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2018 Honda HR-V

Gas
Small Station Wagons
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3
Complaints11 crash · 5 injured reported 160
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 31 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Honda HR-V is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the HR-V FWD, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 160 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Honda HR-V — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Honda HR-V · Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
HR-V FWDGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl283431$2,150
HR-V FWDGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl283431$2,150
HR-V AWDGasAWD1.8L 4-cyl273129$2,300
HR-V AWDGasAWD1.8L 4-cyl273129$2,300
HR-V FWDGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl253328$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39307, 39308, 39309, 39310, 39306.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
HR-V FWD3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-II ULEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
HR-V AWD, HR-V FWD3 / 10California LEV-II ULEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

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 styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement1.8 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower141 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2
TransmissionContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Driver assistance

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

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: EX, EX-LN, LX). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length168.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.1 in
Height63.0 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Track, front60.6 in
Track, rear60.6 in
Curb weight2,910–3,062 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear60/40 to 62/38

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door Cuv AWD, 4-door Cuv FWD. 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.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Honda HR-V 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 →

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

KGC, KGD
2,490,460 vehicles 79% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Risk Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
NHTSA campaign 23V858000 reported Dec 18, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

135,995 vehicles 96% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Risk If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V314000 reported May 28, 2020 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

C31, L30
64,785 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Mar 20, 2018 – Jun 7, 2018
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems." Risk A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash. Fix Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V777000 reported Nov 1, 2018 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) 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

Power Train — Rear Differential Seizure closed

On November 29, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE 22-011 after reviewing field reports alleging rear differential seizure in 2018-2022MY Honda CR-V and HR-V vehicles equipped with all wheel drive. To date, ODI has not received any consumer complaints. Some of the field reports received alleged the vehicle’s wheels locked up with no warning while the vehicle was in motion. These vehicles were towed to a dealership. Examination of these vehicles showed the driveshaft had broken and the differential unit was completely damaged. The field reports cited a lack of oil due to damaged oil seals as the cause. Honda provided data including consumer complaints, field reports, an

Opened Nov 28, 2022 · closed Jul 22, 2024 · action PE22011 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific HR-V

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. Honda 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 2018 Honda HR-V, 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 Honda HR-V

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 HR-V →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
160complaints filed

11 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

17 per 10,000 built · Honda reported 92,695 HR-V built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 10 · 2019: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 37 · 2025: 34 · 2026: 27

Most-cited components

Electrical System 50
Fuel/Propulsion System 41
Unspecified 22
Power Train 16
Service Brakes 15
Engine 13

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.

TPMS light comes on for a few seconds after the car turns on. This happens every time the tires or rotated or replaced. I took it to the dealership several times but all they do is reset it but that never solves the problem. This has been happening on and off for over a year
Electronic Stability Control Apr 9, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11320681
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Hr-V. The contact stated that while the driver was shifting the gear shifter to park, the vehicle accelerated independently causing the vehicle to crash into a pole. A police report was not filed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that there was no injuries sustained.
Air Bags at 2,116 miles Feb 18, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11309866
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Hr-V. The contact stated that water leaked into the trunk of the vehicle whenever it rained or when snow melted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000
Structure at 17,000 miles Oct 31, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11277244
I was driving at around 40 MPH and preparing to stop at the stoplight. However, upon gradually pressing on my brakes, my car would not stop. Instead, it made loud noises while still running. I had to press it down all the way one or two more times for my car to actually stop. Only then would it stop abruptly.
Service Brakes at 11,765 miles Jun 14, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11220225
The stere will turn on and off and makes loud sharp noises then shuts off. Other things in the vehicle sometimes don't work- control stereo with steering wheel bottons
Electrical System at 19,000 miles May 14, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11207506
Honda Hr-V rear camera cannot see in the absolute dark causing a safety hazard backing up. In the daytime it's fine but on a dark street absent of lights all you see is a white-out blizzard on screen when in reverse.. Spoke to Honda service as well as Honda hq and they tell me that's all they can do. No night vision
Visibility/Wiper Nov 10, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11150691

