2021 Lincoln Aviator
The 2021 Lincoln Aviator is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Aviator PHEV AWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 28 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 45 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator PHEV AWD | Plug-in hybrid | 4WD (part-time) | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 74 kW PMSM | 22 | 25 | 23 (31 MPGe blended) | 21 mi electric | 60 | 3.5 h | $2,900 |
| Aviator RWD | Gas | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 18 | 26 | 21 | — | — | — | $3,200 |
| Aviator AWD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 17 | 24 | 20 | — | — | — | $3,350 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43214, 43286, 43293.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator PHEV AWD | 7 / 10 | California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| Aviator AWD, Aviator RWD | 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 | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 400 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 3 |
| Seating capacity | 7 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | RWD/Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 10 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert
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: Base, Black Label, Blk Label Grand Touring, Grand Touring). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 200.0 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 78.7 in |
| Height | 67.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 119.3 in |
| Track, front | 66.5 in |
| Track, rear | 66.5 in |
| Curb weight | 4,863–5,679 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 51/49 to 52/48 |
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, 4-door SUV Hybrid. 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 2021 Lincoln Aviator is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module 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 (28)
Source: NHTSA recall databasePower Train
26S48Seat Belts
26C18Visibility
26S14Back Over Prevention
26C11Fuel System, Gasoline
25S75Back Over Prevention
25S72Seats
25S67Structure
25S66Seat Belts
25C18Electrical System
25S58Back Over Prevention
25S27Seat Belts
25S09Equipment
24C39Engine And Engine Cooling
24S55Back Over Prevention
24S35Electrical System
23S53Back Over Prevention
23S48Back Over Prevention
23S23Back Over Prevention
23S02Seat Belts
22C35Suspension
21S47Back Over Prevention
21S44Air Bags
21C19Electrical System
21S34Back Over Prevention
21C09Engine
20S72Steering
20S69These 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 — Loss of Motive Power closed
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the ability to restart. During PE22007, the cause of engine failure and loss of motive power in the subject vehicles was determined to be intake valve fracture, and the full scope of vehicles affected by the subject defect was identified as all MY 2021-2022 Ford and Lincoln models equipped with either the 2.7
Opened Sep 29, 2023 · closed Oct 31, 2024 · action EA23002 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Aviator
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Lincoln 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 2021 Lincoln Aviator, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2021 Lincoln Aviator
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 Aviator →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported
25 per 10,000 built · Lincoln reported 18,213 Aviator built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2022: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 13 · 2026: 14
Most-cited components
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 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 60 MPH in the left lane, the rear end locked up, and the vehicle fishtailed before coming to a complete stop between the left lane and the shoulder of the roadway. The driver attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start.
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V342000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue.
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator PHEV. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with left and right lower control arm and right knuckle failures.
1.) Exhaust System Failure (Flex Pipe / Catalytic Converter) The vehicle’s exhaust system—specifically the flex pipe connected to the catalytic converter—cracked and malfunctioned. This component is available for inspection upon request.
My vehicle’s camera system, including the backup camera, is experiencing an issue where the passenger-side camera fails to display properly, showing only a blank black area. I have reported this issue to my dealership for future inspection.
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that the seat folding switch on the third-row seat failed to function as intended. The seat was stuck in the down position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
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 Lincoln itself: 2 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 11 per 100,000 built. Every Aviator model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Engine.
- SSM 55228 Service bulletin2026-10-08 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L (non-diesel) engine may need the front engine cover removed and reinstalled for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01 Engine > Removal and Installation > Engine Front Cover service procedure has been updated to include a new essential special service tool (ESST) guide pin alignment tool (
- SSM 55226 Service bulletin2026-10-07 · Unknown Or Other
- For 2020-2026 Aviator/Corsair and 2018-2026 Navigator vehicles, if diagnostics in Workshop Manual (WSM) Section 501-10A > Front Seats > Diagnosis and Testing lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion extension adjuster, a lower-level part is now available (14C720). It is not necessary to replace the front seat cushion extension adjuster if only the front seat cushion extension motor assemb
- SSM 55217 Service bulletin2026-10-06 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2020-2024 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with 3.0L EcoBoost/hybrid engine may exhibit blue or black exhaust smoke on startup for the first 5 minutes after an overnight cold soak with no illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or powertrain diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present. This may be due to engine oil breaching the dynamic oil seals separating the bearing core from the turbin
- TSB 26-2325 Service bulletin2026-09-30 · Exterior Lighting
- Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a front courtesy lamp that is inoperative. This may be due to a concern with the front courtesy lamp light module.
- TSB 25-2568 V2 Service bulletin2026-09-16 · Unknown Or Other
- This article supersedes TSB 25-2373 to update a print error on publication. Some vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) C00A6 and/or C0631. This may be due to the front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate shaft.
- TSB 26-2395 Service bulletin2026-08-26 · Power Train
- This article supersedes 26-2287. Reason for update: update the labor operation numbers to add MT to operations C, F, G, H, J, K, L and M, and correct the part number LIMZ-4A015-B to L1MZ-4A015-B. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Harsh engagement Delayed engagement Harsh shift Delayed shift Illuminated malfuncti
- SSM55059 Service bulletin2026-08-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine, 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine, and 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 3.0L EcoBoost hybrid engine may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0A1E stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). The vehicle may be unable
- 26E04 Emissions2026-07-09 · Unknown Or Other
- NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang, Ranger, Expedition, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Bronco, Navigator, and Aviator Vehicles Powertrain Control Module Software Update
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C00A6 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0729 P0729 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0731 P0731 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0732 P0732 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0733 P0733 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0734 P0734 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0735 P0735 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P0736 P0736 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P076F P076F on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P07D9 P07D9 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P07F6 P07F6 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 bulletins |
| P07F7 P07F7 on Lincoln → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Power Train | 8 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.
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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 2021 Lincoln Aviator failed the emissions check on 3.2% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).
failed emissions
407 initial inspections of 402 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2021 Aviator | Every 2021 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 3.2% | 1.9% | 406 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.7% | 1.5% | 407 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.25% | 0.19% | 407 |
| Miles driven a year | 11,432 | 10,343 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 60,510 | 54,681 | 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 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 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).
Aviator by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2021 Aviator
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2021 Lincoln Aviator have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 28 recall campaigns for the 2021 Lincoln Aviator, 3 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V349000, covering Electrical System. 5 of them were 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. The manufacturer's own estimate for when a fix would be ready: 2nd Quarter 2024, April 2027, January 2027, November 2026. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
NHTSA gave the 2021 Lincoln Aviator 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (30/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Lincoln Aviator, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
Transport Canada measured it at 200.0 in long, 78.7 in wide (body, without mirrors), 67.7 in tall, on a 119.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,863–5,679 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 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Lincoln Aviator, most often about electrical system, visibility/wiper, engine. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Lincoln Aviator runs 5 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 SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
The manufacturer has filed 272 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Lincoln Aviator, most often covering electrical system, power train, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-10-08. 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 2021 Lincoln Aviator do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator failed the emissions check on 3.2% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). 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 | 3 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 3 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 28 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 45 | 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 | 272 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 2 | 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 | 13 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.