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2017 Mazda CX-5

Gas

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

Safety Signal

94 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints5 crash · 3 injured reported 150

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CX-5 2WD, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 150 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Mazda CX-5 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Mazda CX-5 · 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*
CX-5 2WD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	24	31	27	$2,500
CX-5 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.5L 4-cyl	23	29	26	$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38566, 38568.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
CX-5 2WD, CX-5 4WD	6–9 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEV	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	2.5 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

187 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

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

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

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	179.1 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	72.4 in
Height	65.7–66.1 in
Wheelbase	106.3 in
Track, front	62.2–63.0 in
Track, rear	62.2–63.0 in
Curb weight	3,283–3,657 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 7 configurations: 2.0L FWD 4-door SUV (2017), 2.5L AWD 4-door SUV (2017), 2.5L FWD 4-door SUV (2017), Gs 4-door SUV FWD (2016.5), Gs/Gt 4-door SUV AWD (2016.5), Gx 4-door SUV AWD (2016.5) …. 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

●moderate

Electrical System

1617K

1,076 vehicles 69% reported repaired built Dec 27, 2016 – Oct 31, 2017

Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2017 CX-5 vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch wiring harness. This harness may be routed such that there is insufficient clearance between the harness and the exhaust muffler, allowing the wiring harness to contact the muffler. Risk Contact with the muffler may damage the trailer wiring harness, potentially resulting in the trailer lighting being inoperative, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reroute the trailer hitch harness away from the muffler, replacing the harness if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1617K.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 17V744000 reported Nov 21, 2017 Mazda North American Operations 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific CX-5

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. Mazda 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 →Mazda’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 2017 Mazda CX-5, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

150complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

15 per 10,000 built · Mazda reported 98,211 CX-5 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 4 · 2018: 21 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 16 · 2021: 16 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 23 · 2024: 16 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 10

Most-cited components

Electrical System 44

Unspecified 35

Engine 17

Fuel/Propulsion System 16

Service Brakes 15

Visibility/Wiper 13

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.

Codes appear on the dashboard showing brake dysfunction, smart brake system disabled, master errors, and multiple other error messages. Navigation turns on by itself and flashes and moves or changes locations.

Electrical System at 500 miles Jan 16, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11299686

The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Cx-5. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the rear passenger over sender detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure occurred twice with the front passenger side, as well as the front driver side.

Structure at 19,000 miles Jan 13, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11298941

Hello, this car was leased back in oct 2017 as a brand new car from garden city Mazda (ny). Six months ago (july 2019), we brought the car to the service to check the huge vibrations when braking. They found a left rear brake caliper was leaking and failed caused plate (rotor) and pad damage. Car was only done 5731 miles.

Service Brakes at 9,744 miles Jan 3, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11296887

While driving southbound on I-75 north of north ft. Meyers, fl the vehicle stuttered slightly and stalled, with just enough time to pull to the right shoulder and park. It would not restart and appeared to be out of fuel, though the gauge indicated approx. 1/4 full.

Fuel/Propulsion System at 21,000 miles Jul 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11231550

The shift lock lever on the transmission gear selector gets stuck when its cold

Power Train at 19,000 miles Feb 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11179926

Front camera sensor system malfunction smart city system malfunction forward smart city brake support malfunction had to go to dealer to have front sensing camera replaced and software updated. Car mileage was 5,858

Electronic Stability Control at 5,858 miles Jul 15, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11111410

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 Mazda itself: 30 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 31 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 31 per 100,000 built. Every CX-5 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 19k

miles, typically

Half the 55 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 6,000 and 40,000 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 20

10k–20k 10

20k–30k 7

30k–40k 3

40k–50k 4

50k–60k 4

60k–70k 2

70k–80k 1

80k–90k 3

90k–100k 1

100k–150k 0

150k + 0

Median mileage by component

Component	Reports	Median miles
Unspecified	15	10,300

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 AWD	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%
SUV FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Mazda warranty extension CSP13Mazda connect infotainment system limited warranty extension.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Mazda warranty extension CSP12DENSO LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM WARRANTY EXTENSION: Attention ALL Mazda Dealers: This is a Warranty Extension and not a recall campaign.

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 Mazda warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 572

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-11

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 554 service bulletins, 15 warranty extensions, 3 others

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

SA-041-26a Service bulletin
2026-09-11 · Electrical System
DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Example
01-010-26 Service bulletin
2026-08-10 · Engine
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 01-012/22 10/06/22 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2). This is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fitting during the manufacturing process. The accumulated coolant is solidified and plugs the gap in high
SA-041-26 Service bulletin
2026-06-19 · Engine
This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the elec
01-008-26 Service bulletin
2026-05-01 · Power Train
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto tensioner fully operates under both high ambient temperat
SA-031-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-30 · Unknown Or Other
DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label. To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a replacement vehicle certification label (located on the B􀀀pillar or front do
SA-029-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-21 · Engine
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Servic
SA-026-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-16 · Engine
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-002/19 09/30/19 and 12/19/19 DESCRIPTION If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly, the replacement engine may f
SA-023-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-003/22 03/02/22 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking noise coming from the rear seat after fuel fill. The concern will likely occur if the fuel tank is overfilled (more fuel is added after the fuel pump nozzle shuts off automatically) or filled up normally

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
C1001 C1001 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Forward Collision Avoidance	9 bulletins
U3000 U3000 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	9 bulletins
B14F0 B14F0 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment Adaptive/Mobility	5 bulletins
P0780 P0780 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0842 P0842 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0847 P0847 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0872 P0872 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0877 P0877 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P1738 P1738 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P2507 P2507 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	5 bulletins
P2610 P2610 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	5 bulletins
B00A0 B00A0 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Air Bags	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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 1.7%

failed emissions

3,830 initial inspections of 3,763 vehicles.

Measure	The 2017 CX-5	Every 2017 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	1.7%	3.7%	3,823
Failed the safety inspection	3.5%	2.1%	3,830
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.03%	0.25%	3,830
Miles driven a year	9,490	10,048	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	87,806	93,238	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 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).

CX-5 by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 16 26 mpg 2025 A 0 28 28 mpg 2024 A 0 45 28 mpg 2023 A 0 66 26 mpg 2022 A 0 65 26 mpg 2021 A 0 148 28 mpg 2020 A 0 107 28 mpg 2019 B 2 272 29 mpg 2018 C 3 351 29 mpg 2017 this page A 1 150 27 mpg 2016 C 4 511 29 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 CX-5

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 Mazda CX-5 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2017 Mazda CX-5. The most serious on file is 17V744000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 Mazda CX-5?

NHTSA gave the 2017 Mazda CX-5 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (94/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Mazda CX-5?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Mazda CX-5, the best EPA combined figure is 27 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 Mazda CX-5?

Transport Canada measured it at 179.1 in long, 72.4 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.7–66.1 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,283–3,657 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 2017 Mazda CX-5?

Owners have filed 150 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda CX-5, most often about electrical system, unspecified, engine. Of those, 5 involved a crash, 3 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 Mazda CX-5?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Mazda CX-5 runs 6 to 9 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/PZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Mazda CX-5?

The manufacturer has filed 572 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Mazda CX-5, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-11. 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 Mazda CX-5 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 failed the emissions check on 1.7% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.5% (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.

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	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	150	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	572	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	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.

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