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2018 Mazda CX-9

Gas

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

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints4 crash · 1 fire · 2 injured reported 128

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 24 mpg

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Mazda CX-9 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CX-9 2WD, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 128 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Mazda CX-9 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Mazda CX-9 · 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-9 2WD	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	22	28	24	$2,800
CX-9 4WD	Gas	4WD	2.5L 4-cyl turbo	20	26	23	$2,900

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39183, 39185.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
CX-9 2WD, CX-9 4WD	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125	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 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2.5 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

227 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seating capacity

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

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	199.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	77.6 in
Height	67.7 in
Wheelbase	115.4 in
Track, front	64.6 in
Track, rear	64.6 in
Curb weight	4,050–4,341 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	55/45

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

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

5321K

121,038 vehicles 86% reported repaired

Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail. Risk Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V875000 reported Nov 12, 2021 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Electrical System

3419E

7,854 vehicles 88% reported repaired built Sep 12, 2017 – Nov 9, 2017

Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 CX-9 vehicles. The wiring harness may disrupt electrical communications and disable the passenger frontal air bag, turn signals, and/or engine starting system. Risk The passenger frontal air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Inoperable turn signals prevent the driver from signaling to other drivers, increasing the risk of crash. Fix Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wiring harnesses, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3419E.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V403000 reported May 30, 2019 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-9

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 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 2018 Mazda CX-9, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

128complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

41 per 10,000 built · Mazda reported 31,033 CX-9 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 21 · 2023: 39 · 2024: 30 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

Engine → 78

Unspecified 19

Electrical System 15

Power Train 13

Service Brakes 11

Fuel/Propulsion System 8

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

the cars engine makes loud rattling noise and slips gear. the vecicle jerks hard and feels as if transmission is slipping. car hesitates when i shift into gear, followed by a jerking and jolting into gear. my brakes are replaced frequently.

Power Train Oct 6, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11488281

I purchased my 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring CPO with 39k miles and was sold the life time extended powertrain warranty through the dealership. The car now has 74k miles. While sitting idle at the school bus stop in my neighborhood waiting for my daughter the temperature gauge light comes on.

Engine Sep 3, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11482726

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-9, The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Gasoline, Fuel System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

Fuel/Propulsion System Jun 3, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11467331

When I shifted into reverse the back up camera wouldn’t come on and instead a screen that said check your surroundings stayed on the screen. I reset it using the 3 button reset method and it came back on. Drove it to the grocery store, and then it sat in my driveway for 3 hours.

Electrical System May 29, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11418943

Within 6-8 months of purchasing the car we noticed the brakes squeaking and vibrating. At that time the car was under 25,000 miles. At our maintenance check it was advised that we have the brakes resurfaced at the next appt. Back brakes were done in 3/2019 and the front were done in 6/2019.

Service Brakes May 22, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11418168

I'm constantly have a front windshield error : causing my vehicle to just automatically stoping while driving on the freeway and streets. My air bags didn't deploy when I was I a accident . I've taken it to the dealer 3 times already and they always have a different excuse or reason

Air Bags at 28,000 miles Jul 20, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11340475

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: 7 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 7 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 23 per 100,000 built. Every CX-9 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 28k

miles, typically

Half the 16 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 11,000 and 65,000 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.

Too few readings for a curve — the 16 on file: 2 under 10k, 5 10k–20k, 2 20k–30k, 2 30k–40k, 2 60k–70k, 1 70k–80k, 1 80k–90k, 1 100k–150k.

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	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 3 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.
10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mazda warranty extension CSP11Dear Mazda Owner: You are receiving this notice because Mazda’s records indicate that your 2019-2020 CX-5, 2016-2020 CX-9, or 2018-2020 Mazda6 vehicle was equipped with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5T…
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 470

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-11

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 443 service bulletins, 22 warranty extensions, 5 others

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, Unknown Or Other.

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
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-014-26 Service bulletin
2026-03-11 · Engine
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) and TSB(s) listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-035/24 05/31/24 DESCRIPTION There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very small coolant leak from the bleed hole. This Service Alert is to inform you about the water pump sealing mechanism and the criteria if replacement is ne
SA-005-26 Service bulletin
2026-01-26 · Unknown Or Other
There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank. A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method • B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method 2019 and newer models require a 10-digit key code to accurately cut keys • 5-digit codes CANNOT be provided for 2019 and newer vehicles (the traditional 5-digit code from the key tag or driver's door lock cylinder is not sufficient and will not be issued for key

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	7 bulletins
U3000 U3000 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
B14F0 B14F0 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Forward Collision Avoidance	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	4 bulletins
P2610 P2610 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	4 bulletins
P0638	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	3 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 2.2%

failed emissions

983 initial inspections of 959 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 CX-9	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.2%	3.0%	983
Failed the safety inspection	2.3%	1.9%	983
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.10%	0.22%	983
Miles driven a year	10,594	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	87,617	82,833	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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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-9 by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2023 A 0 13 23 mpg 2022 A 0 11 23 mpg 2021 A 1 40 24 mpg 2020 A 1 19 24 mpg 2019 B 2 53 24 mpg 2018 this page B 2 128 24 mpg 2017 A 0 61 24 mpg 2016 A 0 107 24 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 CX-9

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Mazda CX-9 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Mazda CX-9. The most serious on file is 21V875000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Mazda CX-9?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Mazda CX-9 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (85/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Mazda CX-9?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Mazda CX-9, the best EPA combined figure is 24 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Mazda CX-9?

Transport Canada measured it at 199.6 in long, 77.6 in wide (body, without mirrors), 67.7 in tall, on a 115.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,050–4,341 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 2018 Mazda CX-9?

Owners have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda CX-9, most often about engine, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 4 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 2018 Mazda CX-9?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Mazda CX-9 is 3 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 ULEV125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Mazda CX-9?

The manufacturer has filed 470 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Mazda CX-9, most often covering equipment, electrical system, 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 2018 Mazda CX-9 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Mazda CX-9 failed the emissions check on 2.2% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	128	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	470	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	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.

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