2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5
The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Ioniq 5 Long range RWD, is EPA-rated at 303 miles with 114 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 226 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $41,800 to $59,400 across 8 trims.

| Trim | Powertrain | Drive | MSRP | HP | Torque | MPG comb | Seats | Cargo (2nd row) | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE Standard Range | Electric | RWD | $41,800 | 168 hp | 258 lb-ft | 110 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 19 in |
| SE | Electric | RWD | $45,850 | 225 hp | 258 lb-ft | 114 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 19 in |
| SE Dual Motor AWD | Electric | AWD | $49,350 | 320 hp | 446 lb-ft | 99 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 20 in |
| SEL | Electric | RWD | $47,400 | 225 hp | 258 lb-ft | 114 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 19 in |
| SEL Dual Motor AWD | Electric | AWD | $50,900 | 320 hp | 446 lb-ft | 99 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 20 in |
| Limited | Electric | RWD | $53,500 | 225 hp | 258 lb-ft | 114 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 19 in |
| Limited Dual Motor AWD | Electric | AWD | $57,400 | 320 hp | 446 lb-ft | 99 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 20 in |
| Disney100 Platinum Edition Dual Motor AWD | Electric | AWD | $59,400 | 320 hp | 446 lb-ft | 99 MPGe | 5 | 27.2 cu-ft | 20 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 | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ioniq 5 Long range RWD | Electric | RWD | 168 kW PMSM | 132 | 98 | 114 MPGe | 303 mi | 30 | 8.5 h | $700 |
| Ioniq 5 Standard range RWD | Electric | RWD | 125 kW PMSM | 127 | 94 | 110 MPGe | 220 mi | 31 | 6.3 h | $700 |
| Ioniq 5 Long range AWD | Electric | AWD | 165 kW PMSM | 110 | 88 | 99 MPGe | 260 mi | 34.0 | 8.5 h | $750 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 46960, 46961, 46962.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ioniq 5 Long range RWD, Ioniq 5 Standard range RWD | 10 / 10 | California ZEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
| Ioniq 5 Long range AWD | 10 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
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.
The cheapest ownership win
Insurers price the 2024 Ioniq 5 very differently, and the gap between the best and worst quote on the same car and driver is usually larger than any option you are weighing on this page.
How to compare cover →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 (3)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseElectrical System
272 (H), 025G (G)Electrical System
257/021GThese 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
Electrical System:Propulsion System:Dc/Dc Converter — Loss of Motive Power closed
On June 8, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened PE23011 to investigate allegations of loss of motor power on model year (MY) 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles. Some consumers reported loss of motor power immediately after a warning lamp illumination or reduction of motive power while the vehicle was in motion. This investigation found that the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may be subject to various conditions such as overcurrent, overvoltage induced at the end of charging, and certain thermal loading during operation that can damage its internal components and open the ICCU fuse, resulting in an inability to charge the 12-volt battery. The vehicle could eventually lose
Opened Jun 8, 2023 · closed Apr 17, 2024 · action PE23011 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Ioniq 5
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2024 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.
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 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5
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 Ioniq 5 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported
45 per 10,000 built · Hyundai reported 50,474 Ioniq 5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2023: 1 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 59 · 2026: 144
Most-cited components
In depth: electrical problems → · fuel system 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.
Our 8-mo old 9800 mile Ioniq 5 failed to maintain its 12v battery while parked for a week. It was dead when we came back to it. Jump started successfully. I replaced the OEM battery with an AGM battery, which the car failed to maintain charge on after 2 weeks.
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V868000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); 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.
It is impossible to see through the back window when it rains. It has no wiper--and unlike other cars, it is not aerodynamic and does not push rain off the back windshield. When it rains, you cannot see anything.
1. Brake Failure: recently when my brakes stopped responding while driving. The pedal went all the way to the floor, and I barely managed to stop the car. 2. Knocking sound when braking: I started to notice a clunking/knocking sound that would occur when braking and just about coming to a stop
When on a highway with lane-keeping assist engaged, the car sometimes steers into the left-hand lane. It seems to happen most often when the road bends to the right. The car straddles the lane divider into the fast lane to the left.
The car lost propulsion and displayed Check Vehicle Electric System. Now the it’s sitting at the dealership for over 30 days waiting for parts
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: 9 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 9 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 18 per 100,000 built. Every Ioniq 5 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 EARLY RELEASE AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 8% |
| SUV EARLY RELEASE RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 8% |
| SUV LATER RELEASE AWD | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 8% |
| SUV LATER RELEASE RWD | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 8% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Driver-assist crash reports (23)
Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-0118 no injury reported · 5 severity unknown
Feb 2024 to Sep 2026 · 0 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 9 · Other 4 · SUV 3 · Non-Motorist: Cyclist 2
Filed by: Motional, Hyundai Motor America
| Incident | System | Struck | Injury alleged | State | Speed | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | ADS | Non-Motorist: Cyclist | unknown | NV | 9 mph | 30410-16557 |
| Aug 2026 | ADS | SUV | unknown | NV | 5 mph | 30410-16264 |
| Aug 2026 | ADS | Pole / Tree | no injury reported | NV | 4 mph | 30410-16407 |
| Jul 2026 | ADS | Heavy Truck | no injury reported | NV | 1 mph | 30410-15730 |
| Jun 2026 | ADS | Passenger Car | no injury reported | NV | — | 30410-15591 |
| May 2026 | ADS | Passenger Car | no injury reported | NV | 2 mph | 30410-15247 |
| Feb 2026 | ADS | Passenger Car | no injury reported | NV | — | 30410-14092 |
| Feb 2026 | ADS | Other | no injury reported | NV | 25 mph | 30410-14170 |
| Feb 2026 | ADS | Passenger Car | no injury reported | NV | 25 mph | 30410-14238 |
| Nov 2025 | ADS | Passenger Car | no injury reported | PA | 12 mph | 30410-13069 |
| Oct 2025 | ADS | Other | no injury reported | NV | — | 30410-12017 |
| Oct 2025 | ADS | Passenger Car | unknown | NV | 12 mph | 30410-11857 |
Showing the 12 most recent of 23; every one is in this page’s JSON and the dataset.
