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2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris

Van
0 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-11-04
D
Safety Signal
60 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 10
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 28
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
20232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris is a van; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 28 complaints, most often about the tires.

2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

No EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleCargo Van
Doors5
GVWR classClass 2: 6,001 - 10,000 lb (2,722 - 4,536 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower208 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2

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. Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (10)

Source: NHTSA recall database
○minor

Tires

VS2LASTRE
24,359 vehicles 27% reported repaired
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris vans. The value for the maximum combined load weight capacity of the tires is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire and Loading Information." Risk An overloaded vehicle may cause tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will install corrected labels on the B-pillar and fuel filler door. Dealers will also inspect and replace incorrect tires, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning April 19, 2024. Owners may contact DVUSA at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2LASTRE.
NHTSA campaign 22V482000 reported Jul 7, 2022 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

VS2KRAUCH
42,132 vehicles 68% reported repaired
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The connection of the upper and lower fuel hoses to the engine may be insecure, which can result in a fuel leak. Risk A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel hose connections, and replace the clamps and fuel hose, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2KRAUCH.
NHTSA campaign 22V134000 reported Mar 8, 2022 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Back Over Prevention

VS2RUEKAM
17,093 vehicles 50% reported repaired
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. A defective memory chip in the rearview camera may cause the display image to freeze. Risk A frozen rearview image does not show the live view of what is currently behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2RU54KAM.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V099000 reported Feb 22, 2022 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VS2BE42BRE
28,743 vehicles 72% reported repaired
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The brake fluid reservoir may be incorrectly mounted, which can allow it to detach. Risk A detached brake fluid reservoir can leak brake fluid, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and repair the brake fluid reservoir mounting, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 2, 2022. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2BE42BRE.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V066000 reported Feb 8, 2022 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electrical System

VSXHERMPOS
84,345 vehicles 97% reported repaired
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris and 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash. Risk Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash. Fix DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the software communication module for the automatic emergency call system, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VSXHERMPOS.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V055000 reported Feb 5, 2021 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electrical System

VS2SITZAB
15,160 vehicles 54% reported repaired built Feb 5, 2015 – Sep 11, 2019
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The integrated backup battery compartment located underneath the front passenger's seat may not have its own cover, potentially exposing the battery when the seat is moved forward. Risk If conductive material, such as metal, unintentionally drops into the opening and contacts the terminals on the battery, an electrical short can occur, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz dealers will install covers over the battery compartment area, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on December 2, 2019. The recall began March 9, 2020. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SITZAB.
NHTSA campaign 19V715000 reported Oct 8, 2019 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Unknown Or Other

VSX566ZP25
19 vehicles 42% reported repaired built Apr 12, 2018 – Sep 20, 2019
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Sprinter and Metris vehicles. The vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks. Risk Failure to identify loose safety related parts can increase the risk of crash and injury. Fix DVUSA will notify owners, and vehicles will be returned to the reassembly plant for comprehensive inspection and, if necessary, corrective action, free of charge. The recall began November 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VSX566ZP25.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V693000 reported Oct 2, 2019 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Steering

VS2LENKEPS
2 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Jul 11, 2018 – Jul 11, 2018
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. An internal sensor within the electric power steering unit may have been improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the deactivation of the electric power steering assist. Risk An unexpected loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of crash. Fix DVUSA will notify owners, and Metris dealers will replace the steering unit, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2LENKEPS.
NHTSA campaign 19V489000 reported Jun 25, 2019 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Unknown Or Other

VSX566ZP25
7 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Apr 12, 2018 – Dec 28, 2018
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Metris vehicles. The affected vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks. Risk Failure to identify loose safety related parts can increase the risk of crash and injury. Fix DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will complete the final quality inspection, free of charge. The recall began May 17, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VSX566ZP25.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V222000 reported Mar 20, 2019 Daimler Vans USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Power Train

6 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Nov 15, 2017 – Jan 9, 2018
Problem Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. The drive shaft securing bolts may loosen at the automatic transmission flange. Risk If the bolts loosen and fall out, the driveshaft may separate causing a loss of drive, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. Fix DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission flange, securing bolts, and clean the shaft seal, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
NHTSA campaign 18V497000 reported Jul 29, 2018 Daimler Vans 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Metris

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Type the VIN and the WhichTrim recall report sets aside the campaigns that name a different engine or drive, and narrows the rest to its build month.

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 Mercedes-Benz Metris, 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris

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 Metris →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
28complaints filed

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

35 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 8,022 Metris built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 1

Most-cited components

Tires 14
Wheels 5
Back Over Prevention 3
Steering 3
Unspecified 3
Engine 2

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 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V482000 (TIRES); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
Tires Nov 22, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11626794
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris. The contact stated the vehicle had displayed that there were failures with several safety features. The instrument panel had failed to display any information regarding any safety features. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer who had diagnosed that the brake sensors had failed.
Service Brakes at 10,000 miles Sep 30, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11617174
The check engine light came on, with code P052E indicating a positive crankcase ventilation valve failure. Dealer inspection revealed the PCV valve is sticking and recommended a replacement with a $2100 charge.
Engine Sep 12, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11614205
Recall 22V482 pending since Sept 2022, still no repair available. Tires pose a safety risk
Wheels Aug 22, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11610157
The digital display system that indicates how many miles you have left until empty is not accurate. The dashboard display indicated that I had about 85 miles of range left before my tank was empty.
Electrical System Apr 21, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11518320
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V482000 (Tires) and 22V099000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount time for the recall repairs.
Back Over Prevention Nov 21, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11494432

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 12 per 100,000 built. Every Metris 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.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 38
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-07-01
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 37 service bulletins, 1 service campaign

Most often about: Equipment, Fuel/Propulsion System, Electrical System, Engine, Unknown Or Other.

