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Mercedes-Benz · Compact Sedan

2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class

Hybrid
Subcompact Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
75 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints1 crash reported 7
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 28 mpg
Starting MSRP3 trims · manufacturer $64,350
2027202620252024

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CLE300 4matic (Coupe), is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 7 complaints, most often about the engine. Manufacturer pricing runs from $64,350 to $73,850 across 3 trims.

Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →
TrimPowertrainDriveMSRPHPTorqueMPG combSeatsCargo (2nd row)Wheels
AMG CLE 53 CoupeHybridAWD$72,800443 hp413 lb-ft23 mpg—9.8 cu-ft19 in
CLE 300 4MATIC CabrioletHybridAWD$64,350255 hp295 lb-ft26 mpg4—18 in
CLE 450 4MATIC CabrioletHybridAWD$73,850375 hp369 lb-ft26 mpg4—19 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
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
CLE300 4matic (Coupe)HybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion243428$2,950
CLE300 4matic (Convertible)HybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion233226$3,150
CLE450 4matic (Convertible)HybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion233226$3,150
CLE450 4matic (Coupe)HybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion233326$3,150
AMG CLE53 4matic Plus (coupe)HybridAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion202723$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47760, 47561, 47562, 47563, 48454.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
CLE300 4matic (Coupe)8 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 20 / California LEV-III SULEV20All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
CLE300 4matic (Convertible)8 / 10California LEV-III SULEV20 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 20All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
AMG CLE53 4matic Plus (coupe), CLE450 4matic (Convertible), CLE450 4matic (Coupe)7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 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.

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The cheapest ownership win

Insurers price the 2024 CLE-Class 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 →

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

310,667 vehicles built Jan 31, 2018 – May 18, 2026
Problem Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CLA, 2019-2022 A-Class, 2022-2023 C-Class, 2024 CLE, 2020-2026 GLA/GLB, and 2023-2024 GLC vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific model information. The micro-switch in the driver's door lock may corrode and fail to detect an open door, preventing the electronic parking brake or "Auto-Park" feature from engaging automatically. This may result in a vehicle rollaway. Risk A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will replace the driver's door lock, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 31, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V481000 reported Jul 24, 2026 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

2026050004
144,049 vehicles 91% reported repaired built Sep 19, 2022 – Feb 6, 2026
Problem Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024-2026 AMG GT, C-Class, E-Class, SL, CLE, and GLC vehicles. The infotainment control unit may reset while the vehicle is in motion and cause the instrument panel display to go blank. Risk An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the infotainment control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2026. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2026050004. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 8, 2026.
NHTSA campaign 26V281000 reported May 1, 2026 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Back Over Prevention

2,025 vehicles 96% reported repaired
Problem Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2024 CLE 300 Convertible, CLE 300 Coupe, CLE 450 Convertible, CLE 450 Coupe, E 350, E 450 Station Wagon, E 450, and AMG CLE 53 Coupe vehicles. A software error in the MBUX multimedia system may deactivate certain vehicle systems, including the cross-traffic alert that applies the brakes automatically in certain driving situations. Risk An automatic emergency braking system that does not function as intended can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the MBUX multimedia system software and parking control unit settings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2024. This is a phased recall, phase 1 owner letters will be mailed November 12, 2024, November 1, 2024, and January 14, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign 24V688000 reported Sep 13, 2024 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

2024030008
31,848 vehicles 96% reported repaired
Problem Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 C300, AMG C43, S580e, S580, Maybach S580, Maybach S680, AMG SL43, AMGSL63, GLC300, EQE350, EQE500, EQS450, EQS580, AMG EQS, 2023 S500, AMG SL55, AMG EQE, 2024 E350, E450, AMG C63e S, CLE300 Coupe, CLE450 Coupe, and GLC300 Coupe vehicles. The 80-Amp fuses may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the fuses to fail. Risk An 80-Amp fuse that fails can result in a sudden loss of drive power or a loss of critical safety functions such as the restraint systems or instrument cluster, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Additionally, there could be an increased risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will replace the main fuse boxes, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 5, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024030008.
NHTSA campaign 24V115000 reported Feb 16, 2024 Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC 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 CLE-Class

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. Mercedes-Benz 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 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class

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 CLE-Class →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
7complaints filed

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

6.4 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 10,968 CLE-Class built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2024: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Engine 2
Electrical System 2
Unspecified 1
Fuel/Propulsion System 1
Parking Brake 1
Back Over Prevention 1

In owners' own words

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

The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE300. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where unknown repairs were performed.
Engine at 4,900 miles Apr 7, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11653240
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE450 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Pro Contact Run Flat SSRMOE, Tire Size: 245/40/R19xl, DOT Number: 16Y0FBK38 PF850. The tires were original equipment. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side tire had a blowout and tread separation.
Tires at 6,000 miles Sep 17, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11764916
I am filing this safety complaint regarding my 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300, VIN , license plate . The recall concerns the instrument cluster / infotainment control unit software.
Electrical System May 12, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11737352
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V688000 (Park Brake, Back Over Prevention, Equipment). The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped in traffic, the vehicle behind him ran into the rear end of the vehicle, causing him to be pushed into the vehicle in…
Parking Brake at 11,000 miles Jul 24, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11675894
The contact owns a 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE300. The contact stated after purchasing the vehicle and leaving the dealer, while driving 40 MPH, the Low Tire Pressure warning light illuminated.
Engine at 60,000 miles Mar 18, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11578040

