⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›Mitsubishi›Outlander› 2023
Mitsubishi · Compact SUV

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander

Plug-in hybrid Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
7 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
A
Safety Signal
91 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2
Complaints4 crash · 5 injured reported 58
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas compact SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Outlander 2WD, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 58 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Mitsubishi Outlander — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Mitsubishi Outlander · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Outlander PHEVPlug-in hybridAWD2.4L 4-cyl + 85 and 100 kW DCPM252726 (43 MPGe blended)38 mi electric526.5 h$2,600
Outlander 2WDGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl243127———$2,500
Outlander Sport 2WDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243027———$2,500
Outlander 4WDGas4WD2.5L 4-cyl243026———$2,600
Outlander Sport 4WDGas4WD2.0L 4-cyl232926———$2,600
Outlander Sport 2WDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl232925———$2,700
Outlander Sport 4WDGas4WD2.4L 4-cyl232825———$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 47280, 45881, 46144, 45886, 46153, 47517, 46154.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Outlander PHEV7 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
Outlander 2WD7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Outlander Sport 2WD, Outlander Sport 4WD5 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Outlander 4WD6 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 / California LEV-III ULEV50All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Outlander Sport 4WD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 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 styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower148 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
TransmissionContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Transmission speeds1

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

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: ES, S, ES, LE, SE, Ralliart, Rugged, SE, BLACK EDITION, Ralliart Edition, SE, BLACK EDITION, SAM). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length185.0–185.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)71.3–73.2 in
Height67.3–68.9 in
Wheelbase105.1–106.3 in
Track, front60.6–62.6 in
Track, rear60.6–63.0 in
Curb weight3,594–4,178 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43 to 58/42

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV, PHEV 4-door SUV. 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 2023 Outlander
Other years The 2027 Outlander Recalls Mitsubishi recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander 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 (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

SR-25-001
198,940 vehicles 65% reported repaired
Problem Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Outlander and 2023-2025 Outlander PHEV vehicles. Due to a software error in the in-vehicle infotainment system (A-IVI), the rearview camera image may freeze, or not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the A-IVI software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2025. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-25-001. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recall number 23V345. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V345 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V369000 reported Jun 2, 2025 Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

SR-23-001
89,907 vehicles
Problem Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Outlander and 2023 Outlander PHEV vehicles. Due to a software error in the in-vehicle infotainment system (A-IVI), the backup camera rearview image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will update the A-IVI software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2023. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-23-001. This recall was replaced by NHTSA recall number 25V369.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V345000 reported Jun 6, 2023 Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. 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 Outlander

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Mitsubishi 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 →Mitsubishi’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 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander

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 Outlander →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
58complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

9.0 per 10,000 built · Mitsubishi reported 64,587 Outlander built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2023: 13 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 19

Most-cited components

Electrical System 15
Forward Collision Avoidance 11
Engine 9
Unspecified 9
Fuel/Propulsion System 8
Air Bags 6

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 rear backup camera on this vehicle is excessively dim and difficult to see under normal daylight and ambient lighting conditions. The camera image is so dark that it significantly impairs the ability to detect obstacles, pedestrians, and other hazards behind the vehicle when reversing.
Back Over Prevention May 30, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11741040
Each time for the last year and a half that I have taken my car in for service or just stopped in and showed them that my radio is saying overheated current, they would test it and say that they couldn't recreate the error despite me showing that it would not connect my phone to the car or charge.
Service Brakes May 15, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11738062
The contact owns a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired.
Engine at 12,000 miles Apr 30, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11657700
The contact owned a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle sustained a rear-end collision from another vehicle at a high rate of speed. No air bags deployed.
Air Bags Jul 9, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11672216
Check engine light is on. My car is still under 5 year bumper to bumper warranty. My local mitsubishi dealership closed and the nearest one is hours away. I also have a recall. I have called mitsubishi customer service several times only to be put on hold without the ability to talk to someone to get these problems solved
Electrical System Jul 9, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11672356
I took this car 2 times to the dealership about the same issue the steering wheel it has a lose parts inside keep giving a weird noise and the second issue the gas smell inside the cabin if you stop the vehicle on hot day and the ac running they are a very bad gas smell coming inside the cabin throw the ac vents i looked on this issue…
Steering Aug 10, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11607670

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 Mitsubishi itself: 15 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 21 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 23 per 100,000 built. Every Outlander model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆19%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 220
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-19
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 194 service bulletins, 20 others, 6 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Visibility/Wiper, Structure, Equipment, Power Train.

