2024 Mazda CX-90
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and hybrid large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CX-90 4WD, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 458 complaints, most often about the steering. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $39,595 to $59,950 across 11 trims.
| Trim | Powertrain | Drive | MSRP | HP | Torque | MPG comb | Seats | Cargo (2nd row) | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 Turbo Select | Gas | AWD | $39,595 | 280 hp | 332 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 8 | 40 cu-ft | 19 in |
| 3.3 Turbo Preferred | Gas | AWD | $43,335 | 280 hp | 332 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 8 | 40 cu-ft | 19 in |
| 3.3 Turbo Preferred Plus | Gas | AWD | $45,900 | 280 hp | 332 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 8 | 40 cu-ft | 19 in |
| 3.3 Turbo Premium | Gas | AWD | $48,900 | 280 hp | 332 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 7 | 40 cu-ft | 21 in |
| 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus | Gas | AWD | $52,950 | 280 hp | 332 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 7 | 40 cu-ft | 21 in |
| 3.3 Turbo S | Gas | AWD | $51,750 | 340 hp | 369 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 7 | 40.1 cu-ft | 21 in |
| 3.3 Turbo S Premium | Gas | AWD | $56,450 | 340 hp | 369 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 6 | 40.1 cu-ft | 21 in |
| 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus | Gas | AWD | $59,950 | 340 hp | 369 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 6 | 40.1 cu-ft | 21 in |
| PHEV Preferred | Plug-in hybrid | AWD | $47,445 | 323 hp | 369 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 8 | 40 cu-ft | 19 in |
| PHEV Premium | Plug-in hybrid | AWD | $52,900 | 323 hp | 369 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 7 | 40 cu-ft | 21 in |
| PHEV Premium Plus | Plug-in hybrid | AWD | $56,950 | 323 hp | 369 lb-ft | 25 mpg | 7 | 40 cu-ft | 21 in |
MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-90 4WD | Plug-in hybrid | 4WD | 2.5L 4-cyl + 68 kW DCPM | 24 | 27 | 25 (56 MPGe blended) | 26 mi electric | 58 | 2.1 h | $3,300 |
| CX-90 4WD | Hybrid | 4WD | 3.3L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion | 24 | 28 | 25 | — | — | — | $2,700 |
| CX-90 4WD | Hybrid | 4WD | 3.3L 6-cyl turbo + 44V Li-Ion | 23 | 28 | 25 | — | — | — | $3,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49030, 46607, 46608.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-90 4WD | 6 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III ULEV50 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| CX-90 4WD | 6 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 | 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.
The cheapest ownership win
Insurers price the 2024 CX-90 very differently, and the gap between the best and worst quote on the same car and driver is usually larger than any option you are weighing on this page.
How to compare cover →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 (11)
Source: NHTSA recall databasePower Train
7024JElectrical System
7124JElectrical System
7024JPower Train
7024JForward Collision Avoidance
6724ESteering
6524APower Train
6323JBack Over Prevention
6223JForward Collision Avoidance
6123HSteering
5923FThese 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
Steering:Rack And Pinion — Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 26 complaints and several Early Warning Reporting (EWR) Field Reports alleging intermittent and brief increases in steering effort (described as “sticky steering”) during the drive cycle in model year (MY) 2024 CX-90 vehicles manufactured by Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) subject to Recall 24V2022. In each complaint, the vehicle had the recall remedy completed prior to the reported incident. Recall 24V022 addresses a sudden and unexpected change of steering effort while driving caused by excessive worm gear friction force. After receiving the recall 24V022 remedy, consumers report sudden increases of steering effort while drivin
Opened Jan 26, 2026 · action RQ26002 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific CX-90
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2024 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.
