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Your vehicleHome›Polestar›2› 2022
Polestar · Midsize Sedan

2022 Polestar 2

Electric
Midsize Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints1 crash reported 305
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 270 mi
20252024202320222021

The 2022 Polestar 2 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the 2 Single Motor, is EPA-rated at 270 miles with 107 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 305 complaints, most often about the back over prevention. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Polestar 2 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Polestar 2 (2020 generation) · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
2 Single MotorElectricFWD170 kW AC PMSM113100107 MPGe270 mi31.58 h$700
2 Dual MotorElectricAWD150 and 150kW AC PMSM948489 MPGe249 mi37.88 h$850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44928, 44449.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
2 Dual Motor, 2 Single Motor10 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite

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 styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4

Engine Output

Horsepower402 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelElectric

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive

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: e-AWD, e-FWD). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length181.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.2 in
Height58.3 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Track, front63.0 in
Track, rear63.0 in
Curb weight4,674 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear55/45

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: Polestar. 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 2022 2
Other years The 2025 2 Recalls Polestar recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2022 Polestar 2 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 (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

RP1069
27,816 vehicles 81% reported repaired
Problem Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Polestar 2 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. Risk A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 4, 2026. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1069. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 20, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recalls 24V477 and 25V280. Vehicles previously repaired under those recalls will need to have the new remedy performed.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V615000 reported Sep 15, 2025 Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

RP1056
27,816 vehicles 89% reported repaired
Problem Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Polestar 2 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2025. Owners may contact Polestar's customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1056. Vehicles in this recall that were previously repaired under 24V-477 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V280000 reported Apr 25, 2025 Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Back Over Prevention

RP1016
25,825 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Jul 9, 2020 – Jan 19, 2024
Problem Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Polestar 2 vehicles. The Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) software may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Polestar has released an over-the-air IHU software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Polestar customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is RP1016.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V477000 reported Jun 26, 2024 Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Electrical System

R10079
3,457 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. (Polestar) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Polestar 2 vehicles. The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) microprocessor may reset and cause the high voltage system to disconnect. Risk A disconnected high voltage system can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Polestar will notify owners, and the software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 23, 2021. Owners may contact Polestar customer service at 1-800-806-2504. Polestar's number for this recall is R10079.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V110000 reported Feb 24, 2021 Polestar Automotive USA, 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

Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera — Loss of rear-view camera image closed

On July 9, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query (RQ) 25004 to investigate and review the effectiveness of the remedy for Recall 25V-280. Polestar initiated Recall 25V-280 to address shortcomings in the remedy for Recall 24V-477, which intended to address rear camera outage conditions. Consumer complaint traffic reporting rear-view camera outages after receiving the remedy for 25V-280prompted the RQ opening. On July 7, 2024, Polestar initiated Recall 24V-477 to address issues with the rear-view camera display in certain Model Year (MY) 2021-2024 Polestar 2 vehicles. According to Polestar, this failure was due to a memory allocation error in the IHU. To address t

Opened Jul 9, 2025 · closed Aug 28, 2026 · action RQ25004 · the investigation’s page →

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific 2

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Polestar 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 →Polestar’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 2022 Polestar 2, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2022 Polestar 2

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 2 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
305complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2022: 32 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 212 · 2026: 33

Most-cited components

Back Over Prevention → 217
Electrical System 46
Unspecified 40
Visibility/Wiper 20
Forward Collision Avoidance 10
Fuel/Propulsion System 9

In depth: backup camera and parking sensor problems →

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.

We were driving our car with two little kids in it on a rainy day at 60mph and the car screeching braked to 5mph on a highway with a ‘propulsion system failure’ message. The car would knock at 5mph and continue in turtle mode. We could have been killed if there was a car behind us in that rain.
Fuel/Propulsion System Nov 2, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11492023
Multiple instances where the vehicle's TCAM has failed, leaving us stranded in a parking lot. Car drives as normal. Lock the car. Return to the car and the vehicle no longer recognizes the key(s). Only solution is to go to dealer and have vehicle's systems reset. However, the problem has returned
Electrical System Oct 27, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11491106
This vehicle has, on several occasions, activated the rear parking brake assist while backing into the garage bringing the car to a sudden abrupt stop without reason. It recently has stopped me backing into the driveway from a county road. There is a surmountable curb and a fog line that I cross.
Service Brakes Jul 26, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11475991
On 12/27, I was on I-5 North driving up during daytime. Auto-headlight and daytime running lights stopped working. I noticed from the reflection that I don’t have ANY headlight (even the DRL) when the lights were on AUTO mode. Also, when I look at my driver display, I noticed the green headlights icon was completely gone!
Exterior Lighting Apr 22, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11461741
Modem failed on vehicle on 02/04/222. Vehicle went in for diagnostic service on that issue on 02/14/2022. Manufacturer installed new software update which added Auto Brake part of Cross Traffic Alert is to stop the vehicle in the shortest possible distance to avoid collision and did not tell me it was added or advise how to disable it.
Forward Collision Avoidance Feb 23, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11453599
Selt belt indicator light turns off after about a minute of sitting or a minute of driving even if the seatbelt is not buckled. There is a concern the system is turning off the indicator despite the fact that the driver side seat belt remains unbuckled.
Seat Belts Feb 7, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11450801

