2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas large sedan with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the S550e, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 20 complaints, most often about the visibility/wiper.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S550e | Plug-in hybrid | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 85 kW DCPM | 24 | 30 | 26 (31 MPGe blended) | 14 mi electric | 59 | 1.9 h | $3,150 |
| S550 | Gas | RWD | 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 18 | 26 | 21 | — | — | — | $3,900 |
| S550 4matic | Gas | 4WD | 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 16 | 25 | 20 | — | — | — | $4,100 |
| S550 4matic Coupe | Gas | 4WD | 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 17 | 25 | 20 | — | — | — | $4,100 |
| S550 Convertible | Gas | RWD | 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 17 | 25 | 20 | — | — | — | $4,100 |
| AMG S63 4matic | Gas | 4WD | 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 15 | 23 | 18 | — | — | — | $4,550 |
| AMG S63 4matic Coupe | Gas | 4WD | 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 15 | 23 | 18 | — | — | — | $4,550 |
| AMG S63 4matic Convertible | Gas | 4WD | 5.5L 8-cyl turbo | 14 | 22 | 17 | — | — | — | $4,850 |
| AMG S65 | Gas | RWD | 6.0L 12-cyl turbo | 13 | 22 | 16 | — | — | — | $5,150 |
| S600 | Gas | RWD | 6.0L 12-cyl turbo | 13 | 22 | 16 | — | — | — | $5,150 |
| S65 AMG Convertible | Gas | RWD | 6.0L 12-cyl turbo | 14 | 21 | 16 | — | — | — | $5,150 |
| S65 AMG Coupe | Gas | RWD | 6.0L 12-cyl turbo | 13 | 21 | 16 | — | — | — | $5,150 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38460, 38117, 38118, 38143, 37714, 38157, 38144, 37617, 38065, 38064.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S550e | 6–9 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110 / California LEV-II SULEV30/TZEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| AMG S63 4matic, AMG S63 4matic Convertible, AMG S63 4matic Coupe, S550, S550 4matic, S550 4matic Coupe, S550 Convertible | 5–6 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 160 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| AMG S65, S600, S65 AMG Convertible, S65 AMG Coupe | 6 / 10 | LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 | 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. Gas-guzzler tax applies to AMG S63 4matic Convertible, AMG S65, S600, S65 AMG Convertible, S65 AMG Coupe — a federal excise the manufacturer pays and prices in.
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 vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 577 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Electric |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 4 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | RWD/Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 7 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Parking assist
Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking
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: AMG S63, S550, S550-4M, S550e). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 198.0–208.3 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 74.8 in |
| Height | 55.5–59.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.1–124.4 in |
| Track, front | 64.2–64.6 in |
| Track, rear | 64.2–65.0 in |
| Curb weight | 4,564–5,038 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 53/47 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 14 configurations: S 400 4Matic 4-door Sedan, S 550 4Matic 4-door Sedan LWB, S 550 4Matic 4-door Sedan SWB, S 550E 4-door Sedan, S 600 4-door Sedan, S 63 AMG 4Matic 4-door Sedan …. 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.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module 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 databaseStructure
2021070010Communication
2021030005Electrical System
2021020025Communication
2019120008Latches/Locks/Linkages
2018010009Steering
2017120009Seat Belts
Seat Belts
2016110006Exterior Lighting
2016100004These 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
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars — Front Roof Panel Detachment closed
On January 8, 2021, after ongoing review with Mercedes Benz, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-001 to assess allegations of front roof panel detachments while driving at highway speeds in certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) C-Class vehicles. The subject front roof panel is a stationary panel composed of polycarbonate and is attached to the vehicle via adhesive at the time of manufacture. The panel is found on subject vehicles equipped with panoramic sunroofs. Over time, the subject panels may exhibit cosmetic degradation leading to replacement of the panel, a procedure which entails: removal of the old panel and adh
Opened Jan 8, 2021 · closed Oct 14, 2021 · action PE21001 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific S-Class
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2017 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-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 S-Class →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
13 per 10,000 built · Mercedes-Benz reported 15,651 S-Class built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 2
Most-cited components
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 leather dashboard came off. We were offered to fix it for $6,000, even though the car had an extended warranty through the dealership. Mercedes corporate and the dealership came back and said they would fix it for $3,000. We reluctantly paid the $3,000 to have the dashboard fixed.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while the vehicle was in for routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered that the front driver's side CV-boot had cracked and was leaking oil. The contact was advised that the CV-boot could cause the front axle to eventually fail.
