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Your vehicleHome›MINI›Cooper› 2017
MINI · Compact Hatchback

2017 MINI Cooper

Gas
Subcompact Cars
12 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3
Complaints6 crash · 3 injured reported 34
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2017 MINI Cooper is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Cooper Convertible, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 34 complaints, most often about the engine.

2017 MINI Cooper

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Cooper ConvertibleGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo283732$2,550
Cooper Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo283832$2,550
Cooper Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo283732$2,550
Cooper ConvertibleGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo273630$2,750
Cooper Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo273630$2,750
Cooper Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD1.5L 3-cyl turbo273630$2,750
Cooper S ConvertibleGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253328$2,950
Cooper S Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253228$2,950
Cooper S Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253228$2,950
Cooper S ConvertibleGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233226$3,150
Cooper S Hardtop 2 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233226$3,150
Cooper S Hardtop 4 doorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233226$3,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37742, 37753, 37755, 37741, 37752, 37754, 38049, 37817, 37819, 37813.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Cooper Convertible, Cooper Hardtop 2 door, Cooper Hardtop 4 door8–9 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Cooper S Convertible, Cooper S Hardtop 2 door, Cooper S Hardtop 4 door8–9 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleCoupe
Doors3
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement1.6 L

Engine Output

Horsepower201 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning

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: Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper S ALL4, Veloster, Value Edition, R-Spec & Veloster Turbo (G Grade is only available)). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length151.2–157.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)68.1 in
Height55.5–56.3 in
Wheelbase98.4–101.2 in
Track, front58.7–59.1 in
Track, rear58.7–59.1 in
Curb weight2,606–2,895 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear60/40 to 63/37

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 3 Door Hatch FWD, 3 Door S Hatch FWD, 5 Door Hatch FWD, 5 Door S Hatch FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2017 Cooper
Other years The 2027 Cooper Recalls MINI recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2017 MINI Cooper 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 →

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Exterior Lighting

16,883 vehicles 98% reported repaired built Sep 1, 2015 – Mar 23, 2017
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 MINI Cooper Clubman, Cooper S Clubman and JCW Clubman vehicles. When the affected vehicles are braking and the turn signals are on, the inner, bumper-mounted, brake light will go out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Risk If the brake light does not illuminate when a turn signal is activated, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix MINI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the vehicle to correct the brake lighting, free of charge. The recall began May 22, 2017. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V222000 reported Mar 31, 2017 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

3,506 vehicles 88% reported repaired built Aug 23, 2016 – Sep 16, 2016
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. Risk If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V914000 reported Dec 20, 2016 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

15,455 vehicles 90% reported repaired built May 9, 2016 – Sep 21, 2016
Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, MINI Hardtop 4 Door Cooper, Mini Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S, MINI Cooper Clubman, and Cooper S Clubman, 2017 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and 2016 528i vehicles. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism of the seat belt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) for the driver's seat may not lock as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Risk In the event of a crash where heavy braking is applied, the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) may activate when the occupant is more forward in the seat, possibly increasing the risk of injury. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's seat belt assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V747000 reported Oct 17, 2016 BMW of North America, 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 Cooper

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. MINI publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →MINI’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2017 MINI Cooper, 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 2017 MINI Cooper

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 Cooper →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
34complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

12 per 10,000 built · MINI reported 27,485 Cooper built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Engine 8
Exterior Lighting 6
Power Train 6
Electrical System 6
Air Bags 4
Visibility/Wiper 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 2017 Mini Cooper S. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was vibrating abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the passenger’s side engine mount needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
Engine at 101,000 miles Mar 9, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11723036
I am reporting a severe safety hazard regarding unprompted, sudden, and uneven vehicle braking that occurs exclusively when the windshield wipers are turned on. While driving in wet conditions with the windshield wipers active, the vehicle intermittently and violently applies the brakes on its own without any input on the brake pedal.
Service Brakes Sep 23, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11766469
Driver left the roadway to the outside of a curve to the left, sideswiping a telephone pole and spinning at least one time back onto and off the roadway again before coming to rest. Impact to the passenger front wheel, and entire passenger side, without impacting front or rear end of the vehicle.
Air Bags Oct 30, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11552767
1. (Lighting) The front lights of the car kept turning off and on. We would always go to the repair shop every time the lights began to malfunction. (Engine) the oil was sticky which was not normal and the water entered inside. (Brakes) When you turned on the car, noises came from the brakes which were concerning and risky to drive in.
Exterior Lighting Apr 13, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11516980
The contact owns a 2017 Mini Cooper. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact applied the parking brake. There was an abnormal scraping noise detected while starting the vehicle. The roll back warning light was illuminated.
Power Train at 43,198 miles Feb 27, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11509250
Rear tail light malfunction due to defective ground, melting connectors to rear break lights and indicators. Lack of break lights and indicators is a risk to motorist safety as a whole
Electrical System Feb 14, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11507276

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 MINI itself: 12 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 12 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 44 per 100,000 built. Every Cooper model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 15k

miles, typically

Half the 15 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 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.