  • TSB-24-34-001 Service bulletin
    2026-08-19 · Suspension
  • This revised Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions on how to remedy fluid leaks from the Rear Shock Absorber.
  • TSB-26-52-001 Service bulletin
    2026-07-16 · Seat Belts
  • This Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers explains that every front seat belt retractor concern must be documented through a Mi-Tech case before any repair or part replacement is performed.
  • 2026-07-08 · Unknown Or Other
  • This dealer letter informs dealers that the second edition of the High Voltage Safety online course is now available.
  • TSB-25-27-001 Service bulletin
    2026-06-18 · Power Train
  • This Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers addresses the issue of abnormal noise and vibration from the rear differential assembly and provides the procedure to complete the repair.
  • TSB-26-54-002 Service bulletin
    2026-05-08 · Lane Departure — Warning
  • This Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers addresses why the Mi-Pilot Assist/Adaptive Cruise stops working and provides guidance to collect and report diagnostic trouble codes.
  • TSB-26-54-001 Service bulletin
    2026-04-06 · Electrical System
  • This Technical Service Bulletin provides the re-start and cold start procedures for the A-IVI (Alliance In-Vehicle Infotainment) to avoid unnecessary unit replacements.
  • 2026-02-12 · Electrical System
  • Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
  • TIN-26-00-002 Service bulletin
    2026-02-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that Mitsubishi is planning to perform scheduled system maintenance to the MUT3-SE software on the specific dates and times 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.

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
P0400
P0400 on Mitsubishi →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 bulletin
P0401
P0401 on Mitsubishi →		Not enough exhaust gas is being recirculated.Engine · EGR valve →1 bulletin
P0404The exhaust gas recirculation valve is not moving the way it was commanded.Engine · EGR valve →1 owner report
P0706Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train1 bulletin
P0780Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train1 bulletin

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 10, 2026, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%).

New York inspections 1.8%

failed emissions

2,286 initial inspections of 2,261 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 OutlanderEvery 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.8%1.6%2,276
Failed the safety inspection2.3%1.1%2,286
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.31%0.16%2,286
Miles driven a year11,71410,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer38,93632,673odometer 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 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 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).

Outlander by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 27 mpg2026 A 1 6 28 mpg2025 B 2 18 27 mpg2024 A 1 27 27 mpg2023 this page A 2 58 27 mpg2022 D 10 229 27 mpg2021 B 3 19 27 mpg2020 C 4 58 27 mpg2019 C 6 56 27 mpg2018 C 6 93 27 mpg2017 D 6 78 27 mpg2016 F 11 171 27 mpg

Common questions about the 2023 Outlander

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. The most serious on file is 25V369000, covering Back Over Prevention. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (91/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander, the best EPA combined figure is 27 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 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Transport Canada measured it at 185.0–185.4 in long, 71.3–73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 67.3–68.9 in tall, on a 105.1–106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,594–4,178 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 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander, most often about electrical system, forward collision avoidance, engine. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 5 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 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander runs 5 to 7 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, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

The manufacturer has filed 220 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander, most often covering electrical system, visibility/wiper, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-08-19. 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 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander failed the emissions check on 1.8% of first inspections — close to the 1.6% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2023 vehicle: 1.1%). 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 & configurations7 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates7 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls2NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints58NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings4 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins220NHTSA 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 NHTSA13 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 Outlander The Outlander model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Mitsubishi recall on file All campaigns filed against Mitsubishi vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Outlander 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.

JSON for this page · API