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Your vehicleHome›Ram›3500› 2021
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Ram · Pickup truck

2021 Ram 3500

Heavy-duty pickup
0 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
37 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls4 critical 9
Complaints4 fire reported 62
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Ram 3500 is a pickup truck; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 62 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Ram Heavy Duty — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Ram Heavy Duty · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

No EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body stylePickup
GVWR classClass 3: 10,001 - 14,000 lb (4,536 - 6,350 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders6
Displacement6.7 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower370 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelDiesel

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2

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: Big Horn, Crew Cab DRW, Laramie, Limited). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length230.7–259.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)79.5 in
Height78.3–79.5 in
Wheelbase140.6–168.9 in
Track, front67.7 in
Track, rear66.9 in
Curb weight6,069–7,077 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 12 configurations: New Gen Crew Cab L/Box 2WD Drw, New Gen Crew Cab L/Box 2WD Srw, New Gen Crew Cab L/Box 4WD Drw, New Gen Crew Cab L/Box 4WD Srw, New Gen Crew Cab S/Box 2WD Srw, New Gen Crew Cab S/Box 4WD Srw …. 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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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Ram 3500 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain 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 (9)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

14C
532 vehicles 30% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, Ram 4500, and Ram 5500 vehicles. The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning December 11, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 14C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning November 13, 2025.
NHTSA campaign 25V765000 reported Nov 6, 2025 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

13A
Park outside 302,067 vehicles 83% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off. Risk An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2021 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for Phase 2 and
NHTSA campaign 23V060000 reported Feb 9, 2023 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Structure

ZB8
1,224,078 vehicles 81% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving. Risk An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB8.
NHTSA campaign 22V904000 reported Dec 8, 2022 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Power Train

ZA3
250,079 vehicles 82% reported repaired
Problem FCA US, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 2500 and 2020-2022 Ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube. Risk Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is ZA3.
NHTSA campaign 22V835000 reported Nov 10, 2022 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Z20
370,437 vehicles 87% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 2500 and 2021-2022 Dodge Durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems." Risk An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z20.
NHTSA campaign 22V140000 reported Mar 10, 2022 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

Y99
376 vehicles 88% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 2500, Ram 3500, and 2021 Ram 1500 Classic pickup trucks. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) assemblies may have been manufactured with the incorrect amount of compressed gas, which can result in an improper air bag deployment. Risk An air bag that deploys improperly can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the SABIC assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y99.
NHTSA campaign 21V925000 reported Nov 24, 2021 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

Y76
Park outside 131,177 vehicles
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 2500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. An electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off. Risk A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. Fix Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign 21V798000 reported Oct 14, 2021 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Wheels

Y26, Y36
447,985 vehicles 59% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation. Risk Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash. Fix Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for
NHTSA campaign 21V398000 reported May 27, 2021 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

Y08
19,214 vehicles
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engine. An electrical short may occur in the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay, which could result in a vehicle fire. Risk A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Customers are advised to not park these vehicles inside of buildings or structures, or near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-80
NHTSA campaign 21V163000 reported Mar 11, 2021 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) 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

Fuel System, Diesel:Delivery:Fuel Pump — High pressure fuel pump failure open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled population. After review of information request response materials from both FCA and BMW, NHTSA determined that sufficient information to identify a comprehensive recall population could not be produced by FCA and BMW. During the investigation FCA filed re

Opened Mar 17, 2023 · action EA23001 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific 3500

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. Ram publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

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 Ram 3500, 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 2021 Ram 3500

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 3500 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
62complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2021: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Electrical System 17
Engine 13
Power Train 11
Unspecified 9
Wheels 7
Service Brakes 6

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V904000 (Structure) and 23V060000 (Electrical System) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs.
Structure Oct 13, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11549843
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V060000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact was informed by the dealer that the manufacturer had been sending 3-4 parts per month.
Electrical System Sep 7, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11543117
I took the vehicle to the dealer for recall Manufacturer Recall Number13A NHTSA Recall Number23V-060 The dealer told me that they can only order one per week. I will have to wait over a year for the part to come in. This is a fire hazard and I have been advised to not park the vehicle in the garage or near other vehicles.
Fuel/Propulsion System Jul 18, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11533101
Brakes started grinding at 13,000 miles. Determined they were metal to metal, caliper, overheated, excessively, and rotor needed replaced. Problem happened again now, at 22,000 miles
Service Brakes Jun 20, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11527968
The contact owns a fleet of 2021 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to a local dealer to be serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V398000 (Wheels); however, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side rear wheel studs fractured. No warning lights were illuminated.
Wheels at 24,000 miles May 8, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11521050
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V835000 (Power Train) and 23V060000 (Electrical System) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs.
Power Train May 2, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11520035

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

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 8 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

2 more in this page’s JSON.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Stellantis warranty extension (117) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 584
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-08
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 563 service bulletins, 12 others, 8 warranty extensions

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

  • 9100901 Service bulletin
    2026-09-08 · Structure — Body
  • Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
  • 114254 Service bulletin
    2026-08-26 · Engine
  • RADIATOR - ENGINE COOLING
  • 114255 Service bulletin
    2026-08-26 · Engine
  • RADIATOR - ENGINE COOLING
  • 113744 Service bulletin
    2026-07-29 · Electrical System
  • SENSOR - TURBOCHARGER SPEED
  • 113742 Service bulletin
    2026-07-29 · Electrical System
  • SENSOR - TURBOCHARGER SPEED
  • 113277 Service bulletin
    2026-07-06 · Unknown Or Other
  • CORE – HEATER
  • 113069 Service bulletin
    2026-06-29 · Structure — Body
  • SWITCH – HEADLAMP
  • 113070 Service bulletin
    2026-06-29 · Electrical System
  • SWITCH – HEADLAMP

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0073
P0073 on Ram →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →9 bulletins
P0755
P0755 on Ram →
A fault in shift solenoid B.Electrical System · Battery →7 bulletins
P0299
P0299 on Ram →
The turbocharger or supercharger is not making the boost the computer asked for.Engine4 bulletins
P0513
P0513 on Ram →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P0756
P0756 on Ram →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
U1601
U1601 on Ram →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P0455A large leak in the evaporative emissions system — often a fuel cap left off.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →3 bulletins
P0456
P0456 on Ram →
A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Fuel/Propulsion System · Gas cap →3 bulletins
P04ECManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →3 bulletins
P061BManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P203E
P203E on Ram →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Back Over Prevention3 bulletins
P203F
P203F on Ram →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Back Over Prevention3 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.

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.

Common questions about the 2021 3500

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Ram 3500 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 9 recall campaigns for the 2021 Ram 3500, 4 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 23V060000, covering Electrical System. 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. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. 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 2021 Ram 3500?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2021 Ram 3500 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it F (37/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Ram 3500?

Transport Canada measured it at 230.7–259.4 in long, 79.5 in wide (body, without mirrors), 78.3–79.5 in tall, on a 140.6–168.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 6,069–7,077 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 2021 Ram 3500?

Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ram 3500, most often about electrical system, engine, power train. Of those, 4 a fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Ram 3500?

The manufacturer has filed 584 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Ram 3500, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-08. 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 & configurationsnoneEPA certification recordsThe EPA does not certify vehicles rated over 8,500 lb GVWR, so heavy-duty nameplates have no entry at all.
Emission certificatesnoneEPA emission certificatesThe EPA published no certificate we could match to a configuration on this page.
Recalls9NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints62NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins584NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA8 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.

Sources & method

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

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

JSON for this page · API