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 Honda itself: 55 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 64 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 59 per 100,000 built. Every HR-V model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 33k

miles, typically

Half the 49 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 12,000 and 65,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 11
10k–20k 8
20k–30k 5
30k–40k 6
40k–50k 0
50k–60k 5
60k–70k 2
70k–80k 1
80k–90k 1
90k–100k 3
100k–150k 7
150k + 0

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Fuel/Propulsion System1450,0001.57×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported later: fuel/propulsion system (1.57×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

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 Honda warranty extension (66) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 91
Most recentmanufacturer date 2025-02-20
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 91 service bulletins

Most often about: Suspension, Fuel/Propulsion System, Power Train, Equipment, Engine.

  • A21-047 Service bulletin
    2025-02-20 · Power Train
  • Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) drive belt, American Honda is extending the warranty coverage on these CVT models to 7 years from the original date of purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
  • A23110A Service bulletin
    2023-11-03 · Power Train
  • Service News - Some customers have complained of fluid leaking from the rear differential after it has been serviced due to over-torqueing of the drain plugs during servicing.
  • A21-047 Service bulletin
    2023-05-03 · Power Train
  • Service Bulletin - Due to the possibility of early deterioration of the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) drive belt, American Honda is extending the warranty coverage on these CVT models to 7 years from the original date of purchase or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
  • ATI&03312023906 Service bulletin
    2023-03-31 · Suspension
  • Dealer Message Request for Visit: 2018-2022 Accord & HR-V Front Damper Noise (ACTION REQUIRED)
  • A20-053 Service bulletin
    2022-09-30 · Fuel System, Gasoline
  • Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure Revision) Due to swelling of the fuel pump motor impeller, the fuel pump may seize and stop working. If this occurs, the engine may not start, or the engine could stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Replace the fuel pump motor.
  • A20-052 Service bulletin
    2022-09-30 · Fuel System, Gasoline
  • Service Bulletin - (Repair Procedure Revision) Due to swelling of the fuel pump motor impeller, the fuel pump may seize and stop working. If this occurs, the engine may not start, or the engine could stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Replace the fuel pump motor.
  • A22080B Service bulletin
    2022-08-25 · Visibility
  • Servicenews article - If you are inspecting an HR-V and notice oil residue on the A/C condenser, it's not always an indication that the condenser is leaking refrigerant. The source of oil residue can potentially come from other components.
  • ATI&07112022902 Service bulletin
    2022-07-11 · Visibility
  • Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-V that exhibits a leak at the A/C Condenser. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

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
P271E
P271E on Honda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train7 bulletins
B00D5Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Air Bags2 owner reports
B12C5
B12C5 on Honda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 bulletins
U0416
U0416 on Honda →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Air Bags2 owner reports

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 2018 Honda HR-V failed the emissions check on 3.4% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 3.4%

failed emissions

6,217 initial inspections of 6,081 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 HR-VEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.4%3.0%6,202
Failed the safety inspection1.5%1.9%6,217
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.32%0.22%6,217
Miles driven a year9,20610,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer76,32082,833odometer 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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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).

Common questions about the 2018 HR-V

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Honda HR-V have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Honda HR-V. The most serious on file is 23V858000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Honda HR-V?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Honda HR-V 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (79/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Honda HR-V?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Honda HR-V, the best EPA combined figure is 31 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Honda HR-V?

Transport Canada measured it at 168.9 in long, 70.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 63.0 in tall, on a 102.8 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,910–3,062 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 Honda HR-V?

Owners have filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda HR-V, most often about electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, unspecified. Of those, 11 involved a crash, 5 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 2018 Honda HR-V?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Honda HR-V is 3 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 LEV-II ULEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Honda HR-V?

The manufacturer has filed 91 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Honda HR-V, most often covering suspension, fuel/propulsion system, power train. The most recent is dated 2025-02-20. 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 2018 Honda HR-V do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Honda HR-V failed the emissions check on 3.4% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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 & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates5 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 complaints160NHTSA 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 bulletins91NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
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 NHTSA12 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.

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.

JSON for this page · API