Steering wheel will move in and out, but has stopped moving up and down. The steering wheel is stuck in the UP position. This has caused me to readjust all my seat settings and has made it more difficult to see the dash
This car since new has had moisture in the headlight from rain or washing. MB has installed moisture packets in the headlights that they said would fix the problem. It never did. I called the dealership and complained, they said sorry but that was their fix (MB TSB LI82.10-P-062051).
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and closing the sunroof, he heard a cracking sound and the sunroof failed to close properly. The contact stated he attempted to open and close the sunroof however, the sunroof only partially closed.
I have observed on multiple occasions when the vehicle is brought to a complete stop during driving in traffic, the engine will stall / shut off. When this occurs the engine has to be re-started with the ignition switch to be able to drive the car 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 Mercedes-Benz itself: 8 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 10 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 51 per 100,000 built. Every S-Class model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz bulletin CL - EW M157Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the…
- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz warranty extension EW - Vacuum Pump M157In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is extending the warranty coverage on the…
- 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz warranty extension EW - Pressure Trans M157In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC is extending the warranty coverage on the…
- 13 years or 156,000 miles, whichever comes first · Mercedes-Benz bulletin ELW - M278 CatThis NCU replaces the prior NCU issued on May 11, 2023, and clarifies replacement part information.
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 Mercedes-Benz warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Exterior Lighting, Equipment, Suspension.
- LI27.00-P-073124 Service bulletin2026-09-26 · Power Train
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and more targeted diagnosis, Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) has been developed and integrated into XENTRY Diagnosis. This ensures an automated diagnosis process. Cause As part of t
- LI42.10-P-078779 Service bulletin2026-09-22 · 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 bulletin2026-09-14 · 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
- LI27.10-P-075869 Service bulletin2026-09-14 · Power Train
- Complaint Only vehicles with a variable transfer case are affected. This can be identified through control unit N45 or N15/7 in the quick test. When accelerating with light load, vibrations or jolting sensation may come from the drivetrain. It may be mistaken for a harsh shift. Cause Modified oil quality of the transfer case over time Remedy 1. Check initial quick test for faults in the following
- LI27.00-P-073124 Service bulletin2026-09-04 · Power Train
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and more targeted diagnosis, Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) has been developed and integrated into XENTRY Diagnosis. This ensures an automated diagnosis process. Cause As part of
- LI42.10-P-063502 Service bulletin2026-09-01 · 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
- LI 27.10-P-080851 Service bulletin2026-08-29 · Power Train
- Complaint Intermittent shift feel or thud/clunk noise perceived, such as a brief jerk or transmission reaction during certain driving situations. May be most noticeable when transitioning from a coasting condition to accelerator pedal application. May occur in all drive modes. Cause Dual‑clutch transmissions (DCT) inherently exhibit more dynamic shifting behavior compared to other types of transmi
- LI46.35-P-067339 Service bulletin2026-08-28 · Steering
- Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). Complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control the vehicle. Cause Ball screw drive (KGT) of electric steering damaged by: 1. External force due to:
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 DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.37% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).
failed emissions
536 initial inspections of 523 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2017 S-Class | Every 2017 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 2.5% | 3.7% | 531 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 0.37% | 2.1% | 536 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.37% | 0.25% | 536 |
| Miles driven a year | 6,323 | 10,048 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 58,868 | 93,238 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2017 vehicle” is every 2017 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
S-Class by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2017 S-Class
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 10 recall campaigns for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The most serious on file is 23V854000, covering Structure. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it D (60/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Across the 12 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Transport Canada measured it at 198.0–208.3 in long, 74.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 55.5–59.1 in tall, on a 116.1–124.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,564–5,038 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, most often about visibility/wiper, steering, unspecified. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
The EPA smog rating for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class runs 5 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-II SULEV30/TZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 160, Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
The manufacturer has filed 945 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, most often covering electrical system, power train, exterior lighting. 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 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — lower than the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.37% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 12 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 12 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 10 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 20 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | none | NHTSA NCAP | NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe. |
| Service bulletins | 945 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 2 | 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 | 13 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.