  • LI54_30-N-080701 Service bulletin
    2026-07-01 · Unknown Or Other
  • ASSYST PLUS service reminder appears earlier than expected due to vehicle operating conditions Complaint The ASSYST PLUS service reminder appears earlier than expected. The customer or dealer may report that the vehicle did not reach the starting maintenance interval shown in vehicle documentation, option coding, sales literature, or the Owner's Manual. The service reminder may appear significa
  • LI80.20-N-079697 Service bulletin
    2026-06-08 · Structure — Body
  • Acoustic Warning or message occurring when a closed sliding door is not recognized Complaint Customer may state the warning message or indicator accompanied by acoustic tone alerting the sliding door is ajar when the door is completely closed Cause There are several reasons that lead to the failure occurring: - Mechanical damage through bending when loading and unloading - Worn contact plates -->
  • LI49.10-N-080528 Service bulletin
    2026-06-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • OM642 DPF Filter Cracked or Broken Complaint Vehicle will not start or exhibits noisy exhaust. Check Engine Lamp (CEL) is on. Multiple control unit communication and system faults may be present, including but not limited to: 134800, 134900, 11B300, 11EC00, 15E100, 155700, 162500. Additional events codes may include: 134300, 102200, 163400, 16CE00. In many cases, multiple unrelated faults are s
  • LI47.50-N-072080_4 Service bulletin
    2026-05-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • Check engine light on and FC P146264 stored in engine and fuel pump control units Complaint Check engine light active and FC P146264 Temp. and pressure sensor B4/15 is stored in Engine control unit and Fuel pump control unit. Cause Software parameter in Fuel pump control unit. Remedy Update fuel pump control unit (FSCU) to software version A0009024488 A0009030664. Clear fault codes and check for a
  • LI27.19-N-079793 Service bulletin
    2025-09-16 · Power Train
  • Complaint Transmission control unit Y3/8n4 (fully integrated transmission control unit (VGS)) not listed in quick test and/or no communication possible with VGS. Cause Transmission control unit Y3/8n4 Remedy For vehicles with 722.9 transmission: Ensure LI54.15-P-057373 is performed before replacing any component parts. After processing and complying with the above document(s): 1. Perform an igniti
  • LI01.20-N-079115_1 Service bulletin
    2025-04-03 · Engine
  • Check engine light illuminated - Fault code current P04D-B79 The crankcase ventilation system is interrupted. Complaint: Check engine light on. Fault code P04DB79 is current in the engine control module (N3/10). Cause: Open circuit or high resistance to crankcase vent line contact Remedy 1. Check the electrical connector for S208 vent line contact switch. Refer to attached photo of connection loca
  • LI82.35-N-078930 Service bulletin
    2025-03-10 · Visibility/Wiper
  • Warning Lamp "Washer Fluid Empty" Yet Reservoir Is Not Empty Complaint: Warning lamp "washer fluid empty", even thought the washer fluid reservoir is full Cause: Insufficient electrical conductivity of the washer fluid, as the washer fluid was mixed with distilled water. Tip: The washer fluid sensor detects the electrical conductivity. If air is present without electrical conductivity between th
  • LI07.70-N-078824 Service bulletin
    2025-02-12 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • Complaint Fault code P06DA00 is found current or stored in engine control unit. Check engine light may be activated. Cause Various causes Remedy Up to Model year 2018: Fault code P06DA00 can be disregarded if not activating the check engine light, unless otherwise specified in the gui- ded test. The vehicle continues to operate as designed. Further causes should be investigated if complaint of c

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.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P052E
P052E on Mercedes-Benz →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 owner report

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 DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 26, 2026, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris failed the emissions check on 6.9% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.68% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 6.9%

failed emissions

293 initial inspections of 284 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 MetrisEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check6.9%3.0%292
Failed the safety inspection0.68%1.9%293
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.68%0.22%293
Miles driven a year12,9359,997odometer at inspection
Average odometer107,30983,190odometer 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).

Common questions about the 2018 Metris

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 10 recall campaigns for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris. The most serious on file is 22V134000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it D (60/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris?

Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris, most often about tires, wheels, back over prevention. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris?

The manufacturer has filed 38 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris, most often covering equipment, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-07-01. 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 Mercedes-Benz Metris do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 26, 2026, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris failed the emissions check on 6.9% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.68% (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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurationsnoneEPA certification recordsThe EPA does not certify vehicles rated over 8,500 lb GVWR, so heavy-duty nameplates have no entry at all.
Emission certificatesnoneEPA emission certificatesThe EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls10NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints28NHTSA 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 bulletins38NHTSA 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 reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No 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 NHTSA9 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe 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 2026-11-04. 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.

JSON for this page · API