2019 Jeep Cherokee
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cherokee FWD, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 1669 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Cherokee FWD | Gas | FWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Cherokee 4WD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Cherokee 4WD | Gas | AWD | 2.4L 4-cyl | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Cherokee 4WD Active Drive II | Gas | 4WD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Cherokee FWD | Gas | FWD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 20 | 29 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Cherokee 4WD | Gas | AWD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Cherokee Trailhawk 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Cherokee 4WD Active Drive II | Gas | 4WD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Cherokee Trailhawk 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 | 24 | 21 | $3,200 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39892, 39893, 39894, 39895, 39897, 39861, 39862, 39896, 39863, 39864.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee 4WD, Cherokee 4WD Active Drive II, Cherokee FWD, Cherokee Trailhawk 4WD | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| Cherokee 4WD, Cherokee FWD | 3–7 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110 / California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | 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 vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2.4 L |
| Engine configuration | In-Line |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 184 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4x2 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control
Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking 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: Latitude Plus, Latitude, Longitude, North, Limited, Overland). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 181.5 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 73.2 in |
| Height | 66.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in |
| Track, front | 61.8 in |
| Track, rear | 61.8 in |
| Curb weight | 3,662–4,054 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 57/43 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door SUV 2WD V6, 4-door SUV 2WD i4, 4-door SUV 4WD V6, 4-door SUV 4WD i4. 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.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee 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 (11)
Source: NHTSA recall databasePower Train
01CSteering
V99Air Bags
V63Seats
V31Electrical System
UC4Power Train
UA9Service Brakes, Hydraulic
U86Electrical System
U87Power Train
U85Engine And Engine Cooling
U52These 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 Cherokee
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. Jeep 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 2019 Jeep Cherokee, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee
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 Cherokee →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database40 involved a crash · 19 a fire · 37 injuries · 0 deaths reported
48 per 10,000 built · Jeep reported 345,724 Cherokee built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2018: 103 · 2019: 237 · 2020: 163 · 2021: 111 · 2022: 94 · 2023: 137 · 2024: 127 · 2025: 425 · 2026: 272
Most-cited components
In depth: transmission and drivetrain problems → · engine problems → · electrical problems → · steering problems → · brake 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 contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. While driving at various low speeds, the engine seized intermittently. The manufacturer was notified and stated if the dealer could not find a failure, then they could not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
The car stalls while driving for no apparent reason. The engine turns off and there is no power on the dashboard. This will happen regardless of oil levels, even though the car has always had the proper oil level. It takes about 5 minutes to turn on again when you are in the middle of the street/freeway with traffic behind.
Within a 2 weeks after I bought the Jeep, while driving my brand new Jeep Cherokee trail-rated, going over speed bumps at a very low speed 3-5 miles ph, I heard a grinding noise coming from the transmission.
Fca recall. Received a notice of brake recall that could cause brakes to fail and crash, without any advanced warning. Called Jeep dealer who told me they are unwilling at this time to perform the repair, because they are giving preference to their in stock, unsold units.
I bought this car brand new and not even a week later it was throwing every single code possible. Tried to drive it to the dealership but it died 17 times including in the middle of traffic.. Every warning light was on saying service something different everytime.
My 2019 Jeep cherokee's engine has stalled 3 times prior to reaching 3000 miles. In each case, I was traveling at a low speed going up a slight incline. There was no warning, and only the orange battery indicator light showed on the display.
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 Jeep itself: 183 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 6 killed, 229 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 53 per 100,000 built. Every Cherokee model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 732 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 61,000 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.
Median mileage by component
| Component | Reports | Median miles | Vs same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 309 | 52,000 | 1.93× |
| Engine | 272 | 18,000 | 0.43× |
| Electrical System | 156 | 15,600 | 1.02× |
| Unspecified | 69 | 10,433 | — |
| Steering | 65 | 12,000 | 0.82× |
| Service Brakes | 46 | 9,953 | 1.0× |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 37 | 5,000 | 0.57× |
| Electronic Stability Control | 25 | 9,100 | 1.11× |
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 earlier than same-age vehicles: engine (0.43×), vehicle speed control (0.57×); later: power train (1.93×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Across 2018–2021 model years the Jeep Cherokee ranks 55 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.46× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 30,000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17% |
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension ID-26-22 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension ID-26-21 ENLARGED EUROPE(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension ID-26-21(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension ID-26-20 APAC(XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension ID-26-19ID-26-19 (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension D-26-10D-26-10 (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
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 Stellantis warranty extension (117) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train, Structure, Engine.
