2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup is sold in the U.S. as a gas large pickup truck with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Gladiator Pickup 4WD, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 484 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gladiator Pickup 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 3.6L 6-cyl | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Gladiator Pickup 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 3.6L 6-cyl | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41362, 41363.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gladiator Pickup 4WD | 5 / 10 | 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 | Pickup |
| GVWR class | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3.6 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 285 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Transmission | Manual/Standard |
| Transmission speeds | 6 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control
Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning
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: Mojave, Overland, Rubicon, Sport). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 216.9 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 74.0 in |
| Height | 73.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 137.4 in |
| Track, front | 64.2 in |
| Track, rear | 64.2 in |
| Curb weight | 4,683–5,082 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 54/46 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 4-door Overland, 4-door Rubicon, 4-door Sport. 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 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup 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 (7)
Source: NHTSA recall databasePower Train
19APower Train
Y01Seat Belts
W67Back Over Prevention
W30-W37Power Train
W12Power Train
V95These 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: Instrument Cluster/Panel — Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure open
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) is opening a Preliminary Evaluation on 2020 Model Year Jeep Gladiators and Wranglers involving a malfunctioning Instrument Panel Clusters (IPC) resulting in the loss of important vehicle metrics and other status information. ODI has received 89 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging a complete or partial loss of the IPC display while driving. The subject vehicles' IPC display includes the speedometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature, turn signal indicators, warning light, and other gauges that are normally illuminated while the vehicle is in operation. Loss of the fuel gauge while driving may lead to an inability to determine the fuel level
Opened Oct 23, 2025 · action PE25014 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Gladiator Pickup
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 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 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup
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 Gladiator Pickup →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database11 involved a crash · 7 a fire · 6 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2019: 34 · 2020: 111 · 2021: 36 · 2022: 34 · 2023: 44 · 2024: 56 · 2025: 127 · 2026: 42
Most-cited components
In depth: electrical problems → · steering problems → · transmission and drivetrain 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.
Vehicle tends to wander all over the road, needing constant correction driving down straight roads at any speed. It acts like a vehicle that has a worn out steering linkage/box. I haven't had a car/truck do this since I owned a 20 yr old chevy truck 40 years ago. Youtube. Com/watch?v=tfoyzfep0ka.
On may 08 2019 I purchased a 2020 Jeep Gladiator . 2 day later my wife and I drove it to myrtle beach sc roughly 850 miles. Immediately we noticed when we go on the highway the washer fluid was not spraying more than 4 inches up from the bottom of the windshield. Needless to say we were lucky our trip had very little rain.
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. When the contact attempted to engage the select speed control, the vehicle made a metal to metal grinding noise coming from the front driver's side. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing.
When opening and closing the driver and passenger side doors, there is a noticeable clicking sound. I have since become aware that the aluminum exterior of the door is peeling away from the steel structure inside of the door resulting in this clicking sound due to the flexing of the door
While driving for about an hour doesn't matter what speed it is all of the sudden there is hot air coming in from the front feet space by the pedals, you can feel it in passenger side also. ( AC is on and blowing cold air and the recirculate button is on) upper vent blow cold air while this happens.
The steering has too much play before actually turning to either left or right. This is very noticeable at highway speeds. This makes the truck wander having to correct it constantly and when hitting the brakes it makes the truck pull to either side. I have been near hitting other cars and constantly correcting the wheel to stay in lane.
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.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 184 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 1,000 and 38,000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 90 | 1,000 | 0.25× |
| Electrical System | 45 | 55,000 | 5.56× |
| Power Train | 19 | 14,000 | 0.34× |
| Suspension | 15 | 6,000 | 0.67× |
| Engine | 13 | 1,700 | 0.03× |
Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2020-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: steering (0.25×), power train (0.34×), suspension (0.67×); later: electrical system (5.56×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Across 2020–2020 model years the Jeep Gladiator Pickup ranks 7 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.33× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 4,900 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU/CC 4WD | not rated | ★★★★☆ | not rated | ★★★☆☆ | 27% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension ID-25-11 REV.CC Aluminum Filiform Corrosion Warranty Policy and Vehicle Digital Imaging (VDI) Pre-Approval Process - ALL Vehicles
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension D-25-15 REV.CC Aluminum Filiform Corrosion Warranty Policy and Vehicle Digital Imaging (VDI) Pre-Approval Process - ALL Vehicles
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension 113929NORTH AMERICA Check Engine/Malfunction Indicator Lamp 16C The instrument panel cluster on about 32,587 of the above vehicles may have an inoperable check engine/malfunction indicator lamp (CEL/MIL).
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension ID-26-37ID-26-37 (XZ1) Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) - Select 2018 - 2020 Jeep Wrangler (JL) and 2020 Jeep Gladiator (JT)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension D-26-17D-26-17 (XZ1) Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) - Select 2018 - 2020 Jeep Wrangler (JL) and 2020 Jeep Gladiator (JT)
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Jeep warranty extension 16C Combo REV216C - Check Engine/Malfunction Indicator Lamp - Dealer Notification (Revision 2)
18 more in this page’s JSON.
