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Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

Nissan · Large SUV

2019 Nissan Pathfinder

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

82 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 2

Complaints4 crash · 1 fire · 2 injured reported 76

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pathfinder 2WD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 76 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Nissan Pathfinder — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Nissan Pathfinder · Photo: Deathpallie325 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Pathfinder 2WD	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	20	27	23	$2,900
Pathfinder 4WD	Gas	4WD	3.5L 6-cyl	19	26	22	$3,050
Pathfinder 4WD Platinum	Gas	4WD	3.5L 6-cyl	19	26	21	$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 40855, 40860, 40861.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Pathfinder 2WD, Pathfinder 4WD	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Pathfinder 4WD Platinum	3 / 10	California 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.

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	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Displacement

3.5 L

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Drivetrain

4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim. Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	198.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	77.2 in
Height	70.1 in
Wheelbase	114.2 in
Track, front	65.7 in
Track, rear	65.7 in
Curb weight	4,275–4,672 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: FWD 4-door SUV, Platinum AWD 4-door SUV, S/Sv/Sl AWD 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.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Park outside 391,479 vehicles 63% reported repaired built Apr 20, 2016 – May 23, 2018

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Nissan Murano, 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima, and 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and unrepaired, or inspected and determined to not need a repair, under recall number 18V-601. In addition, this recall expands the previous population. The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) actuator pumps may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal circuit board. Risk A brake fluid leak on the circuit board may result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS actuator, free of charge. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be during summer 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Note: If the ABS warning light remains illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up, owners are advised to park the vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V807000 reported Nov 8, 2019 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Back Over Prevention

1,228,830 vehicles 80% reported repaired built Apr 1, 2018 – May 30, 2019

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) num Risk The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V654000 reported Sep 12, 2019 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Pathfinder

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2019 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

76complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

11 per 10,000 built · Nissan reported 68,613 Pathfinder built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Unspecified 20

Engine 16

Service Brakes 14

Forward Collision Avoidance 14

Electrical System 10

Power Train 9

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.

I have found out there is a recall for pathfinder 13-16 models about the hood latch, and that the hood might fly open at certain speeds. I have a 2019 pathfinder and since day 1 of the owner ship i ha e noticed that on a highway at high speed the hood is catching allot of air where the hood is literally flattering so to say.

Structure Jun 28, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11471454

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change, he was informed that oil was leaking from the valve cover gasket cover. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.

Engine at 66,428 miles Apr 26, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11462249

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the ABS, traction control, Back Over Prevention sensor warning lights illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle.

Service Brakes at 70,000 miles Apr 25, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11462040

after going 20mph hearing a grinding noise coming form driver side engine and whistling sound from power steering

Power Train Mar 4, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11455204

When using the Intelligent Cruise Control the car gets false readings and brakes your car automatically which is dangerous while driving on the highway

Forward Collision Avoidance Nov 8, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11439808

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that after refueling and driving while coming to a stop there was an abnormal sound of water moving around inside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to the dealer.

Fuel/Propulsion System at 28,000 miles May 28, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11418898

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): 8 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 5.8 per 100,000 built. Every Pathfinder model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 40k

miles, typically

Half the 30 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 13,000 and 83,000 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.

under 10k 7

10k–20k 3

20k–30k 4

30k–40k 0

40k–50k 3

50k–60k 0

60k–70k 1

70k–80k 4

80k–90k 1

90k–100k 2

100k–150k 5

150k + 0

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
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	18%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 145

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-04-13

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 145 service bulletins

Most often about: Electrical System, Power Train, Equipment, Engine, Structure.

ITB09-063C 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 Infiniti by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provide
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
NTB19-033G 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)
NTB12-103I Service bulletin
2024-06-07 · Power Train
CVT/TCM CALIBRATION DATA “WRITE” PROCEDURE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB17-127C Service bulletin
2024-05-21 · Electrical System
INTELLIGENT KEY INITIALIZATION PROCEDURE STOPS OR WILL NOT CONTINUE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Discard all 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
P17F0 P17F0 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	8 bulletins
P17F1 P17F1 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	8 bulletins
P0087 P0087 on Nissan →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Electrical System · Fuel pump →	4 bulletins · 1 owner report
P0101 P0101 on Nissan →	The mass air flow sensor is reporting a figure the engine computer does not believe for the conditions.	Engine · Mass air flow sensor →	4 bulletins
P0456 P0456 on Nissan →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	4 bulletins
P0448 P0448 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	3 bulletins
P2008 P2008 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	3 bulletins
P0442 P0442 on Nissan →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	2 bulletins
P0455 P0455 on Nissan →	A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	2 bulletins
P0603 P0603 on Nissan →	The engine control module has lost its keep-alive memory.	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 3.2%

failed emissions

2,956 initial inspections of 2,894 vehicles.

Measure	The 2019 Pathfinder	Every 2019 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	3.2%	2.7%	2,954
Failed the safety inspection	2.3%	1.7%	2,956
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.10%	0.20%	2,956
Miles driven a year	11,217	9,904	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	81,653	72,084	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 2019 vehicle” is every 2019 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).

Pathfinder by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 15 23 mpg 2025 A 1 55 23 mpg 2024 B 2 86 23 mpg 2023 A 1 107 23 mpg 2022 C 5 136 23 mpg 2020 A 0 48 23 mpg 2019 this page B 2 76 Park outside 2018 C 3 78 Park outside 2017 C 2 187 Park outside 2016 C 2 107 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2019 Pathfinder

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 19V807000, covering Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

NHTSA gave the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (82/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

Transport Canada measured it at 198.4 in long, 77.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 70.1 in tall, on a 114.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,275–4,672 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, most often about unspecified, engine, service brakes. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

The EPA smog rating for the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder runs 3 to 5 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 ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder?

The manufacturer has filed 145 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder, 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 2019 Nissan Pathfinder do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder failed the emissions check on 3.2% of first inspections — close to the 2.7% for every 2019 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2019 vehicle: 1.7%). 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	3 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	3 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	76	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	145	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
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	6 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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