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2025 Tesla Model X

Electric

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

83 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3

Complaints2 crash · 1 injured reported 16

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

EV rangebest configuration, EPA 329 mi

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2025 Tesla Model X is sold in the U.S. as an electric large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model X, is EPA-rated at 329 miles with 98 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 16 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance.

Tesla Model X — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Tesla Model X (2012 generation) · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Model X	Electric	AWD	243 and 248 kW ACPM	103	94	98 MPGe	329 mi	34.2	14 h	$750
Model X Plaid (20in wheels)	Electric	AWD	230, 230 and 230 kW ACPM 3-Phase	98	89	94 MPGe	314 mi	35.9	14 h	$800
Model X Plaid (22in wheels)	Electric	AWD	230, 230 and 230 kW ACPM 3-Phase	92	84	88 MPGe	294 mi	38.1	14 h	$850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49125, 48768, 48769.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Model X, Model X Plaid (20in wheels), Model X Plaid (22in wheels)	10 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay 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 style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	5
GVWR class	Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Electric

Transmission

Drivetrain	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	1

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

Length	198.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	79.1 in
Height	66.1 in
Wheelbase	116.9 in
Track, front	65.4 in
Track, rear	66.9 in
Curb weight	5,269 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	49/51

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

●moderate

Electrical System

SB-25-20-001

91 vehicles 73% reported repaired

Problem Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and 2021-2025 Model X vehicles. An air bag with the incorrect horn pad may have been installed, preventing the horn from sounding. Risk An inoperative horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Tesla service will inspect and install an air bag with the correct horn pad as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V172000 reported Mar 19, 2025 Tesla, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

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.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V002000 reported Jan 6, 2025 Tesla, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

SB-24-20-001

487 vehicles 75% reported repaired

Problem Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Model S and Model X vehicles. The driver's air bag could tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 212, "Windshield Mounting." Risk A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Tesla service will replace the air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-20-001.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V967000 reported Dec 23, 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 X

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.

NHTSA VIN check →Tesla’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 2025 Tesla Model X, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

16complaints filed

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

18 per 10,000 built · Tesla reported 8,712 Model X built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2025: 11 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Unspecified 6

Forward Collision Avoidance 5

Electrical System 3

Service Brakes 2

Steering 2

Seat Belts 2

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 Full-Self Drive of my Tesla failed to follow the programmed navigation directions I set to take me home in one direction, but instead the vehicle took a completely different path on its own.

Steering Aug 30, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11760819

Sept 20, 2025. 2025 Model X door alarmed for being open when it was actually closed. Door would only open intermittently. Your in car and cannot escape through drivers door. It was locked shut and thought it was open. Parked car requested Tesla service. Mobile unit came out replaced electric opener.

Structure Feb 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11717818

The contact owns a 2025 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that after the latest update was pushed out, the speed regulation on the vehicle failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the speed regulation was set to "Standard Mode" and the vehicle accelerated to 70 MPH in a 55 MPH Zone.

Electrical System Jan 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11713772

I am writing to report and formally document a very serious and distressing safety incident involving my Tesla Model X that occurred for a second time, on . While driving routinely into the parking garage at my workplace, my vehicle suddenly and violently stopped without warning.

Service Brakes Nov 7, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11698050

My Tesla Model X was in Autopilot mode (v13.2.9) at the time of the incident. The vehicle’s advanced driver-assistance system was actively controlling steering and speed, while I remained attentive with my hands on the wheel I was closely monitoring the car’s operation but was not manually steering, braking, or accelerating during…

Forward Collision Avoidance Nov 2, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11696997

I own a Tesla Model X 6-seater. The second-row seatbelt repeatedly becomes twisted and fails to retract or lay flat after only a few days of normal use. I have brought the vehicle to the Tesla Service Center in Austin, TX (2323 Ridgepoint Dr) multiple times — five separate repair visits so far — for the same issue.

Seat Belts Oct 23, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11695157

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

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★★★	9%

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

Driver-assist crash reports (12)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01

12reports filed

1 no injury reported · 11 severity unknown

Jun 2025 to Sep 2026 · 11 with an air bag deployment · 2 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: not named in the filings

Crash partner: Unknown 7 · Passenger Car 2 · SUV 2 · Other 1

Filed by: Tesla, Inc.

