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2021 Nissan Altima

Gas

Midsize Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

87 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints7 crash · 1 fire · 4 injured reported 70

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 Nissan Altima is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Altima, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 70 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Nissan Altima — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Nissan Altima · Photo: LukaCali · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Altima	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	28	39	32	$2,100
Altima SR	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	27	37	31	$2,150
Altima SV/SL	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	27	37	31	$2,150
Altima AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	26	35	29	$2,300
Altima AWD SR/Platinum	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	25	34	29	$2,300
Altima SR/Platinum	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	25	34	29	$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43390, 43391, 43394, 43392, 43393, 43395.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Altima, Altima SR, Altima SV/SL	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Altima AWD, Altima AWD SR/Platinum	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Altima SR/Platinum	6 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50	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.

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 style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Displacement

2.5 L

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, 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: Platinum, S, SL, SR). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	192.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	72.8 in
Height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	111.4 in
Track, front	63.4 in
Track, rear	63.4 in
Curb weight	3,406 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	61/39

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 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.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

R23C3

153,376 vehicles 70% reported repaired

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. 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 properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23C3.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V628000 reported Sep 8, 2023 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Steering

PC795

2,407 vehicles 97% reported repaired

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Nissan Altima vehicles. The tie rod ball joint fastener was not tightened properly, which could result in the tie rod ball joint detaching from the steering knuckle. Risk A detached tie rod ball joint can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the left and right-side tie rod ball joint fasteners, or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PC795.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V138000 reported Mar 4, 2021 Nissan 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Engine — Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure closed

On December 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-023 to investigate allegations of engine failures leading to loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Nissan Rogue; MY 2019-2021 Nissan Altima; and MY 2019-2021 Infiniti QX50 vehicles. At that time, ODI had received 6 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) and multiple early warning reports, with consumers reporting engine knocking noises accompanied by a loss of engine power while driving. The investigation identified bearing failures in certain vehicles equipped with the subject 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. ODI also identified early warning reports describin

Opened Dec 13, 2023 · closed Jul 18, 2025 · action PE23023 · the investigation’s page →

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch — Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls open

NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates Hertz rented vehicles to customers without having performed required recall repairs. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.

Opened Dec 16, 2022 · action AQ22003 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Altima

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Nissan 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 →Nissan’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 2021 Nissan Altima, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

70complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 4 injuries · 0 deaths reported

6.4 per 10,000 built · Nissan reported 109,261 Altima built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 17

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance 26

Service Brakes 21

Electrical System 21

Unspecified 12

Steering 7

Engine 7

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.

This has been an ongoing issue for over 2 years where I go somewhere, park and come back out and my car won’t start. I literally have to have someone come in to give me a jump so the whole time I was thinking it was a bad battery so I went and bought a new battery.

Engine Apr 6, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11581518

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera malfunctioned and images were displayed distorted at times or black and blue, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.

Back Over Prevention at 49,000 miles Mar 8, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11576178

On 10/26/23 at 5:00 pm I was involved in an accident I was hit on the front passenger side and none of the airbags deployed I do remember that right on impact immediately my chest started hurting I also hit my head on the driver side window now i dont know how fast i should be going or how hard do i need to be hit for the airbags to…

Air Bags Jan 22, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11567063

3out of 4 door lock actuators went out .three of the doors can’t be locked from driver side and don’t automatically lock when the car is being driven.problem has been confirmed by an independent center.there were no prior warnings

Electrical System Nov 20, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11556162

When traveling in a rental from SFO to Concord CA, on the Bay Bridge at 9 am on the 26 of September 2023, just as I entered the underpass section near Treasure Island, the front sensor malfunctioned and auto braked from 47 mph to 28, generated audible, tactile, and visual alarms, even though the car in front was not decelerating (auto…

Forward Collision Avoidance Sep 28, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11547087

1. The automatic emergency braking activated while approaching a railway crossing. And yes, it is available for inspection. 2. If anyone had been behind me, it very likely would have resulted in a collision. 3. Not yet confirmed by the dealer, but has happened to me three times. 4. No. 5. No warning before the malfunction

Service Brakes Aug 5, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11536676

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 Nissan itself: 4 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 3 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 3.7 per 100,000 built. Every Altima model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 45k

miles, typically

Half the 12 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 34,000 and 51,000 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 12 on file: 2 under 10k, 1 10k–20k, 1 30k–40k, 4 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k, 1 90k–100k, 2 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

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	9%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	9%

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 109

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-04-13

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 109 service bulletins

Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Equipment, Engine, Forward Collision Avoidance.

NTB09-131C Service bulletin
2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
NTB09-131C Service bulletin
2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides
NTB15-049CC Service bulletin
2026-03-30 · Electrical System
TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION HINT: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with a 4G network compatible TCU. TCUs compatible with 3G network only are no longer supported. SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed SOS switch, located near the overhead map lamp, also come equipped with a wireless communication device called a Telematics Communication U
NTB19-042F Service bulletin
2025-02-20 · Electrical System
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the windshield. A blinking AEB warning light may occur under the following condit
NTB19-033G Service bulletin
2025-02-20 · Electrical System
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
NTB19-071D Service bulletin
2024-09-19 · Air Bags
DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)
NTB21-115B Service bulletin
2024-07-11 · Electrical System
FALSE ACTIVATION OF AEB OR FCW APPLIED VEHICLES: 2021-2022 Altima (L34) 2022-2023 Frontier (D41) 2020-2022 Sentra (B18) APPLIED DATES: Altima: All Frontier: All Sentra: Built on or before March 10, 2022 APPLIED SYSTEMS: Automatic Emergency Braking/Forward Collision Warning IF YOU CONFIRM The customer states they have experienced false activation and/or unexpected braking of the Automatic Emergency
NTB13-107G Service bulletin
2024-05-21 · Electrical System
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

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.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0456 P0456 on Nissan →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Engine · Gas cap →	2 bulletins
P11A7	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	2 bulletins

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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 2.0%

failed emissions

2,799 initial inspections of 2,750 vehicles.

Measure	The 2021 Altima	Every 2021 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.0%	1.9%	2,791
Failed the safety inspection	1.7%	1.5%	2,799
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.29%	0.19%	2,799
Miles driven a year	10,816	10,343	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	57,179	54,681	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 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 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).

Altima by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 1 30 mpg 2025 B 2 7 31 mpg 2024 B 1 41 31 mpg 2023 A 0 30 31 mpg 2022 A 0 31 32 mpg 2021 this page B 2 70 32 mpg 2020 D 6 160 32 mpg 2019 F 7 233 32 mpg 2018 B 2 226 31 mpg 2017 C 3 393 31 mpg 2016 D 4 554 31 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 Altima

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Nissan Altima have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan Altima. The most serious on file is 21V138000, covering Steering. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Nissan Altima?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Nissan Altima 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (87/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Nissan Altima?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Nissan Altima, 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 2021 Nissan Altima?

Transport Canada measured it at 192.9 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1 in tall, on a 111.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,406 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Nissan Altima?

Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Nissan Altima, most often about forward collision avoidance, service brakes, electrical system. Of those, 7 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 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 2021 Nissan Altima?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Nissan Altima runs 6 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, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Nissan Altima?

The manufacturer has filed 109 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Nissan Altima, most often covering electrical system, power train, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-04-13. 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 2021 Nissan Altima do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Nissan Altima failed the emissions check on 2.0% of first inspections — close to the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). 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	6 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	6 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	70	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	109	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	9 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.

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