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 Mercedes-Benz itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 9.1 per 100,000 built. Every CLE-Class model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

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

Driver-assist crash reports (1)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
1report filed

1 severity unknown

May 2025 to May 2025 · 0 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: Distronic+ with Active Steering Assist (1)

Crash partner: Other 1

Filed by: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
May 2025Level 2 · Distronic+ with Active Steering AssistOtherunknownWA70 mph855-11157

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

The subject MY 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 4MATIC is equipped with L2 ADAS DISTRONIC Plus with Active Steering Assist and was being driven on [redacted], in the first left lane on [redacted] east on a gradual curve towards [redacted] in Washington State under wet roadway conditions.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC report 855-11157 May 2025 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 856
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 736 service bulletins, 48 over-the-air updates, 37 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Structure, Visibility/Wiper, Steering, Exterior Lighting.

  • LI46.10-P-080896 Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Steering
  • Complaint Slight creaking noises when steering. Cause Noises may come from one or more sleeves of the horn contact plate. Remedy Remove the horn contact plate and check the sleeves for noise; see attached video. If necessary, apply lubricant to the sleeves.
  • LI42.10-P-078779 Service bulletin
    2026-09-22 · Service Brakes
  • Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration is most likely due to excessive lateral runout on the rotor or hub/wheel bearing, the system as
  • LI82.62-P-078631 Service bulletin
    2026-09-14 · Structure — Body
  • Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Note: Please refer to this document i
  • LI35.31-P-080353 Service bulletin
    2026-09-14 · Power Train
  • Complaint Whining / humming noises (described as foghorn‑like) from the drivetrain in the rear axle area during cornering. (figure 1) On the above‑mentioned vehicles with a mileage up to 15,000 km (about 9,300 mi), noises can occur from the rear axle differential. Cause Drivetrain resonance caused by the gear mesh of the ring and pinion in the rear axle differential in combination with installed d
  • LI54.71-P-079104 Service bulletin
    2026-09-11 · Electrical System
  • Complaint Traffic sign symbol for "Traffic Sign Assist" is blinking in instrument cluster without obvious cause usually with one of the following scenarios: • Flashing without a speed limit ("‑ ‑"). • Flashing when current vehicle speed is under speed limit. • Flashing between US speed limit symbol and European speed limit symbol. NOTE: • Verify that the concern falls under one of the attachment v
  • LI72.40-P-080776 Service bulletin
    2026-09-10 · Structure — Body
  • Complaint When using the one‑touch (automatic) window closing function on one or both front door windows, the customer may report one of the following concerns: • The window begins closing, then reverses direction before reaching the fully closed position. • The window loses normalization and can only be closed by pulling and holding the window switch until the window reaches the fully closed posi
  • LI82.60-P-079747 Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Electrical System
  • Complaint The Apple Music app is no longer available in the head unit apps menu after updating the software of the (A26/17 ‑ MBUX multimedia system + instrument cluster (head unit)) to E333.8 / A236 904 19 00. Cause Head unit software (CIVIC206) Remedy NOTE: Do not replace any component parts The new Apple Music app version is now available. The app should automatically be downloaded and available
  • LI42.10-P-063502 Service bulletin
    2026-09-01 · Service Brakes
  • Complaint Noises/ squealing from the service brake in various driving situations and ambient conditions. Cause Frictional vibrations Remedy The intent of this document is to reduce noise from high performance AMG brakes. AMG brakes are designed for performance under high load and in certain scenarios, can emit noise. Some scenarios are normal and some are induced by driving style like those listed

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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class failed the emissions check on 3.7% of first inspections — higher than the 1.5% for every 2024 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.51% (every 2024 vehicle: 0.74%).

New York inspections 3.7%

failed emissions

590 initial inspections of 577 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2024 CLE-ClassEvery 2024 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.7%1.5%459
Failed the safety inspection0.51%0.74%590
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.17%0.17%590
Miles driven a year4,9859,424odometer at inspection
Average odometer11,24121,104odometer 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).

Common questions about the 2024 CLE-Class

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $64,350 for the CLE 300 4MATIC Cabriolet AWD to $73,850 for the CLE 450 4MATIC Cabriolet AWD, across 3 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 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class. The most serious on file is 26V481000, covering Latches/Locks/Linkages. 2 campaigns are 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 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (75/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class, the best EPA combined figure is 28 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class, most often about engine, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?

The EPA smog rating for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class runs 7 to 8 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 SULEV20, California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 20, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class?

The manufacturer has filed 856 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class, most often covering electrical system, structure, visibility/wiper. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. 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 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class failed the emissions check on 3.7% of first inspections — higher than the 1.5% for every 2024 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.51% (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 Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class trim is the best value?

$9,500 separates the cheapest of the 3 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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates5 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints7NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins856NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports1NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment3 trimsManufacturer press kitTranscribed 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.

JSON for this page · API