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2016 Jeep Compass

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints9 crash · 2 fire · 15 injured reported 293

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Jeep Compass is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Compass FWD, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 293 complaints, most often about the engine.

Jeep Compass — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Jeep Compass · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Compass FWD	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	23	28	25	$2,700
Compass FWD	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	23	30	25	$2,700
Compass 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.4L 4-cyl	22	27	24	$2,800
Compass FWD	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	22	26	24	$2,800
Compass FWD	Gas	FWD	2.4L 4-cyl	21	27	23	$2,900
Compass 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.4L 4-cyl	20	25	22	$3,050
Compass 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.4L 4-cyl	20	23	21	$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36416, 36501, 36429, 36419, 36504, 36428, 36427.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Compass 4WD, Compass FWD	5 / 10	Bin 5 / LEV-II LEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Compass 4WD, Compass FWD	6 / 10	Bin 4	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	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain

FWD/Front-Wheel Drive

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, Sport). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	175.2 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	71.3 in
Height	65.0 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Track, front	59.8 in
Track, rear	59.1–59.8 in
Curb weight	3,097–3,261 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	56/44 to 59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

S89

42,231 vehicles 79% reported repaired built May 9, 2016 – Jul 15, 2016

Problem Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles manufactured May 9, 2016, to July 15, 2016. The crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall. Risk If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash. Fix Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft or camshaft sensor connector, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S89.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 16V907000 reported Dec 16, 2016 Chrysler (FCA US LLC) 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

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor — Stall from Crankshaft\Camshaft Failure closed

On December 13, 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received recall 16V-907 from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) that identified a safety defect involving crankshaft or camshaft sensor failures on certain 2016 Model Year Dodge Journey, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Patriot vehicles. The failure of the crankshaft or camshaft sensor may lead to a loss of motive power (LOMP) in the recalled vehicles. Following the receipt of recall 16V-907, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received 127 vehicle owner’s questionnaires (VOQ), in which consumers allege experiencing crankshaft or camshaft failures on similar vehicles not included in the recall. On July 22, 2022, this

Opened Jul 22, 2022 · closed Jun 16, 2025 · action RQ22002 · the investigation’s page →

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint — Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles. When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries. A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event. Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss

Opened Sep 9, 2019 · closed Feb 25, 2026 · action PE19014 · the investigation’s page →

Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with ma

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Compass

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 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.

NHTSA VIN check →Jeep’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 2016 Jeep Compass, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

293complaints filed

9 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 15 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 6 · 2017: 15 · 2018: 32 · 2019: 56 · 2020: 49 · 2021: 18 · 2022: 35 · 2023: 23 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 23

Most-cited components

Engine → 161

Electrical System → 62

Unspecified 47

Power Train 44

Vehicle Speed Control 30

Fuel/Propulsion System 18

In depth: engine problems → · electrical 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 2016 Jeep Compass. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the driver's air bag deployed without warning or impact. The contact stated that the air bag exploded and burned both of her hands. In addition, the contact suffered chest and abdominal pain from the impact of the air bag explosion, which required medical attention.

Air Bags at 48,000 miles May 1, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11091236

Since beginning of 2018 my Jeep has stalled while the car was in motion and I was driving. I brought it to dealer on 2/15/18. Dealer says it could be from low oil. When he checked the oil the oil level was good and clean. He recommended to change the oil anyway. Which I did. Again Jeep stalled 2 times while in motion and I was driving.

Electrical System at 9,370 miles Apr 9, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11083928

The front passenger seat belt malfunctions when a person is sitting in the seat. I have taken the vehicle several times to the dealer & it is still not corrected. I have an open investigation with chrysler corporate too.

Seat Belts at 400 miles Mar 30, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11082176

Stops running while driving down the road. Has stopped at least 20 times. There is no lights that come on when this happens. It is hard to steer car to the side of the road when this happens

Engine Mar 15, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11079571

On 12 jan 2017 a lady backed into my car at approx 35 MPH and destroyed the passenger doors - the entire right side of the vehicle - the airbags did not deploy resulting in injuries to my son and myself. I was parking in a parking lot at the time and she was backing out at a high rate of speed without looking

Structure at 25,000 miles May 24, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10991562

The contact owns a 2017 (na) Jeep Compass. While driving the vehicle, it began driving in circles. The brake pedal was applied, but failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a snow bank. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries.

