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Your vehicleHome›Ram›3500› 2026
Ram · Pickup truck

2026 Ram 3500

Heavy-duty pickup
0 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaints1 crash reported 28
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2026 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 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 28 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

Horsepower430 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelDiesel

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity6 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Parking assist, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Big Horn, Laramie, Limited, Tradesman). 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.

Also on file Beside the 2026 3500
Head to head vs the 2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD Ranking Safest pickup trucks Report card The 2026 year, graded Other years The 2024 3500
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The cheapest ownership win

Insurers price the 2026 3500 very differently, and the gap between the best and worst quote on the same car and driver is usually larger than any option you are weighing on this page.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Electrical System

35D
65,348 vehicles 35% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards numbers 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence," 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems," 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment," 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems for Light Vehicles," 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems," 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System," and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 16, 2026.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V225000 reported Apr 9, 2026 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Exterior Lighting

03D
456,287 vehicles 35% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Jeep Wagoneer S, 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, Ram 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2026 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. Due to an improperly designed trailer tow module, the trailer lights may fail to illuminate and the trailer brakes may fail. Risk Trailer brake lights and turn signals that do not illuminate reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, trailer brakes that fail increase the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the trailer tow module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 17, 2026. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 03D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 10, 2026.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V059000 reported Feb 2, 2026 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electrical System

B4C, B8C
72,509 vehicles 74% reported repaired
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Ram Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel cluster display to be blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems," 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems," and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect." Risk An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or gear selection, increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and update the instrument panel software or replace the instrument panel cluster, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this recall are B4C and B8C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 4, 2025.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V826000 reported Dec 1, 2025 Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Electrical System

79C
2,885 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Jul 4, 2025 – Jul 31, 2025
Problem Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Ram 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 2500, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The instrument panel may display an incorrect brake system warning light. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays." Risk An incorrect warning light can fail to alert the driver to critical safety information, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 9, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 79C.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V530000 reported Aug 18, 2025 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.

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 2026 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.

NHTSA VIN check →Ram’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 2026 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 2026 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
28complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2025: 1 · 2026: 27

Most-cited components

Electrical System 18
Service Brakes 11
Unspecified 5
Power Train 5
Back Over Prevention 4
Forward Collision Avoidance 4

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 2026 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The message that the trailer was not connected was displayed.
Electrical System at 11,000 miles Aug 20, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11758321
2026 Ram 3500 with <2700 miles. The trailer brakes are not applied appropriately when using the brake pedal, even though it will brake appropriately (with 1 of 3 trailers) while squeezing the manual override. This includes all brake levels (1-10 gain).
Service Brakes Aug 19, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11758110
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear Axle Failure - Dealership has the truck currently How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - It was not Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?
Power Train Aug 4, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11754685
Vehicle sends cluster warnings about Auto Emergency Braking unavailable/inoperable, Electronic Stability Control needs service, Antilock Brake System needs service, Parksense Unavailable, and ultimately the Check Engine indicator illuminates after restarting the vehicle. An error code also is present in the computer, U1412.
Forward Collision Avoidance May 7, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11736214
LT235/80R17, well was on ranch , which I told them I use on ranch so I was charged 995. Bucks extra for AT tires , At 625 miles it popped, well I took to dealer as usual they said my fault ? Well I left . New truck 100k an 2 tire dealers told me they are Juck !!!!
Tires Mar 9, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11723092
Purchased the truck new with 25 miles on it from the dealer. Within the first 2000 miles, I had a message pop up that said "Service Exhaust System See Dealer". I took it in to the dealer, they said it showed a random emission related code had popped up but was not currently active, so their recommendation was to clear it and see if it…
Engine Dec 23, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11706824

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 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

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 243
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 234 service bulletins, 5 others, 3 over-the-air updates

Most often about: Electrical System, Structure, Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other.

