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Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

GMC · Large SUV

2026 GMC Yukon

Gas Diesel

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
12 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 3

Complaints1 injured reported 83

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2026 GMC Yukon is sold in the U.S. as a gas and diesel large SUV with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Yukon 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 83 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

GMC Yukon — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — GMC Yukon · Photo: HJUdall · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitCompare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	Wheels
Elevation	Gas	2WD	—	355 hp	383 lb-ft	20 in
Elevation	Gas	4WD	—	355 hp	383 lb-ft	20 in
AT4	Gas	2WD	—	355 hp	383 lb-ft	20 in
AT4	Gas	4WD	—	355 hp	383 lb-ft	20 in
AT4 Ultimate	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	20 in
Denali	Gas	2WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	20 in
Denali	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	20 in
Denali Ultimate	Gas	4WD	—	420 hp	460 lb-ft	24 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Yukon 2WD	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	15	20	17	$4,850
Yukon 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	20	17	$3,950
Yukon 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	19	17	$3,950
Yukon XL 2WD	Gas	RWD	5.3L 8-cyl	15	20	17	$3,950
Yukon 4WD	Gas	4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	14	18	16	$5,150
Yukon XL 2WD	Gas	RWD	6.2L 8-cyl	15	19	16	$5,150
Yukon XL 4WD	Gas	4WD	6.2L 8-cyl	14	18	16	$5,150
Yukon XL 4WD	Gas	4WD	5.3L 8-cyl	14	19	16	$4,200
Yukon 2WD	Diesel	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	21	26	23	$4,150
Yukon XL 2WD	Diesel	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	21	26	23	$4,150
Yukon 4WD	Diesel	4WD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	20	24	22	$4,350
Yukon XL 4WD	Diesel	4WD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	20	24	22	$4,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49879, 49881, 49911, 49882, 49909, 49880, 49910, 49912, 49884, 49883.

New-vehicle warranty

Source: manufacturer press kits, make-level

Basic 3 yr / 36,000 mi Powertrain 5 yr / 60,000 mi Roadside 5 yr

As stated in GMC's press kits for the 2026–2027 model years (6 kits); this model year's own kit states no warranty terms, so the make's are shown. Confirm the term for this car with the dealer.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Wheels

N262554630

2,457 vehicles 64% reported repaired built Nov 7, 2025 – Apr 16, 2026

Problem General Motors, LLC is recalling certain 2025–2026 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban 1500, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 24-inch wheels. Incorrect bolts may have been installed on the left and right front wheel hubs, which can result in the bolts loosening or deforming over time. Risk A bolt that loosens or breaks during vehicle operation can result in loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the front left and right wheel hub bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262554630. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 14, 2026.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Dealer notice PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V304000 reported May 14, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

!critical

Power Train

N262557620

Do not drive 66 vehicles 64% reported repaired built Sep 8, 2025 – Oct 31, 2025

Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver. Risk Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash. Fix Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Dealer notice PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V289000 reported May 7, 2026 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Equipment

N252540430

5,861 vehicles 74% reported repaired built Aug 4, 2025 – Dec 19, 2025

Problem General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette Convertible E-Ray, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, Silverado EV, Suburban 1500, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, Sierra EV, Terrain, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the req Risk Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-9700, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N252540430. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 26,

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 26V114000 reported Feb 26, 2026 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy open

On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued Recall 25V-274 to address concerns of engine failure in the L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021 and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issue. GM’s recall remedy for Recall 25V-274 consisted of two different repairs, either an oil viscosity change or a

Opened Aug 20, 2026 · action EA26005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Yukon

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2026 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 2026 GMC Yukon, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

83complaints filed

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

14 per 10,000 built · GMC reported 59,546 Yukon built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2025: 3 · 2026: 80

Most-cited components

Engine → 60

Power Train 11

Electrical System 10

Unspecified 7

Forward Collision Avoidance 4

Seats 2

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Filing as a proactive data point for the ongoing NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Engineering Analysis (EA26005) regarding GM 6.2L L87 engine failures. Vehicle is a 2026 GMC Yukon XL AT4 equipped with the 6.2L V8 and 10-speed transmission.

Engine Aug 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11759989

While traveling on from Houston back to San Antonio, my truck engine just blew up without any warning whatsoever. We purchased the truck with 3 miles on it, and we have only put 5,000 miles on it. New cars that cost early $100K shouldn’t be having engine failures like this. I’m lost for words now!

Power Train Aug 22, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11758683

The large central infotainment touchscreen (which controls climate control/AC, navigation/maps, audio, backup camera, and all primary vehicle functions) has repeatedly failed by going completely dark/blank without warning on my 2026 GMC Yukon Denali XL purchased new on . The screen has gone dark on three separate occasions.

Electrical System Jun 29, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11747253

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased, the contact stated that, because of the open recall, the vehicle was not released to the contact. The contact referenced the open recall, NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V304000 (Wheels) however the parts were unavailable.

Wheels May 18, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11738546

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while walking alongside the rear end of the parked vehicle, the hands free function of the lift gate opened up unintentionally, no warning lights were illuminated.

Latches/Locks/Linkages Aug 10, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11755918

The vehicle was parked and turned off for approximately 45 minutes on a residential street along the curb in front of a house when the rear window suddenly shattered. I was inside a nearby house at the time. A landscaper working in the area reported hearing a single loud pop and then my vehicle’s alarm sounding.

