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2018 Nissan Versa

Gas

Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

83 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3

Complaints14 crash · 12 injured reported 60

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 34 mpg

2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Nissan Versa is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact hatchback with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Versa, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 60 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Nissan Versa — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Nissan Versa · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Versa	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	31	39	34	$1,950
Versa	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	27	36	30	$2,250
Versa	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	26	35	29	$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39334, 39335, 39336.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Versa	3–5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Versa	3–5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Versa	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125	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	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	1.6 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

109 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain

4x2

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

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	163.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	66.9 in
Height	60.6 in
Wheelbase	102.4 in
Track, front	58.3 in
Track, rear	58.3 in
Curb weight	2,456 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	60/40

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: Note 4-door Hatchback. 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 (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○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 →

▲high

Electrical System

153,047 vehicles 62% reported repaired built Feb 14, 2017 – Aug 15, 2017

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over time, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine. Risk If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V551000 reported Aug 21, 2018 Nissan North America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

111 vehicles 53% reported repaired built Nov 13, 2017 – Nov 29, 2017

Problem Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018 Nissan Versa Note vehicles. During deployment of the side curtain air bag, a component of the air bag inflator may detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection," and 226, "Ejection Mitigation." Risk If the component detaches during deployment, it may enter the passenger compartment and be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 17V837000 reported Dec 20, 2017 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

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Versa

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 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 2018 Nissan Versa, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

60complaints filed

14 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 12 injuries · 0 deaths reported

7.8 per 10,000 built · Nissan reported 77,160 Versa built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Electrical System 17

Air Bags 15

Engine 14

Unspecified 14

Power Train 12

Service Brakes 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.

I have a 5 speed manual transmission that has a defective throwout bearing clutch assembly that 'sticks' and does not engage or release in a smooth manner. Each shift is 'jerky' when the clutch pedal is released and the power transfer from gear to gear is is a sudden jerk instead of a smooth continuation of acceleration.

Power Train Oct 29, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11438654

Brake pedal is to small my right foot keeps sliping off the pedal i fell like it might cause a rear end accident

Service Brakes Jul 23, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11426074

Unknown! Repeatedly spent thousands of dollars on repairs but car never fixes. Check engine light on every month and car stalls often

Electrical System Oct 30, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11438755

Turned on my car that day and air bag lights stay blinking all the time for driver and front passenger

Air Bags Oct 22, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11437736

The vehicle will stop at any given moment. The vehicle stopped while almost entering the highway. Then when turned off and tried turning back on the engine wouldn't turn over. The problem auto repair shop is saying that there is no communication with the engine

Engine at 51,000 miles Oct 24, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11366185

There are serious design flaws on the 2018 Nissan Versa that allow water (i.e rain) to collect below the windshield and when the collected water doesn't drain it floods the car on the front passenger side. There is a water gutter under the windshield wipers that runs from each side of the car. It has two very small drains on each side.

Structure at 36,607 miles Jun 26, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11331120

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: 11 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 14 per 100,000 built. Every Versa model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 28k

miles, typically

Half the 28 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 12,000 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 28 on file: 6 under 10k, 7 10k–20k, 3 20k–30k, 2 30k–40k, 2 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k, 1 70k–80k, 2 80k–90k, 4 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 FWD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	14%
5 HB FWD	not rated	★★★☆☆	not rated	★★★★☆	15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 171

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-04-13

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 171 service bulletins

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System.

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
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)
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.
NTB13-027D Service bulletin
2024-05-21 · Electrical System
CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB10-066C Service bulletin
2024-05-21 · Electrical System
CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB17-019H Service bulletin
2024-04-30 · Visibility/Wiper
WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
NTB13-028I Service bulletin
2024-04-30 · Visibility/Wiper
REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS 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.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	9 bulletins
P0087 P0087 on Nissan →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Equipment · Fuel pump →	7 bulletins
P0101 P0101 on Nissan →	The mass air flow sensor is reporting a figure the engine computer does not believe for the conditions.	Equipment · Mass air flow sensor →	7 bulletins
P0448 P0448 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	7 bulletins
P2008 P2008 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	7 bulletins
P0442 P0442 on Nissan →	A small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	4 bulletins
P0455 P0455 on Nissan →	A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →	4 bulletins
P0603 P0603 on Nissan →	The engine control module has lost its keep-alive memory.	Engine	4 bulletins
P0868	Transmission line pressure has been measured below the required level.	Power Train	2 bulletins
P17F0 P17F0 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	2 bulletins
P17F1 P17F1 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	2 bulletins
P17F2 P17F2 on Nissan →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	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 6.7%

failed emissions

797 initial inspections of 768 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 Versa	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	6.7%	3.0%	796
Failed the safety inspection	1.4%	1.9%	797
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.38%	0.22%	797
Miles driven a year	11,087	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	91,813	82,833	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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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).

Versa by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2025 A 0 12 35 mpg 2024 A 1 96 35 mpg 2023 A 1 37 35 mpg 2022 A 0 20 35 mpg 2021 C 3 32 35 mpg 2020 B 2 64 35 mpg 2019 A 1 25 34 mpg 2018 this page B 3 60 34 mpg 2017 C 3 72 34 mpg 2016 A 0 110 34 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Versa

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Nissan Versa have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 Nissan Versa. The most serious on file is 18V551000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Nissan Versa?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Nissan Versa 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 4-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (83/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Nissan Versa?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Nissan Versa, the best EPA combined figure is 34 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Nissan Versa?

Transport Canada measured it at 163.4 in long, 66.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 60.6 in tall, on a 102.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,456 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Nissan Versa?

Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Nissan Versa, most often about electrical system, air bags, engine. Of those, 14 involved a crash, 12 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 2018 Nissan Versa?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Nissan Versa 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 2018 Nissan Versa?

The manufacturer has filed 171 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Nissan Versa, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. 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 2018 Nissan Versa do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Nissan Versa failed the emissions check on 6.7% of first inspections — higher than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	60	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	171	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	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	11 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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