Too few readings for a curve — the 15 on file: 6 under 10k, 3 10k–20k, 1 30k–40k, 2 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k, 1 60k–70k, 1 100k–150k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

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 BMW warranty extension (46) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 499
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-05
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 494 service bulletins, 3 warranty extensions, 1 service campaign

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

  • 11029011 Over-the-air update
    2026-02-05 · Electrical System
  • It was determined that the integrated supply module is not strong enough over the service life of the vehicle which may cause the engine to not start. The integrated supply module needs to be replaced.
  • M010424 Warranty extension
    2025-07-30 · Power Train
  • The automatic transmission limited warranty for the vehicle Selector Lever Magnetic Shift Interlock Mechanism (Gearshift lug assembly portion) has been extended to 10 years/120,000 miles, as determined by the vehicle’s original in-service date, when a gearshift lug repair kit installation procedure is required to be performed to address a displayed Check Control message (CCM) that states P not eng
  • M010224 Service campaign
    2024-10-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System
  • EVAP PURGE (VENT) VALVE LTD WTY EXT (ELW) 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES
  • M310424 Service bulletin
    2024-03-04 · Suspension
  • During inspection and/or diagnosis there is noticeable dirt/grease buildup on the axles near the inner and/or outer CV boots.
  • M511616 Service bulletin
    2023-11-02 · Structure
  • Cavity protection applied to underside of the hood is leaking out onto the wheel arch trim and grille.
  • M610607 Service bulletin
    2023-10-25 · Electrical System
  • MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result, the demand on the batteries has increased. Breakdowns due to an empty battery or problems in the vehicles electrical system can have various causes, most of which are not due to the battery itself. For this reason, a battery replacement will permanently eliminate the problem only in the rarest of cases. The
  • M540123 Service bulletin
    2023-08-01 · Structure — Body — Roof And Pillars
  • ?The panoramic roof sunblind does not close, or jams while closing.
  • M110323 Service bulletin
    2023-08-01 · Communication — Manufacturer Telematics
  • ?BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop: REPLACE CHARGE AIR LINE.

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 2017 MINI Cooper failed the emissions check on 4.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2017 vehicle: 2.1%).

New York inspections 4.5%

failed emissions

726 initial inspections of 705 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2017 CooperEvery 2017 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check4.5%3.7%725
Failed the safety inspection1.4%2.1%726
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.14%0.25%726
Miles driven a year6,90610,048odometer at inspection
Average odometer64,45593,238odometer 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).

Cooper by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A* 0 0 31 mpg2026 A 1 3 32 mpg2025 C 4 6 32 mpg2024 C 2 2 114 mi2023 C 2 12 114 mi2022 C 2 9 114 mi2021 D 4 7 110 mi2020 D 4 12 110 mi2019 B 2 17 32 mpg2018 A 0 8 32 mpg2017 this page B 3 34 32 mpg2016 C 4 51 32 mpg

Common questions about the 2017 Cooper

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2017 MINI Cooper have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2017 MINI Cooper. The most serious on file is 16V914000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2017 MINI Cooper?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2017 MINI Cooper yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (81/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2017 MINI Cooper?

Across the 12 EPA-rated configurations of the 2017 MINI Cooper, the best EPA combined figure is 32 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2017 MINI Cooper?

Transport Canada measured it at 151.2–157.9 in long, 68.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 55.5–56.3 in tall, on a 98.4–101.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,606–2,895 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 MINI Cooper?

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 MINI Cooper, most often about engine, exterior lighting, power train. Of those, 6 involved a crash, 3 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 2017 MINI Cooper?

The EPA smog rating for the 2017 MINI Cooper runs 8 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-III SULEV30/PZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2017 MINI Cooper?

The manufacturer has filed 499 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2017 MINI Cooper, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-02-05. 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 MINI Cooper do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2017 MINI Cooper failed the emissions check on 4.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.7% for every 2017 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (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.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations12 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates12 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints34NHTSA 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 bulletins499NHTSA 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 NHTSA11 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
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 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Cooper The Cooper model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every MINI recall on file All campaigns filed against MINI vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Cooper by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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