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2025 Tesla Model 3

Electric
Midsize Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
B
Safety Signal
85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3
Complaints26 crash · 10 injured reported 122
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 363 mi
20272026202520242023202220212020201920182017

The 2025 Tesla Model 3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model 3 Long Range RWD, is EPA-rated at 363 miles with 137 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 122 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance.

Tesla Model 3 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Tesla Model 3 · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Model 3 Long Range RWDElectricRWD192 kW ACPM 3-Phase145128137 MPGe363 mi24.611.7 h$550
Model 3 Long Range RWD-I (19in wheels)ElectricRWD192, 213 and 225 kW ACPM 3-Phase140123131 MPGe346 mi25.69.5 h$600
Model 3 Long Range AWDElectricAWD85 and 88 kW ACPM 3-Phase133122128 MPGe346 mi26.411.7 h$600
Model 3 Performance AWDElectricAWD85 and 191 kW ACPM 3-Phase113104109 MPGe298 mi30.912 h$700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 48765, 49154, 48764, 48996.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Model 3 Long Range AWD, Model 3 Long Range RWD10 / 10California ZEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 0All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite
Model 3 Performance AWD10 / 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
GVWR classClass 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Fuel Economy

FuelElectric

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds1

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, 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. Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length185.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.8 in
Height56.7 in
Wheelbase113.4 in
Track, front62.2 in
Track, rear62.2 in
Curb weight3,805–4,030 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear48/52

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door Sedan Long Range AWD, 4-door Sedan RWD. 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
▲high

Electrical System

SB-25-16-005
12,963 vehicles 60% reported repaired built Mar 8, 2025 – Aug 12, 2025
Problem Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles. The battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power. Risk A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Tesla Service will replace the battery pack contactors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-16-005.
NHTSA campaign 25V690000 reported Oct 10, 2025 Tesla, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electrical System

SB-25-00-001
239,382 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Model 3, Model S, 2023-2025 Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The computer circuit board may short, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
NHTSA campaign 25V002000 reported Jan 6, 2025 Tesla, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Tires

SB-24-00-018
696,281 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems." Risk Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash. Fix Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
NHTSA campaign 24V935000 reported Dec 17, 2024 Tesla, 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

Electrical System:Adas — FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions open

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Tesla’s Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the system’s ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient time to respond. ODI will evaluate the performance of FSD in degraded roadway conditions and the updates or modifications by Tesla to the degradation detection system, including the timing, purpose, and capabilities of the updates, and Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact. Tesla’s FSD is an advanced

Opened Mar 18, 2026 · action EA26002 · the investigation’s page →

Electrical System:Adas — Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged open

The Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute traffic safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automation system requiring a fully attentive driver who is engaged in the driving task at all times. Level 2 partial automation systems are designed to support and assist the driver in performing certain aspects of the driving task, requiring a driver to supervise and intervene as necessary.  The driver remains

Opened Oct 7, 2025 · action PE25012 · the investigation’s page →

Electrical System:Adas — Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements open

The Office of Defects Investigation (“ODI”) has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”) in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the “SGO”), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports. The majority of these reports involved crashes in which the Standing General Order in place at the time required a report to be submitted within one or five days of Tesla receiving notice of the crash. When the reports were submitted, Tesla submitted them in one of two ways. Many of the reports were submitted as part of a single batch, while others were submitted on a rolling basis. Preliminary engagement between ODI and T

Opened Aug 20, 2025 · action AQ25002 · the investigation’s page →

Electrical System:Adas:Autonomous/Self Driving — Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts. closed

On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private property. ODI analyzed complaint data provided by Tesla as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers to identify Summon incidents resulting in crashes. ODI's analysis indicates that almost all Summon reported crashes involved minor property damage claims with no reported incidents involving a vu

Opened Jan 6, 2025 · closed Apr 3, 2026 · action PE24033 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Model 3

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2025 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Tesla 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 2025 Tesla Model 3, 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 2025 Tesla Model 3

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 Model 3 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
122complaints filed

26 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 10 injuries · 0 deaths reported

6.8 per 10,000 built · Tesla reported 178,594 Model 3 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2024: 3 · 2025: 81 · 2026: 38

Most-cited components

Unspecified 37
Forward Collision Avoidance 35
Steering 26
Lane Departure 24
Electrical System 23
Vehicle Speed Control 14

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.

2025 Tesla Model 3 the follow distance is too close to front vehicle (only 1 to 2 car lengths) while in full self driving mode and there is no way to adjust it like in cruise control mode.
Steering Jun 25, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11669087
Automatic emergency braking and steering is unavailable along with a few other features. Service center and car manufacturer not doing anything about it
Service Brakes Jun 20, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11668060
I went to drop my son to a summer program to a park. After dropping him, as soon as I started, car just accelerated very fast and went on the sides. I was able to turn the steering back into road but it kept speeding and went on the other sides. In the process, cars tires got impacted.
Vehicle Speed Control Jun 17, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11667418
My vehicle is equipped with Supervised FSD and has had couple of issued on the intersection of and in Portsmouth, Virginia. It seems every time I stop at the light, the system recognizes the red light and stops, but shortly after it wants to keep advancing forward although the light is still red and has not changed.
Lane Departure Jun 5, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11665191
Phantom braking from freeway speed to almost a stop, with no other vehicles presenting issues nearby. Three occurrences so far
Forward Collision Avoidance Jun 4, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11664926
The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving with the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving and attempting to parallel park into a parking space when it made a sudden left turn and crashed into a curb.
Electrical System at 19,000 miles Mar 3, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11645905

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 Tesla itself: 5 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 6 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 2.8 per 100,000 built. Every Model 3 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

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

Driver-assist crash reports (273)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
273reports filed

3 fatality · 1 serious · 1 moderate · 5 no injury reported · 263 severity unknown

Oct 2024 to Sep 2026 · 262 with an air bag deployment · 15 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: not named in the filings

Crash partner: Unknown 176 · Other 60 · Passenger Car 13 · SUV 12

Filed by: Tesla, Inc.