  • 08-377-26 REV. A Service bulletin
    2026-10-17 · Electrical System
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Red XX Displayed and/or Warning Indicator Illuminated Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ● C1501-31 - Tire Pressure Sensor 1-No Signal. ● C1502-31 - Tire Pressure Sensor 2-No Signal. ● C1503-31 - Tire Pressure Sensor 3
  • S2608000039 Service bulletin
    2026-10-16 · Electrical System
  • Trailer Reverse Steering Control Radio Soft Button Blinks Even Without a User-Initiated Calibration
  • 08-377-26 Service bulletin
    2026-10-15 · Wheels
  • Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Red XX Displayed and/or Warning Indicator Illuminated Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ● C1501-31 - Tire Pressure Sensor 1-No Signal. ● C1502-31 - Tire Pressure Sensor 2-No Signal. ● C1503-31 - Tire Pressure Sensor 3
  • 08-375-26 Service bulletin
    2026-10-14 · Electrical System
  • Tow Nav Menu Option Unavailable - UBQ/UBW Customers may comment on the following: SYMPTOM: ● Tow Nav menu option is grayed out and cannot be selected.
  • 114913 Service bulletin
    2026-10-05 · Structure — Body
  • MIRROR - OUTSIDE REARVIEW
  • 9100928 Service bulletin
    2026-10-05 · Electrical System
  • TPMS full assembly(core & Stem To support proper failure analysis and validation, dealers must return the complete TPMS sensor assembly when submitting a claim related to a TPMS leak concern. Claims submitted with TPMS sensors that are missing the valve core and/or stem components will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for evaluation. As a reminder, the complete Tire Pressure Monit
  • 114913 Service bulletin
    2026-10-05 · Structure — Body
  • MIRROR - OUTSIDE REARVIEW
  • 9100928 Service bulletin
    2026-10-05 · Electrical System
  • TPMS full assembly(core & Stem To support proper failure analysis and validation, dealers must return the complete TPMS sensor assembly when submitting a claim related to a TPMS leak concern. Claims submitted with TPMS sensors that are missing the valve core and/or stem components will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for evaluation. As a reminder, the complete Tire Pressure Monit

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
P1D8AManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train5 bulletins
B1560
B1560 on Ram →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P242BManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
U1412Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Service Brakes · Brake pads →4 owner reports
U3033Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
B1561
B1561 on Ram →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
B1562
B1562 on Ram →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P0420
P0420 on Ram →		The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Electrical System · Catalytic converter →3 bulletins
P1D8BManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train3 bulletins
P208B
P208B on Ram →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P20E8
P20E8 on Ram →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
B1E21
B1E21 on Ram →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

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.

Compare the 2026 3500 with

Any vehicle, your weights →
Head-to-headVerdict
2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD · Pickup truck · grade ASierra 2500HD +8.9
2026 GMC Sierra 3500HD · Pickup truck · grade BSierra 3500HD +9.1
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD · Pickup truck · grade ASilverado 2500HD +14.8
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD · Pickup truck · grade BSilverado 3500HD +21.2

3500 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 this page C 4 28 2025 C 5 43 2024 B 2 45 2023 D 5 17 Park outside2022 F 12 190 Park outside2021 F 9 62 Park outside2020 F 11 116 2019 F 14 137 2018 F 10 809 2017 F 12 315 2016 F 14 134

Common questions about the 2026 3500

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2026 Ram 3500 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2026 Ram 3500. The most serious on file is 26V225000, 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 2026 Ram 3500?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2026 Ram 3500 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (79/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What are the dimensions of the 2026 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 2026 Ram 3500?

Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Ram 3500, most often about electrical system, service brakes, 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.

Are there service bulletins for the 2026 Ram 3500?

The manufacturer has filed 243 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2026 Ram 3500, most often covering electrical system, structure, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-10-17. 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.

Is the 2026 Ram 3500 better than the 2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD?

The GMC Sierra 2500HD wins clearly, 84.9 to 76, on safety. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2026 Ram 3500 against the 2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.

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.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints28NHTSA 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 bulletins243NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
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 NHTSA12 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
Head to head 2026 Ram 3500 vs 2026 GMC Sierra 2500HD Scored on price, fuel, safety, space, performance and warranty — the weights are yours.Ranking Safest 2026 pickup trucks Every pickup truck of this model year by NHTSA recall record, best first.Report card Every 2026 vehicle graded C The 2026 model year graded A–F; this one sits in the C group.Recall Watch Watch this 3500 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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