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 2024 Mazda CX-90, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2024 Mazda CX-90
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 CX-90 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database15 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 15 injuries · 0 deaths reported
60 per 10,000 built · Mazda reported 76,360 CX-90 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2023: 48 · 2024: 95 · 2025: 73 · 2026: 242
Most-cited components
In depth: steering problems → · engine problems → · electrical problems → · automatic emergency braking 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 contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V022000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Started the vehicle and got the message "Hybrid system Malfunction. Have the vehicle inspected". Vehicle was shaking and would not go above 30 MPH
I am reporting a safety problem with the adaptive cruise control feature of my 2023 Mazda CX-90. The adaptive cruise control system does not detect the lanes correctly and applies the brakes unnecessarily, even when there are no cars in front of me. This happens especially on curves and when there are trucks on other lanes.
Driver side mirror shakes at speeds over 45 mph which makes viability in driver side mirror unsafe and distracting while driving
Hybrid system electrical leakage. Literally makes the car unusable. Dozens of examples on both Reddit and Facebook
Vehicle is in normal mode with EV mode engaged, car is going 70mph and suddenly accelerator stops working and decelerates to ~60mph until vehicle suddenly aggressively switches to gas mode and accelerates again
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: 20 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 20 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 26 per 100,000 built. Every CX-90 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 25 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 15,000 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.
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 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 13% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- 3 years or 36,000 miles · Mazda warranty extension CSP14 CSP15Mazda Rear Brake Pad Customer Service Program Limited Warranty Extension – (CSP14 – CX-90 models) and (CSP15 – CX-70 models) Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to implement two Customer Service…
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Mazda warranty extension CSP14Dear Mazda Owner: You are receiving this notice because Mazda’s records indicate that you have a 2024-2026 Mazda CX-90 vehicle manufactured before November 19, 2025.
- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Mazda warranty extension SSPD9SSPD9 – Adding coverage for Towing Subject: Notification of Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D9 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70, SKYACTIV-G 2.5 PHEV – Water Heater Malfunction…
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 →
Most often about: Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Service Brakes, Structure.
- PF-26-04 Other2026-09-30 · Engine
- SUBJECT: ORDERING REQUIREMENT FOR AT COMPONENTS FOR H3T (INLINE 6) Use this guide before ordering or replacing an AT component on applicable H3T vehicles. QUICK CHECKLIST BEFORE ORDERING • Confirm the vehicle is a CX-90 (KK) or CX-70 (KJ) with H3T and is within the applicable market coverage. • In GEPC, identify the AT component part number for the vehicle. • Use the GEPC lookup tables below to d
- 09-027-26 Service bulletin2026-09-29 · Electrical System
- DESCRIPTION Some CX-70 and CX-90 PHEV vehicles may fail to start (enter READY mode) in cold weather, but the vehicle can often be started successfully on the next attempt. This may occur when leakage current between connector terminals causes the MAIN Relay to be falsely detected as ON. As a result, the Battery ECU may incorrectly determine the relay status, preventing READY mode activation and re
- CSP14_CSP15 Dlr FAQs b Warranty extension2026-09-24 · Service Brakes
- CSP14 – 2024-2026 CX-90 Subject: Mazda Rear Brake Pad Customer Service Program Limited Warranty Extension – (CSP14 – CX-90 models) - Phase 1 Mailing – May 2026 In late April we announced two Customer Service Programs (CSP14 & CSP15) where certain vehicles are covered under these two Limited Warranty Extensions, (defined as “Covered Vehicle”); 2024-2026 CX-90 (CSP14) and 2025-2026 CX-70 (CSP15) pro
- CSP14 Repair d Warranty extension2026-09-24 · Service Brakes
- CSP14 – 2024-2026 CX-90 Subject: Mazda Rear Brake Pad Customer Service Program Limited Warranty Extension – (CSP14 – CX-90 models) - Phase 1 Mailing – May 2026 In late April we announced two Customer Service Programs (CSP14 & CSP15) where certain vehicles are covered under these two Limited Warranty Extensions, (defined as “Covered Vehicle”); 2024-2026 CX-90 (CSP14) and 2025-2026 CX-70 (CSP15) pro
- SA-012-26d Service bulletin2026-09-18 · Electrical System
- DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience a message "TCU Malfunction. Have the Vehicle Inspected" in the instrument cluster. Additional symptoms that may occur: Connected Vehicle One Time Passcode (OTP) may fail. Connected Vehicle Remote functions may fail. The following DTC's may be stored: B1252:87-8B:TCU - COMMUNICATION ERROR WITH CONNECTIVITY MASTER UNIT (CMU) U0198:00-03:CMU - COMMUNICATION
- SA-042-26a Service bulletin2026-09-17 · Unknown Or Other