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Aug 2026Level 2Unknownno injury reportedCA22 mph13781-16282
Aug 2026Level 2OtherunknownCA24 mph13781-16394
Aug 2026Level 2UnknownunknownMI—13781-16387
Aug 2026Level 2UnknownunknownCA3 mph13781-16386
Aug 2026Level 2UnknownunknownTX20 mph13781-16384
Aug 2026Level 2UnknownunknownIL15 mph13781-16383
Aug 2026Level 2UnknownunknownWI42 mph13781-16382
Aug 2026Level 2UnknownunknownFL4 mph13781-16379
Aug 2026Level 2UnknownunknownNV71 mph13781-16329
Aug 2026Level 2Pole / TreeunknownWI26 mph13781-16327
Aug 2026Level 2First Responder VehicleunknownCA26 mph13781-16310
Aug 2026Level 2SUVunknownCA39 mph13781-16252

Showing the 12 most recent of 273; every one is in this page’s JSON and the dataset.

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 4
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-06-04
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 4 service bulletins

Most often about: Seats, Suspension, Wheels.

  • SB-26-13-005 Service bulletin
    2026-06-04 · Seats
  • On some vehicles, degraded or excessive glue under the front seat cushion(s) may cause creaking noises during cornering or when pressing on the seat cushion(s). Upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle for symptoms related to the condition. If symptoms are present, rework the front seat cushion(s).
  • SB-26-13-006 Service bulletin
    2026-05-29 · Seats
  • On some vehicles, insufficient lubricant at the front seat recliner tube ends may cause creaking noises during weight shifting when the seat is occupied. Upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle for symptoms related to the condition. If symptoms are present, lubricate the front seat recliner tube ends.
  • SB-25-34-003 Service bulletin
    2025-12-12 · Wheels
  • On certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor battery may drain at an accelerated rate. Identify and replace the affected TPMS sensor.
  • SB-25-31-004 Service bulletin
    2025-06-24 · Suspension
  • A firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that monitors wheel alignment over time. This feature detects changes in wheel alignment that may be related to incorrect tire pressures, degraded ball joints, bushings or damaged suspension links. If the feature determines that an inspection at a Tesla Service Center is required, a customer-facing alert will appear o

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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Tesla Model 3 failed the safety inspection on 0.59% of first inspections — higher than the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected.

New York inspections 0.59%

failed the safety inspection

4,238 initial inspections of 4,212 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2025 Model 3Every 2025 vehicleBehind it
Failed the safety inspection0.59%0.36%4,238
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.26%0.16%4,238
Miles driven a year8,5738,354odometer at inspection
Average odometer12,67012,194odometer at inspection

Electric vehicles get no emissions test in New York, so the safety inspection is the record here. 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 2025 vehicle” is every 2025 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).

Compare the 2025 Model 3 with

Any vehicle, your weights →
Head-to-headVerdict
2025 Honda Civic · Midsize Sedan · grade BModel 3 +18.8
2025 Toyota Crown · Midsize Sedan · grade BModel 3 +11.3
2025 Hyundai Elantra · Midsize Sedan · grade CModel 3 +13.5
2025 Nissan Altima · Midsize Sedan · grade BModel 3 +14.6
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 · Midsize Sedan · grade CIoniq 6 +2.9
2025 Toyota Camry · Midsize Sedan · grade DModel 3 +30.1

Model 3 by model year

all years, side by side →

Common questions about the 2025 Model 3

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2025 Tesla Model 3 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2025 Tesla Model 3. The most serious on file is 25V690000, 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 2025 Tesla Model 3?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2025 Tesla Model 3 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (85/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Tesla Model 3?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Tesla Model 3, the longest EPA range is 363 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2025 Tesla Model 3?

Transport Canada measured it at 185.8 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 56.7 in tall, on a 113.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,805–4,030 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 2025 Tesla Model 3?

Owners have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Tesla Model 3, most often about unspecified, forward collision avoidance, steering. Of those, 26 involved a crash, 10 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 2025 Tesla Model 3?

The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Tesla Model 3 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 2025 Tesla Model 3?

The manufacturer has filed 4 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model 3, most often covering seats, suspension, wheels. The most recent is dated 2026-06-04. 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 2025 Tesla Model 3 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Tesla Model 3 failed the safety inspection on 0.59% of first inspections — higher than the 0.36% for every 2025 model-year vehicle inspected. 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.

Is the 2025 Tesla Model 3 better than the 2025 Honda Civic?

The Tesla Model 3 wins clearly, 93.5 to 74.7, on fuel & range. The Honda Civic is ahead on safety. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 against the 2025 Honda Civic — 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 & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints122NHTSA 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 bulletins4NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations4NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports273NHTSA 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 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.

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