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2019 Hyundai Elantra

Gas

Midsize Cars
9 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 1

Complaints12 crash · 3 fire · 4 injured · 1 died reported 266

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 35 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra, is EPA-rated at 35 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 266 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Hyundai Elantra N — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Hyundai Elantra N · Photo: OWS Photography · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Elantra	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	32	40	35	$1,900
Elantra SE	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	29	38	33	$2,050
Elantra	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	28	37	32	$2,100
Elantra	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	26	36	29	$2,300
Elantra	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	26	33	29	$2,300
Elantra GT	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	25	32	28	$2,400
Elantra GT	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	25	32	27	$2,500
Elantra GT	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	23	30	26	$2,600
Elantra	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	22	30	25	$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 40706, 40370, 40371, 40372, 41047, 40895, 40894, 40896, 41048.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Elantra	3 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Elantra, Elantra SE	5–7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Elantra, Elantra GT	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Elantra	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-II ULEV	All 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 style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

147 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane keeping assist

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: Eco, Elantra GT, SE, SEL Value Edition Limited). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	171.7–181.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	70.1–70.9 in
Height	56.3–56.7 in
Wheelbase	104.3–106.3 in
Track, front	61.0–61.4 in
Track, rear	61.0–61.8 in
Curb weight	2,822–2,943 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door Sedan, GT 5-door Hatchback. 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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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Engine

203

158,493 vehicles 91% reported repaired

Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage. Risk A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V301000 reported Apr 28, 2021 Hyundai Motor America 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 Elantra

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2019 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Hyundai 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 →Hyundai’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 2019 Hyundai Elantra, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

266complaints filed

12 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 4 injuries · 1 deaths reported

19 per 10,000 built · Hyundai reported 137,275 Elantra built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 42 · 2022: 38 · 2023: 47 · 2024: 36 · 2025: 47 · 2026: 39

Most-cited components

Engine → 148

Exterior Lighting → 65

Electrical System 38

Unspecified 26

Power Train 12

Steering 9

In depth: engine problems → · exterior lighting 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.

The oil consumption appears similar to issues reported in recalls and investigations involving Hyundai engines; Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II. However, when the VIN was checked, it was reported as not included in any recall. No external oil leaks have been identified.

Engine Sep 28, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11767363

I bought a new vehicle on sep. 5, 2019 and took it in on dec. 4, 2019 for an oil change. Had complaints -- lights, brakes pedal flapping, and running sluggish. That were checked out. Repair receipt reports a software update was completed due to a recall. Nothing was reported to me before the repairs were made.

Service Brakes Dec 9, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11287956

Car shut off while at a traffic light and would not restart after several attempts at jumping the battery. It was later determined that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed

Fuel/Propulsion System Aug 28, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11611455

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that after receiving the vehicle and following service updates with the dealer, he became aware that the tire pressure monitoring system was not functioning properly and was indicating incorrect tire pressure readings.

Tires at 67,000 miles Dec 7, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11558961

High beam lights not working its say it have to be taking to Hyundai specialist

Exterior Lighting May 17, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11417421

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to len stoler Hyundai (11275 reisterstown rd, owings mills, md 21117) for an oil change and she was informed that an unknown software update was performed on the vehicle.

Electrical System at 3,000 miles May 14, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11416543

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 Hyundai itself: 17 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 3 killed, 22 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 12 per 100,000 built. Every Elantra model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 51k

miles, typically

Half the 60 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 29,000 and 93,000 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 7

10k–20k 5

20k–30k 4

30k–40k 9

40k–50k 3

50k–60k 5

60k–70k 6

70k–80k 4

80k–90k 1

90k–100k 3

100k–150k 10

150k + 3

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	29	89,000	2.12×
Exterior Lighting	14	47,000	3.92×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2019-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: engine (2.12×), exterior lighting (3.92×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2020 model years the Hyundai Elantra ranks 50 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.33× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 29,428 miles against a fleet 23,512).

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

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	11%
5 HB FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension T6G TXXMThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Hyundai warranty extension T6GThis TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine…

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 Hyundai warranty extension (62) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 216

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-08

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 186 service bulletins, 16 service campaigns, 12 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Equipment, Steering, Power Train.

26-EM-016H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-08 · Engine
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this procedure should only be performed when dee
26-EM-015H TSB Service bulletin
2026-10-07 · Engine
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and mainte
9D3 OL Service campaign
2026-09-11 · Engine
Hyundai has become aware that your Hyundai Elantra equipped with a 2.0 ATK engine may have been incorrectly updated with Cylinder Noise Detection System (CNDS) software intended only for Korean-built Elantra vehicles and may not meet specifications.
26-EE-003H TSB Service bulletin
2026-04-18 · Engine
Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
11032523 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and
11032522 Other
2026-04-10 · Air Bags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may
26-01-033H TSB Warranty extension
2026-03-26 · Engine
This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H-2 (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
26-01-033H DN Warranty extension
2026-03-26 · Engine
This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.

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
P1326 P1326 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	7 bulletins · 1 owner report
C2702	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
C2703	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0128 P0128 on Hyundai →	The engine is not reaching its normal operating temperature in the expected time — usually the thermostat.	Electrical System · Thermostat →	2 bulletins
P0304 P0304 on Hyundai →	Cylinder 4 is misfiring.	Electrical System · Ignition coils →	1 bulletin · 1 owner report
P0705 P0705 on Hyundai →	A fault in the transmission range sensor — the module cannot tell which gear position is selected.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0706 P0706 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0707 P0707 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0708	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins
P0880 P0880 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	2 bulletins
P1327 P1327 on Hyundai →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 1.8%

failed emissions

3,321 initial inspections of 3,267 vehicles.

Measure	The 2019 Elantra	Every 2019 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	1.8%	2.7%	3,316
Failed the safety inspection	2.9%	1.7%	3,321
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.33%	0.20%	3,321
Miles driven a year	9,516	9,904	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	69,556	72,084	odometer 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 2019 vehicle” is every 2019 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).

Elantra by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 D 4 4 54 mpg 2025 C 2 34 54 mpg 2024 C 2 62 54 mpg 2023 D 4 170 Park outside 2022 F 8 159 54 mpg 2021 F 7 162 54 mpg 2020 C 3 262 36 mpg 2019 this page B 1 266 35 mpg 2018 A 1 335 35 mpg 2017 C 4 795 35 mpg 2016 C 2 300 31 mpg

Common questions about the 2019 Elantra

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2019 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 21V301000, covering Engine. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

NHTSA gave the 2019 Hyundai Elantra 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 4-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (85/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

Across the 9 EPA-rated configurations of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra, the best EPA combined figure is 35 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

Transport Canada measured it at 171.7–181.9 in long, 70.1–70.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 56.3–56.7 in tall, on a 104.3–106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,822–2,943 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 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Hyundai Elantra, most often about engine, exterior lighting, electrical system. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 4 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 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

The EPA smog rating for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra runs 3 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. 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, California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

The manufacturer has filed 216 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2019 Hyundai Elantra, most often covering electrical system, engine, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-10-08. 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 2019 Hyundai Elantra do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2019 Hyundai Elantra failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — lower than the 2.7% for every 2019 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.9% (every 2019 vehicle: 1.7%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	9 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	9 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	266	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	216	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No 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 NHTSA	9 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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

Sources & method

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

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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