- Mazda Connected Services - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-042/26 06/30/26 DESCRIPTION Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Index General Questions MAZDA CONNECT Indication Setup and Getting Started Dealer Processes Registration / Enrollment / Take-Over Customer Subscription Status WI-FI Gene
- SA-061-26 Service bulletin2026-09-17 · Power Train
- DESCRIPTION Use this guide before ordering or replacing an AT component on applicable H3T vehicles. QUICK CHECKLIST BEFORE ORDERING Confirm the vehicle is a CX-90 (KK) or CX-70 (KJ) with H3T and is within the applicable market coverage. • In GEPC, identify the AT component part number for the vehicle. • Use the GEPC lookup tables below to determine whether the vehicle requires Table A or Table B p
- SA-041-26a Service bulletin2026-09-11 · 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0DAB P0DAB on Mazda → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 15 bulletins · 1 owner report |
| P0AA6 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 12 bulletins |
| U3000 U3000 on Mazda → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 11 bulletins |
| B1252 B1252 on Mazda → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 10 bulletins |
| P0531 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Unknown Or Other | 10 bulletins |
| U0198 U0198 on Mazda → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 10 bulletins |
| B10A3 B10A3 on Mazda → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Exterior Lighting · Headlight assembly → | 6 bulletins |
| B1A03 B1A03 on Mazda → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Seat Belts | 4 bulletins |
| C0023 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 4 bulletins |
| P0504 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Service Brakes · Brake pads → | 3 bulletins |
| P0D6D | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 3 bulletins |
| P2507 P2507 on Mazda → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 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.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — higher than the 1.5% for every 2024 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.97% (every 2024 vehicle: 0.74%).
failed emissions
4,945 initial inspections of 4,887 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2024 CX-90 | Every 2024 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 2.5% | 1.5% | 3,674 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.97% | 0.74% | 4,945 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.18% | 0.17% | 4,945 |
| Miles driven a year | 9,944 | 9,424 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 21,911 | 21,104 | 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 2024 vehicle” is every 2024 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-90 by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2024 CX-90
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsHow much does the 2024 Mazda CX-90 cost?
Manufacturer pricing runs from $39,595 for the 3.3 Turbo Select AWD to $59,950 for the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus AWD, across 11 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.
Does the 2024 Mazda CX-90 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 11 recall campaigns for the 2024 Mazda CX-90, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 23V429000, covering Steering. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2024 Mazda CX-90?
NHTSA gave the 2024 Mazda CX-90 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 F (52/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2024 Mazda CX-90?
Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2024 Mazda CX-90, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What do owners complain about on the 2024 Mazda CX-90?
Owners have filed 458 complaints with NHTSA about the 2024 Mazda CX-90, most often about steering, engine, electrical system. Of those, 15 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 15 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 2024 Mazda CX-90?
The EPA smog rating for the 2024 Mazda CX-90 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 — California LEV-III ULEV50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2024 Mazda CX-90?
The manufacturer has filed 659 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2024 Mazda CX-90, most often covering electrical system, unknown or other, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-30. 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 2024 Mazda CX-90 do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — higher than the 1.5% for every 2024 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.97% (every 2024 vehicle: 0.74%). 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.
Which 2024 Mazda CX-90 trim is the best value?
$20,355 separates the cheapest of the 11 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.
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 | 2 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 11 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 458 | 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 | 659 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 1 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | none | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | 11 trims | Manufacturer press kit | Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from. |
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. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.