Service Brakes at 230 miles Apr 19, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10979305

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: 65 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 77 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Compass model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 55k

miles, typically

Half the 174 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 40,000 and 71,000 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 10

10k–20k 10

20k–30k 6

30k–40k 17

40k–50k 21

50k–60k 34

60k–70k 24

70k–80k 14

80k–90k 14

90k–100k 5

100k–150k 15

150k + 4

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles	Vs same age
Engine	104	59,000	0.95×
Electrical System	31	57,000	1.27×
Power Train	26	58,000	1.12×
Unspecified	20	65,000	—
Vehicle Speed Control	14	53,675	1.79×
Electronic Stability Control	13	51,000	1.27×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-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: vehicle speed control (1.79×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

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

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV 2WD	not rated	★★★☆☆	not rated	★★★★☆	18%
SUV 4WD	not rated	★★★☆☆	not rated	★★★★☆	16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Stellantis warranty extension U67 Combo Rev11U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)

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 →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 145

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-06-18

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 144 service bulletins, 1 warranty extension

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

U67 Combo Rev11 Warranty extension
2026-06-18 · Engine
Emissions Recall U67 - Catalytic Converter Efficiency - Dealer Notification (Revision 11)
9100653 Service bulletin
2025-08-15 · Unknown Or Other
Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders: Warranty, Mopar, customer pay and service contract. Order "68" part number for New unsold units only.
9100645 Service bulletin
2025-08-15 · Unknown Or Other
Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders: Warranty, Mopar, customer pay and service contract. Order "68" part number for New unsold units only.
103954 Service bulletin
2025-04-02 · Unknown Or Other
ACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER
104087 Service bulletin
2025-04-02 · Unknown Or Other
ACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER
S1408000384 Service bulletin
2024-01-10 · Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery
Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
9100229 Service bulletin
2023-09-20 · Suspension
LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
9100226 Service bulletin
2023-09-15 · Electrical System
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.

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
P0335 P0335 on Jeep →	A fault in the crankshaft position sensor circuit — the computer has lost track of where the crank is.	Power Train · Crankshaft position sensor →	3 bulletins
P0456 P0456 on Jeep →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Power Train · Gas cap →	3 bulletins
P2299 P2299 on Jeep →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	3 bulletins
B1A25	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	2 bulletins
B1A29	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	2 bulletins
P06DD P06DD on Jeep →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P2122 P2122 on Jeep →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	2 bulletins
P2127 P2127 on Jeep →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Vehicle Speed Control	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 8.2%

failed emissions

3,630 initial inspections of 3,498 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 Compass	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	8.2%	4.2%	3,622
Failed the safety inspection	3.6%	2.2%	3,630
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.17%	0.27%	3,630
Miles driven a year	10,081	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	103,626	103,109	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 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 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).

Compass by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 1 5 26 mpg 2025 A 0 29 27 mpg 2024 A 0 53 27 mpg 2023 A 2 49 27 mpg 2022 B 4 225 25 mpg 2021 A 0 81 25 mpg 2020 A 1 143 26 mpg 2019 B 2 330 26 mpg 2018 D 6 946 26 mpg 2017 B 4 229 26 mpg 2016 this page A 1 293 25 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Compass

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Jeep Compass have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2016 Jeep Compass. The most serious on file is 16V907000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Jeep Compass?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 Jeep Compass yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it A (92/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Jeep Compass?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Jeep Compass, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Jeep Compass?

Transport Canada measured it at 175.2 in long, 71.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.0 in tall, on a 103.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,097–3,261 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 2016 Jeep Compass?

Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Jeep Compass, most often about engine, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 9 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 15 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 2016 Jeep Compass?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Jeep Compass runs 5 to 6 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 — Bin 4, Bin 5, LEV-II LEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Jeep Compass?

The manufacturer has filed 145 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Jeep Compass, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-06-18. 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 2016 Jeep Compass do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Jeep Compass failed the emissions check on 8.2% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.6% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). 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	7 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	7 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	293	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	145	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	4	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
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	7 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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