- 03-002-26 Service bulletin2026-07-09 · Engine
- Stop/Start Illuminated, 0x22 During Fork Wear Routine Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● Negative response 0X22 after Recall 01C flash triggers one or more communication codes with controllers.
- 03-001-26 Service bulletin2026-07-09 · Power Train
- Unable to Complete 01C Recall Drive Cycle C14A7-97 Active Technicians may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● After performing Recall 01C, the vehicle may get a 'Service AWD' message on the EVIC.
- S2208000045 REV. D Service bulletin2026-06-26 · Structure — Body
- Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
- S2523000003 REV. A Service bulletin2026-04-22 · Electrical System
- Door Latch, Handle And Ajar Additional Service Information.
- 08-075-26 REV. A Service bulletin2026-04-15 · Electrical System
- Rear Taillamp Condensation Clearing Procedure On occasion, vehicle exterior taillamp assemblies get fogged with a light layer of condensation on the SYMPTOM: inside of the lenses Fig. 1. This may be reported after the lamps have been turned on and brought up to operating temperature, turned off and then rapidly cooled by cold water (such as rain, or the water from a vehicle wash). Lens fogging can
- 21-027-26 REV. A Service bulletin2026-04-11 · Power Train
- Two Speed Power Transfer Unit Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): ? C1494-07 - PTU Fork Position-Mechanincal Failures. Customers m
- 111447 Warranty extension2026-04-08 · Power Train
- ID-26-19 (XX1) Two Speed Power Transfer Unit (PTU) - Select 2017 - 2019 Jeep Cherokee (KL)
- 21-027-26 Service bulletin2026-04-08 · Power Train
- Two Speed Power Transfer Unit Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): ? C1494-07 - PTU Fork Position-Mechanincal Failures. Customers m
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0456 P0456 on Jeep → | A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system. | Power Train · Gas cap → | 20 bulletins |
| P06EF P06EF on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 16 bulletins |
| P0607 P0607 on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 12 bulletins |
| U11E9 U11E9 on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 11 bulletins |
| C0543 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0616 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0617 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P258A | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P2610 P2610 on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 6 bulletins |
| P152F P152F on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 5 bulletins |
| P0300 P0300 on Jeep → | Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder. | Electrical System · Ignition coils → | 3 bulletins · 1 owner report |
| P0302 P0302 on Jeep → | Cylinder 2 is misfiring. | Electrical System · Ignition coils → | 3 bulletins · 1 owner report |
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 2019 Jeep Cherokee failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — close to the 2.7% for every 2019 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2019 vehicle: 1.7%).
failed emissions
16,189 initial inspections of 15,878 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2019 Cherokee | Every 2019 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 2.5% | 2.7% | 16,153 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 2.1% | 1.7% | 16,189 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.19% | 0.20% | 16,189 |
| Miles driven a year | 10,377 | 9,904 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 75,462 | 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).
Cherokee by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2019 Cherokee
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2019 Jeep Cherokee have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 11 recall campaigns for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 19V637000, covering Steering. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
NHTSA gave the 2019 Jeep Cherokee 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (49/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
Across the 10 EPA-rated configurations of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
Transport Canada measured it at 181.5 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.5 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,662–4,054 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 Jeep Cherokee?
Owners have filed 1669 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, most often about power train, engine, electrical system. Of those, 40 involved a crash, 19 a fire, 37 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 Jeep Cherokee?
The EPA smog rating for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee 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-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee?
The manufacturer has filed 407 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2019 Jeep Cherokee, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-07-09. 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 Jeep Cherokee do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2019 Jeep Cherokee failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — close to the 2.7% for every 2019 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (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 | 10 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 10 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 11 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 1669 | 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 | 407 | 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 | 11 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.