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2017 Lexus GX

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
66 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical 3
Complaints4 crash · 1 injured reported 15
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 16 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 Lexus GX is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV. The most efficient version, the GX 460, is EPA-rated at 16 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 15 complaints, most often about the suspension.

Lexus GX — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Lexus GX · Photo: Ethan Llamas · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
GX 460Gas4WD4.6L 8-cyl151816$5,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38077.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
GX 4606 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / LEV-II ULEVAll 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 styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
GVWR classClass 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders8
Displacement4.6 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower301 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity7 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

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 one configuration rather than every trim (seen: 460). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length189.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)74.0 in
Height74.4 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Track, front62.2 in
Track, rear62.6 in
Curb weight5,179 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear52/48

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: GX460 4-door SUV /Premium. 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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Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 Lexus GX 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 →

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Air Bags

J0A, J0B, J0C, JLI
928,220 vehicles 73% reported repaired built Dec 9, 2009 – Sep 19, 2016
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and tempera Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V741000 reported Oct 17, 2019 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Air Bags

1,299,448 vehicles 91% reported repaired built Nov 17, 2009 – Sep 27, 2016
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus E Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
NHTSA campaign 19V005000 reported Jan 9, 2019 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

G06, GLR
2 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Nov 16, 2016 – Nov 16, 2016
Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling one 2016 Toyota 4Runner vehicle manufactured November 1, 2016 and one 2017 Lexus GX460 vehicle manufactured November 16, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with Takata PSPI-LD front passenger air bag inflators that may have been manufactured without ignition booster tablets. As a result, in the event of a crash, the air bag may not fully inflate during deployment of the primary stage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk The improper inflation of the passenger air bag may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix Toyota dealers have replaced the passenger side air bag modules, free of charge. Toyota notified the affected dealers on December 15, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G06, GLR.
NHTSA campaign 16V937000 reported Dec 21, 2016 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing 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

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 →

Whether any of this applies to one specific GX

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Lexus 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 2017 Lexus GX, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2017 Lexus GX

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.

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Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
15complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

5.2 per 10,000 built · Lexus reported 28,657 GX built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Suspension 3
Visibility/Wiper 3
Electronic Stability Control 2
Unspecified 2
Structure 2
Power Train 1

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 paint on the roof of this white Lexus is peeling and cracking. I took it to Lexus and they said since it was 5K miles out of warranty, they would not repair this manufacturers defect
Structure Jan 17, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11565932
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus GX460. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the braking system erroneously activated causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the roadway.
Forward Collision Avoidance at 50,000 miles Dec 19, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11560908
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus GX. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the center console repeatedly restarted and displayed a blank screen. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, but no failure was found. Additionally, while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle experienced a total loss of motive power.
Engine at 92,000 miles Aug 28, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11760400
The issue started with the engine stalling while I’m driving, and one day the car failed to start. I towed it to the dealership who said there is nothing wrong with the fuel pump and advised me to replace the battery.
Fuel/Propulsion System May 30, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11741070
Navigation/Screen is black, can’t control heat/AC/defrost or see audio/nav, any safety concerns (fogging, distractions, etc.). Tire sensor on, due to sensor failure. Caused me to pull off the road. No way of actually being notified of a tire pressure safety issue
Electrical System Nov 29, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11702026
Vehicle was pulling into parking spot, coming to a stop, when accelerator stuck and car drove through brick wall while driver was trying to brake
Vehicle Speed Control at 38,000 miles Oct 26, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11366484

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 Lexus itself: 16 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 20 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 56 per 100,000 built. Every GX model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 142
Most recentmanufacturer date 2025-12-15
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 142 service bulletins

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Structure, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, Tires.

  • L-SB-0030-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
    2025-12-15 · Structure — Body
  • Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interio
  • L-SB-0043-23 Rev1 Service bulletin
    2025-06-13 · Electrical System
  • The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
  • L-SB-0017-19 Rev1 Service bulletin
    2025-02-07 · Structure — Body
  • Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.
  • L-SB-0030-24 Rev1 Service bulletin
    2024-07-29 · Structure — Body
  • Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interio
  • L-SB-0030-24 Service bulletin
    2024-06-21 · Structure — Body
  • Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
  • L-SB-0024-24 Service bulletin
    2024-04-19 · Structure — Body
  • The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
  • L-SB-0022-24 Service bulletin
    2024-04-19 · Structure — Body
  • Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on
  • L-SB-0021-24 Service bulletin
    2024-04-19 · Structure — Body
  • Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin

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.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P006AManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 bulletin
P0087
P0087 on Lexus →
Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →1 bulletin
P0171
P0171 on Lexus →
The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants.Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →1 bulletin
P0174
P0174 on Lexus →
The engine is running lean on bank 2.Fuel/Propulsion System · Mass air flow sensor →1 bulletin

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 DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Lexus GX failed the emissions check on 2.3% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 2.3%

failed emissions

603 initial inspections of 590 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 GXEvery 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.3%3.7%602
Failed the safety inspection1.8%2.1%603
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.50%0.25%603
Miles driven a year9,49310,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer87,85693,238odometer 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 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 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).

Common questions about the 2017 GX

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Lexus GX have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 Lexus GX, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 19V741000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Lexus GX?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2017 Lexus GX yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it D (66/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Lexus GX?

For the 2017 Lexus GX, the best EPA combined figure is 16 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Lexus GX?

Transport Canada measured it at 189.4 in long, 74.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 74.4 in tall, on a 109.8 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,179 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2017 Lexus GX?

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Lexus GX, most often about suspension, visibility/wiper, electronic stability control. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 1 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 2017 Lexus GX?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Lexus GX is 6 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 — Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Lexus GX?

The manufacturer has filed 142 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Lexus GX, most often covering equipment, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2025-12-15. 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 2017 Lexus GX do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Lexus GX failed the emissions check on 2.3% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). 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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations1 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates1 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints15NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins142NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No 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 NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe 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.

JSON for this page · API