?

Transport Canada measured it at 220.1–254.3 in long, 79.9–96.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 77.2–78.3 in tall, on a 133.5–167.7 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,774–8,014 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 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD?

Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD, most often about service brakes, steering, exterior lighting. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD?

The manufacturer has filed 755 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. 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.

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 & configurationsnoneEPA certification recordsThe EPA does not certify vehicles rated over 8,500 lb GVWR, so heavy-duty nameplates have no entry at all.
Emission certificatesnoneEPA emission certificatesThe EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints14NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins755NHTSA 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 NHTSA8 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 2025 Sierra 3500HD The Sierra 3500HD model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 1 recall.Recalls Every GMC recall on file All campaigns filed against GMC vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Sierra 3500HD 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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