Structure Jul 8, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11749167

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): 5 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 5.0 per 100,000 built. Every Yukon 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 4WD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	22%
SUV 4WD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	22%
SUV RWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	21%
SUV RWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	21%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Driver-assist crash reports (5)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01

5reports filed

1 no injury reported · 4 severity unknown

Feb 2026 to Sep 2026 · 5 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: Super Cruise 2.0 (3), Hands-on Steering Assist (1), Super Cruise 1.0 (1)

Crash partner: Heavy Truck 1 · Other 1 · Passenger Car 1 · SUV 1

Filed by: General Motors, LLC

Incident	System	Struck	Injury alleged	State	Speed	Report
Sep 2026	Level 2 · Super Cruise 2.0	Passenger Car	no injury reported	GA	54 mph	540-16560
Aug 2026	Level 2 · Hands-on Steering Assist	SUV	unknown	FL	36 mph	540-16120
Jul 2026	Level 2 · Super Cruise 1.0	Unknown	unknown	FL	81 mph	540-15907
Jul 2026	Level 2 · Super Cruise 2.0	Heavy Truck	unknown	WY	53 mph	540-15843
Feb 2026	Level 2 · Super Cruise 2.0	Other	unknown	AR	24 mph	540-14010

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.

On February [redacted], 2026, a 2026 GMC Yukon was traveling northbound on [redacted] in Corning, Arkansas, with Super Cruise engaged and active. Crash data indicated a frontal impact occurred that deployed the front seat belt pretensioners and frontal airbags. The driver was wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash.

General Motors, LLC report 540-14010 Feb 2026 NHTSA SGO filing

On July [redacted], 2026, a 2026 GMC Yukon was travelling southbound on [redacted] in Jasper, Florida with Super Cruise engaged and active. Crash data recorded a left impact and rollover that deployed the driver airbags and front seat pretensioners. Crash data indicates the driver was wearing their seat belt at the time of the incident.

General Motors, LLC report 540-15907 Jul 2026 NHTSA SGO filing

On September [redacted], 2026, a 2026 GMC Yukon was travelling southbound on [redacted] in Marietta, Georgia, with Super Cruise engaged and active. Crash data indicates there was a frontal impact that deployed the driver airbags and front seat belt pretensioners, and that the driver was wearing their seat belt at the time of crash.

General Motors, LLC report 540-16560 Sep 2026 NHTSA SGO filing

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 communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 435

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-07

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 407 service bulletins, 18 over-the-air updates, 8 service campaigns

Most often about: Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Service Brakes, Engine, Steering.

PIT6110L Service bulletin
2026-10-07 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the SES MIL and DTC P062B and engineering is currently investigating.
PIT6477D Service bulletin
2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary PI was created to advise techniians in the field that they will not be able to perform a GDS automated bleed with the scan tool dues to a issue with the software in the scan tool
PIT6554 Service bulletin
2026-10-02 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information is to help technicians decide if the DTC needs to be diagnosed if relating to the concern and if it is not, the DTC can be ignored.
PIT6457C Service bulletin
2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information is for technicians that may see DTCs that are history and should not perform any part replacements. They should follow the notes mentioned prior to anything being replaced.
PIT6551A Service bulletin
2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
This preliminary information communicates an issue with of a service theft message after using the rear window defogger. Engineering is currently investigating.
PIC6540K Service bulletin
2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates to dealers a procedure to reset the radio.
PIT6368E Service bulletin
2026-09-28 · Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the virtual garage door opener not programming to a garage opener. Engineering is working on a new module.
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.

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
C055F C055F on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	10 bulletins
P062B P062B on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	6 bulletins
U3000 U3000 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	6 bulletins
C0597	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
P16F4	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
U0028 U0028 on GMC →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
U0037	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
U0140 U0140 on GMC →	A module has stopped hearing from the body control module.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
U023B	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
U053C	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
U1624	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Unknown Or Other	4 bulletins
B3055 B3055 on GMC →	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.

Yukon by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 1 23 mpg 2026 this page C 3 83 Do not drive 2025 B 2 85 23 mpg 2024 B 3 181 23 mpg 2023 C 4 471 23 mpg 2022 D 5 358 23 mpg 2021 F 14 570 23 mpg 2020 D 4 84 Do not drive 2019 C 3 126 Do not drive 2018 D 5 130 Do not drive 2017 C 3 359 19 mpg 2016 D 5 518 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2026 Yukon

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2026 GMC Yukon have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 GMC Yukon, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V289000, covering Power Train. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2026 GMC Yukon?

NHTSA gave the 2026 GMC Yukon 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (76/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2026 GMC Yukon?

Across the 12 EPA-rated configurations of the 2026 GMC Yukon, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2026 GMC Yukon?

Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 GMC Yukon, most often about engine, power train, electrical system. Of those, 1 reported injuries. 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 2026 GMC Yukon?

The manufacturer has filed 435 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 GMC Yukon, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, service brakes. The most recent is dated 2026-10-07. 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.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	12 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	none	EPA emission certificates	The EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	83	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	435	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	5	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	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	8 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

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

Sources & method

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

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API