Incident	System	Struck	Injury alleged	State	Speed	Report
Sep 2026	Level 2	Unknown	unknown	LA	23 mph	13781-16609
Apr 2026	Level 2	SUV	unknown	CA	54 mph	13781-14861
Mar 2026	Level 2	Unknown	unknown	FL	33 mph	13781-14308
Feb 2026	Level 2	Unknown	unknown	WI	66 mph	13781-14059
Jan 2026	Level 2	Unknown	unknown	NV	20 mph	13781-13933
Dec 2025	Level 2	SUV	unknown	CA	30 mph	13781-13481
Nov 2025	Level 2	Unknown	unknown	MA	34 mph	13781-13118
Sep 2025	Level 2	Unknown	unknown	NY	28 mph	13781-11743
Aug 2025	Level 2	Other	unknown	NV	42 mph	13781-11528
Aug 2025	Level 2	Passenger Car	no injury reported	TX	28 mph	13781-11492
Jul 2025	Level 2	Passenger Car	unknown	CA	12 mph	13781-14165
Jun 2025	Level 2	Unknown	unknown	TX	25 mph	13781-11176

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 3

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-04

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 3 service bulletins

Most often about: Air Bags, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other.

SB-26-18-001 Service bulletin
2026-02-04 · Unknown Or Other
On some Model S and Model X vehicles, the compression gap of the HVAC drain funnel seal is wider than intended, which may cause water ingress. Inspect the sponge area of the HVAC drain funnel for water ingress. If water ingress is present, rework the HVAC drain funnel seal.
SB-24-21-002 Service bulletin
2025-03-21 · Electrical System
Some Model S and Model X vehicles with 1st Generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antennas might suffer from lower-than-expected navigation signal strength under certain circumstances.
SB-24-20-001 Service bulletin
2025-01-14 · Air Bags
On certain Model S and Model X vehicles with a round steering wheel, built between November 6, 2024 and November 27, 2024, the supplier assembly process might have damaged the driver airbag. Coupled with a deep fold or crease in the airbag material or positioning of the heat diffuser, the damage could result in a tear during deployment, increasing the risk of injury in a collision.

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

New York inspections 0%

failed the safety inspection

292 initial inspections of 290 vehicles.

Measure	The 2025 Model X	Every 2025 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the safety inspection	0%	0.36%	292
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0%	0.16%	292
Miles driven a year	9,464	8,354	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	13,945	12,194	odometer 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 X with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2025 Toyota Highlander · Large SUV · grade C	Model X +28.5

Model X by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 7 352 mi 2025 this page B 3 16 329 mi 2024 D 8 27 335 mi 2023 F 17 194 348 mi 2022 F 22 129 348 mi 2021 F 24 41 371 mi 2020 D 10 128 351 mi 2019 D 8 102 325 mi 2018 D 9 193 295 mi 2017 D 10 268 295 mi 2016 F 12 451 289 mi

Common questions about the 2025 Model X

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2025 Tesla Model X have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2025 Tesla Model X. The most serious on file is 24V967000, covering Air Bags. 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 X?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2025 Tesla Model X yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (83/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

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

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Tesla Model X, the longest EPA range is 329 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 X?

Transport Canada measured it at 198.0 in long, 79.1 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.1 in tall, on a 116.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,269 lb. 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 X?

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Tesla Model X, most often about unspecified, forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 1 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 X?

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

The manufacturer has filed 3 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model X, most often covering air bags, electrical system, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-02-04. 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 X do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Tesla Model X failed the safety inspection on 0% of first inspections — lower 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 X better than the 2025 Toyota Highlander?

The Tesla Model X wins clearly, 87.4 to 58.9, on fuel & range. The Toyota Highlander is ahead on safety. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2025 Tesla Model X against the 2025 Toyota Highlander — 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.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	3 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	3 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	16	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	1 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	3	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	4	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	12	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	Crashes 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 NHTSA	7 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

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

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

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