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 August [redacted], 2026, at approximately 2:00 PM PT, a Motional Ioniq 5 Robotaxi (VIN [redacted]) was operating in autonomous mode in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a Vehicle Operator in the driver’s seat. The Motional vehicle was traveling eastbound on [redacted], between [redacted] and [redacted].
The vehicle was in a right-turn only lane on [redacted], preparing to turn onto [redacted]. A safety driver was in the driver's seat and an engineer was in the front passenger seat. The AV came to a stop at a yield sign before merging onto[redacted]. While stopped, the AV was struck from behind by a red Toyota at approximately 6 MPH.
On February [redacted], 2026, at approximately 9:55 AM PT, a Motional Ioniq 5 AV (VIN [redacted]) was operating in autonomous mode in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a safety driver in the driver’s seat. The AV was stopped southbound on [redacted] in the left-turn lane at the intersection with [redacted], positioned behind two other stopped vehicles.
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- 15 years or 180,000 miles, whichever comes first · Hyundai warranty extension Z14Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) and ICCU fuse to 15 years/180,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use…
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 →
Most often about: Electrical System, Structure, Visibility/Wiper, Power Train, Fuel/Propulsion System.
- Z14 OL Warranty extension2026-06-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Certain 2022 – 2024 model year IONIQ 5, 2024 model year IONIQ 5 Robotaxi, and 2023 – 2025 model year IONIQ 6 vehicles may require a replacement of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) and ICCU Fuse. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, the warranty coverage for the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) a
- 26-GI-002H TSB Service bulletin2026-05-27 · Electrical System
- This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update Key Improvements and Additional Improvements tables in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software c
- 11032523 Other2026-04-10 · 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 Other2026-04-10 · 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-AD-001H TSB Service bulletin2026-02-25 · Forward Collision Avoidance — Warnings
- Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger DTC C272246 fault code for the front camera. In the following cases, the front camera auto-calibration range may be exceeded while driving: • If the front camera is not properly installed and is completely or partially detached. • In case of excessive changes affecting the vehicle's b
- 25-BD-012H TSB Service bulletin2025-11-06 · Exterior Lighting
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for
- 25-BE-020H TSB Service bulletin2025-09-30 · Electrical System
- This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2025 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system as described in this TSB.
- 25-EV-003H TSB Service bulletin2025-07-26 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Certain IONIQ 5 (NE EV), IONIQ 6 (CE EV), and IONIQ 5 N (NE EV N) vehicles may have missing Inlet 5-Pin Combo DC insulation caps (DC pin caps) which may lead to damage to the charge port if not replaced. This bulletin provides instructions to replace the DC pin cap(s).
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 complaintsCodes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1A90 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 2 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 DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 failed the safety inspection on 0.91% of first inspections — close to the 0.74% for every 2024 model-year vehicle inspected.
failed the safety inspection
987 initial inspections of 964 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2024 Ioniq 5 | Every 2024 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.91% | 0.74% | 987 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.10% | 0.17% | 987 |
| Miles driven a year | 7,653 | 9,424 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 16,647 | 21,104 | odometer at inspection |
Electric vehicles get no emissions test in New York, so the safety inspection is the record here. 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 2024 vehicle” is every 2024 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).
Ioniq 5 by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2024 Ioniq 5
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsHow much does the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 cost?
Manufacturer pricing runs from $41,800 for the SE Standard Range RWD to $59,400 for the Disney100 Platinum Edition Dual Motor AWD AWD, across 8 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.
Does the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V432000, covering Electrical System. There is an active park outside 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 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
NHTSA gave the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (72/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, the longest EPA range is 303 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
Owners have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA about the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, most often about electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, power train. Of those, 5 involved a crash, 2 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 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
The EPA smog rating for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 is 10 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 ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5?
The manufacturer has filed 30 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, most often covering electrical system, structure, visibility/wiper. The most recent is dated 2026-06-25. 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 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 failed the safety inspection on 0.91% of first inspections — close to the 0.74% for every 2024 model-year vehicle inspected. 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.
Which 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 trim is the best value?
$17,600 separates the cheapest of the 8 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.
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 | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 3 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 226 | 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 | 30 | 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 | 23 | 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.