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2021 Honda HR-V

Gas
Small Station Wagons
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
77 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints5 crash · 5 injured reported 64
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 30 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Honda HR-V is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the HR-V FWD, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 64 complaints, most often about the air bags. 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

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitCompare a trim →
TrimPowertrainDriveMSRPHPTorqueMPG combSeatsCargo (2nd row)Wheels
LXGasFWD—141 hp127 lb-ft30 mpg524.3 cu-ft17 in
LXGasAWD—141 hp127 lb-ft29 mpg523.2 cu-ft17 in
SportGasFWD—141 hp127 lb-ft30 mpg524.3 cu-ft18 in
SportGasAWD—141 hp127 lb-ft28 mpg523.2 cu-ft18 in
EXGasFWD—141 hp127 lb-ft30 mpg524.3 cu-ft17 in
EXGasAWD—141 hp127 lb-ft28 mpg523.2 cu-ft17 in
EX-LGasFWD—141 hp127 lb-ft30 mpg524.3 cu-ft17 in
EX-LGasAWD—141 hp127 lb-ft28 mpg523.2 cu-ft17 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
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
HR-V FWDGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl283430$2,250
HR-V FWDGasFWD1.8L 4-cyl283430$2,250
HR-V AWDGasAWD1.8L 4-cyl273129$2,300
HR-V AWDGasAWD1.8L 4-cyl263128$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43311, 43312, 43313, 43314.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
HR-V AWD, HR-V FWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 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.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 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 →

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 (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

98,892 vehicles 32% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Risk Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V332000 reported May 21, 2026 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

TIQ, DIR
114,686 vehicles 71% reported repaired built Jul 7, 2018 – Apr 25, 2022
Problem Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are TIQ and DIR. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V-046 will need to have the new remedy completed.
NHTSA campaign 24V384000 reported May 31, 2024 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

XHP, VHQ
750,114 vehicles 58% reported repaired
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended. Risk An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
NHTSA campaign 24V064000 reported Feb 1, 2024 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

6DW
114,686 vehicles
Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6DW. This recall has been superseded by NHTSA recall number 24V-384. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V-046 will need to have the new remedy completed under recall 24V-384.
NHTSA campaign 23V046000 reported Feb 2, 2023 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 2021 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 2021 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 2021 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
64complaints filed

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

7.0 per 10,000 built · Honda reported 91,951 HR-V built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 20 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 15

Most-cited components

Air Bags 21
Electrical System 16
Unspecified 9
Forward Collision Avoidance 8
Power Train 5
Service Brakes 5

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 have had several issues happen where the battery will drain quickly if the doors are open for 40 minutes. One time recently happened last week when I was trying to take my wife to the hospital for a back pain issue. I tried to get her into the vehicle but the pain was too great so we called the paramedics to come and take her instead.
Electrical System Nov 21, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11626552
The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
Air Bags Nov 13, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11624997
The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel did not function as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel was stiff and veered in the wrong direction.
Steering at 91,400 miles Oct 10, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11619200
Brakes are not keeping car stopped. Several times car has started moving slowly when stopped at traffic light or driving on freeway. Several times almost hit car in front of my car. I had to push harder on brakes. No warnings. It has to been inspected by anyone. This has happened since purchase of car in Jan. 2024
Service Brakes May 2, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11586622
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request: CVT transmission failed. Was inspected by a third party How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk: the car was unable to accelerated on the highway.
Power Train Feb 14, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11571958
Six times on the interstate when we press on the gas it does nothing. The dealer told us it's in the software and was designed that way
Engine Jul 11, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11531628

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: 36 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 3 killed, 47 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 39 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.

Crash ratings

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

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Driver-assist crash reports (2)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
2reports filed

1 no injury reported · 1 severity unknown

Jan 2022 to May 2022 · 1 with an air bag deployment · 2 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: not named in the filings

Crash partner: Passenger Car 1 · Unknown 1

Filed by: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
May 2022Level 2Passenger Carno injury reportedNY—62-3128
Jan 2022Level 2UnknownunknownWI—62-2176

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.

The customer was proceeding through an intersection when another vehicle from the opposite side pulled in front and crashed into the customer. The customer alleges that the Lane Keep Assist System and Adaptive Cruise Control were engaged
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) report 62-2176 Jan 2022 NHTSA SGO filing
The customer rear ended another vehicle causing her windshield break. The customer alleges that the Lane Keep Assist System and Adaptive Cruise Control were engaged
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) report 62-3128 May 2022 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 41
Most recentmanufacturer date 2024-03-05
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 41 service bulletins

Most often about: Fuel/Propulsion System, Visibility/Wiper, Electrical System, Equipment, Air Bags.

  • A23-100 Service bulletin
    2024-03-05 · Engine And Engine Cooling
  • Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, a miscalculation in the PCM causes the air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC P2DE1 rich criteria.
  • A23-100 Service bulletin
    2023-12-08 · Fuel System, Gasoline
  • Service Bulletin - During engine start in cold conditions, it is possible for air-fuel ratio to exceed DTC P2DE1 rich criteria.
  • 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.
  • ATI&03312023906 Service bulletin
    2023-03-31 · Suspension
  • Dealer Message Request for Visit: 2018-2022 Accord & HR-V Front Damper Noise (ACTION REQUIRED)
  • ATI&02212023902 Service bulletin
    2023-02-21 · Suspension
  • Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2021-2022 Accords and 2022 HR-V Sports with a customer complaint of a front damper noise. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
  • 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.
  • ATI&06032022901 Service bulletin
    2022-06-03 · Equipment — Appliance — Air Conditioner
  • Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2016-2021 HR-VS that exhibit 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
U0155
U0155 on Honda →
A module has stopped hearing from the instrument cluster.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P2DE1Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Honda HR-V failed the emissions check on 3.4% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.3% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 3.4%

failed emissions

6,446 initial inspections of 6,358 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 HR-VEvery 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.4%1.9%6,431
Failed the safety inspection1.3%1.5%6,446
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.17%0.19%6,446
Miles driven a year9,03510,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer48,26454,681odometer 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 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 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 2021 HR-V

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Honda HR-V have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda HR-V. The most serious on file is 26V332000, covering Air Bags. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Honda HR-V?

NHTSA gave the 2021 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 (77/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Honda HR-V?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Honda HR-V, the best EPA combined figure is 30 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Honda HR-V?

Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda HR-V, most often about air bags, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 5 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 2021 Honda HR-V?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Honda HR-V is 5 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-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Honda HR-V?

The manufacturer has filed 41 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Honda HR-V, most often covering fuel/propulsion system, visibility/wiper, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2024-03-05. 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 2021 Honda HR-V do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Honda HR-V failed the emissions check on 3.4% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.3% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). 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 & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints64NHTSA 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 bulletins41NHTSA 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 reports2NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes 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 NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment8 trimsManufacturer press kitTranscribed 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