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
5 HB AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★8%
5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★8%

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

Driver-assist crash reports (2)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
2reports filed

1 minor · 1 no injury reported

Oct 2022 to Jan 2024 · 1 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: Pilot Assist (2)

Crash partner: Other 2

Filed by: Polestar Automotive USA, Inc., Volvo Car USA, LLC

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Jan 2024Level 2 · Pilot AssistOtherminorCA71 mph28509-7581
Oct 2022Level 2 · Pilot AssistOtherno injury reportedFL55 mph1422-4087

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

The driver of the Polestar 2 was on Northbound left lane of [redacted] near [redacted] traveling at about 71 mph. EDR data shows Pilot Assist was on. EDR data shows driver steering input to the left toward the barrier. Because of the driver steering input Pilot Assist did not intervene as the driver is in control.
Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. report 28509-7581 Jan 2024 NHTSA SGO filing
The initial submission was by email and electronic form to SGO Mailbox on 10/18/2022 at 10:09PM. This is a resubmission of data using the SGO portal with Volvo Cars USA, LLC account on behalf of Polestar Automotive USA. Volvo Cars USA, LLC is submitting this report on behalf of Polestar Automotive USA and Polestar Performance AB.
Volvo Car USA, LLC report 1422-4087 Oct 2022 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 135
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-07-24
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 135 service bulletins

Most often about: Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Back Over Prevention, Suspension.

  • 37894.1.0 Service bulletin
    2026-07-24 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ - Text Only - No attachments - If the software version displayed in the CSD is not aligned with the actual software version installed in the vehicle (this may occur after a failed software download), and no Total Upgrade is available in VIDA, follow the instructions under "Service". Note! Do not replace any parts. A software product is available to align the software version in the CS
  • 36569.5.0 Service bulletin
    2026-06-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 3 png files and 1 mp4 file CSD Stuck in Recovery Mode, iCUP. Provide vehicle report.
  • 37516.3.0 Service bulletin
    2026-06-13 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ - Text plus 1 PDF - If the customer reports the navigation map in the DIM become black during driving or at start-up, follow the instructions under "Service" (see attached picture TJ_37516_1.pdf).
  • 37439.5.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-23 · Electrical System
  • This is a Technical Journal - Text plus 1 .png attachment- If during a Software Download (SWDL) at the workshop, and connected to VIDA, the CSD (Center Stack Display) turns black and the IHU (Infotainment Head Unit) becomes stuck in programming mode or is unresponsive, follow the advice under "Service". This TJ concerns ICUP vehicles / Vehicles with Variant Designation Number (VDN) Code RP03.
  • 35844.8.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-06 · Exterior Lighting
  • This is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - Note that normal condensation will not be solved by replacing the headlamp. The headlamps are designed to withstand moisture and the functionality of the lamp is not affected by condensation. To avoid or eliminate moisture in the headlamps, use the car regularly. The car also needs to be used for longer period of time with low beam o
  • 37798.1.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-02 · Power Train
  • This is a TJ - Text only - no attachment - Do not perform fault tracing or replace any parts before reading this journal. An acceleration constraint from a standstill when the driver's seatbelt is unbuckled has been implemented and should be regarded as expected behavior. The models listed in this journal are the first to receive this software, but it will be rolled out progressively throughout th
  • 37723.1.0 Service bulletin
    2026-04-24 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ - Text plus 3 PD's - If customer complains about any of the symptoms regarding Bluetooth / Cellular as noted in this TJ Do not replace any components for this issue, follow but not limited to the 10 steps, and all instructions under "Service".
  • 37797.1.0 Service bulletin
    2026-04-24 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ - text only, no attachments - f the customer complains about a significant HV battery SoC drop after parking, please follow the advice under "service". Work is ongoing for a software fix and is planned for release in quarter 2 2026 for vehicles with structure week before 2023w46, and in quarter 4 2026 for vehicles with structure week 2023w46 and later.

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.

2 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2025 B 2 1 314 mi2024 D 5 25 320 mi2023 C 4 116 270 mi2022 this page B 4 305 270 mi2021 D 5 148 233 mi

Common questions about the 2022 2

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2022 Polestar 2 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2022 Polestar 2. The most serious on file is 21V110000, 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 2022 Polestar 2?

NHTSA gave the 2022 Polestar 2 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (81/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Polestar 2?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Polestar 2, the longest EPA range is 270 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2022 Polestar 2?

Transport Canada measured it at 181.5 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 58.3 in tall, on a 107.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,674 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2022 Polestar 2?

Owners have filed 305 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Polestar 2, most often about back over prevention, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2022 Polestar 2?

The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Polestar 2 is 10 out of 10. 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 ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Polestar 2?

The manufacturer has filed 135 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Polestar 2, most often covering equipment, unknown or other, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-07-24. 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.

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 & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints305NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins135NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations2NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports2NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA5 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 2025 2 The 2 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade B, 2 recalls.Recalls Every Polestar recall on file All campaigns filed against Polestar vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this 2 by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

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

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

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