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, Engine, Structure.
- 08-298-26 REV. B Service bulletin2026-10-17 · Electrical System
- Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Blank XZ1 Warranty Extension Customers may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● A blank electronic vehicle information center (EVIC) in the IPC. No information is displayed for the fuel level, temperature gauge, odometer, outside temperature, PRNDL and optional digital speedometer Fig. 1. IMPORTANT! The speedometer and tachometer continue to function normally Fig. 1.
- 08-358-26 Service bulletin2026-10-09 · Electrical System
- Flash: Drivetrain Control Module (DTCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): ● C147B-92 - Front Axle Disconnect Sensor Performance or Incorrect Operation Customers may comment on one or more of the following: ● 4WD system warning lights, service messages, or flashing
- 08-358-26 Service bulletin2026-10-09 · Electrical System
- Flash: Drivetrain Control Module (DTCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): ● C147B-92 - Front Axle Disconnect Sensor Performance or Incorrect Operation Customers may comment on one or more of the following: ● 4WD system warning lights, service messages, or flashing
- S2621000004 Service bulletin2026-09-30 · Power Train
- The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement. The Tech May Find Damaged and/or Worn Transmission Output Shaft Splines (850RE Transmission Only)
- 9100900 Service bulletin2026-09-08 · Structure — Body
- Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
- 114045 Warranty extension2026-08-12 · Structure — Body
- ID-25-11 Rev. C Aluminum Filiform Corrosion Warranty Policy and Vehicle Digital Imaging (VDI) Pre-Approval Process - ALL Vehicles
- 114044 Warranty extension2026-08-12 · Structure — Body
- D-25-15 Rev. C Aluminum Filiform Corrosion Warranty Policy and Vehicle Digital Imaging (VDI) Pre-Approval Process - ALL Vehicles
- 08-298-26 REV. A Service bulletin2026-08-08 · Electrical System
- Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Blank XZ1 Warranty Extension Customers may experience the following: SYMPTOM: ● **A blank electronic vehicle information center (EVIC) in the IPC. No information is displayed for the fuel level, temperature gauge, odometer, outside temperature, PRNDL and optional digital speedometer Fig. 1. IMPORTANT! The analog speedometer and tachometer gauges continue to function
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0300 P0300 on Jeep → | Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder. | Engine · Ignition coils → | 15 bulletins · 5 owner reports |
| P0456 P0456 on Jeep → | A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system. | Electrical System · Gas cap → | 16 bulletins |
| P025A | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 15 bulletins |
| P1206 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 15 bulletins |
| P258B P258B on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 15 bulletins |
| P0441 P0441 on Jeep → | The evaporative purge is not flowing the way it should. | Electrical System · EVAP purge valve → | 8 bulletins |
| P00FD P00FD on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 4 bulletins |
| P0128 P0128 on Jeep → | The engine is not reaching its normal operating temperature in the expected time — usually the thermostat. | Engine · Thermostat → | 4 bulletins |
| P0513 P0513 on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 4 bulletins |
| P0562 P0562 on Jeep → | System voltage is below the operating range. | Electrical System · Alternator → | 4 bulletins |
| P08A6 P08A6 on Jeep → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 4 bulletins |
| P26F3 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 4 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup failed the emissions check on 2.6% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.6% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).
failed emissions
2,384 initial inspections of 2,336 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2020 Gladiator Pickup | Every 2020 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2,381 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2,384 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.17% | 0.19% | 2,384 |
| Miles driven a year | 10,445 | 9,980 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 65,606 | 62,630 | 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 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 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).
Compare the 2020 Gladiator Pickup with
Any vehicle, your weights →| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Ford F-150 · Large Pickup truck · grade F | F-150 +9.9 | |
| 2020 Toyota Tundra · Large Pickup truck · grade C | Tundra +19.6 | |
| 2020 GMC Sierra · Large Pickup truck · grade F | Sierra +7.3 | |
| 2020 Chevrolet Silverado · Large Pickup truck · grade F | Gladiator Pickup +13.4 | |
| 2020 Ram 1500 · Large Pickup truck · grade F | 1500 +2.9 |
Common questions about the 2020 Gladiator Pickup
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 7 recall campaigns for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup, 3 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 23V116000, covering Power Train. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (49/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?
Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup, the best EPA combined figure is 19 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?
Transport Canada measured it at 216.9 in long, 74.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 73.6 in tall, on a 137.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,683–5,082 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 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?
Owners have filed 484 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup, most often about electrical system, steering, power train. Of those, 11 involved a crash, 7 a fire, 6 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 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?
The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?
The manufacturer has filed 685 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-10-17. 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 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup failed the emissions check on 2.6% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.6% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). 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.
Is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup better than the 2020 Ford F-150?
The Ford F-150 wins clearly, 85.2 to 75.3, on performance, space & cargo, safety. The Jeep Gladiator Pickup is ahead on fuel & range. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup against the 2020 Ford F-150 — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.
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 | 2 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 2 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 7 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 484 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 1 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 685 | 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 | 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 | 12 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.