2018 Toyota Camry
The 2018 Toyota Camry is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Camry Hybrid LE, is EPA-rated at 52 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 779 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camry Hybrid LE | Hybrid | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl + 259V Li-Ion | 51 | 53 | 52 | $1,300 |
| Camry Hybrid XLE/SE | Hybrid | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl + 245V Ni-MH | 44 | 47 | 46 | $1,450 |
| Camry | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 29 | 41 | 34 | $1,950 |
| Camry LE/SE | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 28 | 39 | 32 | $2,100 |
| Camry XLE/XSE | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 28 | 39 | 32 | $2,100 |
| Camry | Gas | FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 22 | 33 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Camry XSE | Gas | FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 22 | 32 | 26 | $2,600 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38936, 38937, 38880, 38883, 38884, 38881, 38882.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camry Hybrid LE, Camry Hybrid XLE/SE | 7 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay Elite |
| Camry, Camry XLE/XSE | 7 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| Camry LE/SE | 7 / 10 | California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| Camry | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
| Camry XSE | 5 / 10 | Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
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 vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2.5 L |
| Engine configuration | In-Line |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 176 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
| Seating capacity | 5 seats |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4x2 |
| Transmission | Electronic Continuously Variable (e-CVT) |
| Transmission speeds | 8 |
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, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking
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: AXVA70L/GSV70L/AXVH70L/AXVH71L, SE/XLE Hybrid, XLE/XLE Premium/Ltd/Ltd Premium, XSE). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 192.5 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 72.0 in |
| Height | 58.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 111.4 in |
| Track, front | 61.8 in |
| Track, rear | 62.2 in |
| Curb weight | 3,241–3,549 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 59/41 to 60/40 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 5 configurations: 4-door Sedan L/Le, 4-door Sedan Se/Xse/Xle, 4-door Sedan XSE V6/XLE V6, Hybrid 4-door Sedan LE, Hybrid 4-door Sedan Se/Xle. 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.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2018 Toyota Camry 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 (8)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseService Brakes, Hydraulic
21TB09 / 21TA09Fuel System, Gasoline
20TA02, 20LA01Fuel System, Gasoline
20TB02/20TA02/20LB01Equipment
SET19AService Brakes, Hydraulic
J0K/JLDEngine And Engine Cooling
J1M/J0MFuel System, Gasoline
J0GThese 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:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific Camry
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Toyota 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 2018 Toyota Camry, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2018 Toyota Camry
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 Camry →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database48 involved a crash · 4 a fire · 45 injuries · 0 deaths reported
18 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 429,403 Camry built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2017: 7 · 2018: 116 · 2019: 100 · 2020: 108 · 2021: 96 · 2022: 79 · 2023: 56 · 2024: 59 · 2025: 75 · 2026: 83
Most-cited components
In depth: brake problems → · engine problems → · fuel system problems → · electrical problems →
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
Issue #1 radio/bluetooth fails to sync with phone forcing me to hand hold the phone in violation of state law. Issue #2 radio/bluetooth/microphone has so much background noise that it's difficult for people to hear/understand me. This is an issue in the case of an accident or other situation when hands free communication is required
When I come to a full stop and attempt to drive the vehicle sort of "stalls" then eventually the gears catch and it starts to drive. This can be very dangerous when trying to pick up speed in a highway or something. The first time it happened I was at a stop sign.
The steering stiffens up tremendously and then loosen. Took car to Toyota for service and was told a steering shaft (believe that was what he called it) is the problem and it is going to be $770. The gentleman at the dealership also informed me that I AM the 3rd person in a month with a 2018 Camry to come in with this issue
Since I bought the car in august 2018 until now, I have been driven it in normal condition, but have never gotten fuel consumption above 41 MPG. The sticker advertised at 48 MPG or higher for hwy/local. Toyota dealer has ran diagnostic on the vehicle but refuse to admit the false advertisement.
For first minute or two after starting vehicle, the brakes prevent smooth operation causing "lurching" especially during slow speed backing. Toyota declares "normal" behavior of the brakes
My driver rear tire started wobbling and I had a complete blow out within 3 seconds. I was driving at 65 MPH on the highway. My car has approximately 7500 miles. The veered left and had to redirect it right to get off freeway
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 Toyota itself: 537 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 5 killed, 696 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 125 per 100,000 built. Every Camry model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 334 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 6,000 and 50,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Median mileage by component
| Component | Reports | Median miles | Vs same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 82 | 14,000 | 0.4× |
| Service Brakes | 72 | 53,000 | 1.86× |
| Engine | 68 | 20,600 | 0.41× |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 45 | 28,500 | 0.89× |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 42 | 6,000 | 0.43× |
| Unspecified | 38 | 8,225 | — |
| Electrical System | 33 | 17,500 | 0.78× |
| Steering | 27 | 47,000 | 3.24× |
Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: power train (0.4×), engine (0.41×), vehicle speed control (0.43×); later: service brakes (1.86×), steering (3.24×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Across 2018–2020 model years the Toyota Camry ranks 25 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.65× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 16,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10% |
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications- Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Toyota warranty extension 24TE04This Customer Support Program provides coverage as it applies to Flow Shut-off Valve Coolant Leak on Certain 2019-2021 Avalon & Avalon HV, 2018-2021 Camry & Camry HV, Certain 2020-2021 Corolla…
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 Toyota warranty extension (10) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →
Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Service Brakes.
- 26TF01 Emissions2026-09-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Under certain conditions, debris can accumulate inside the fuel cap causing potential fuel vapor leaks that can cause increased evaporative emissions to exceed the regulated limits. This issue will not trigger the M.I.L. (Malfunction Indicator Lamp)
- T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-08-20 · Engine
- OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.
- T-SB-0051-26 Service bulletin2026-08-20 · Engine
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.
- 24TE04 Warranty extension2026-08-11 · Engine
- Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repairs related to Flow Shut-off Valve Coolant Leak.
- T-SB-0097-23 Rev1 Service bulletin2026-04-14 · Structure — Body
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Camry and 2018 – 2026 model year Camry Hybrid vehicles may exhibit the weatherstrip on the panoramic roof center glass peeling on the edges of the glass.
- T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-02-27 · Engine
- OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-01-30 · Electrical System
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- T-SB-0001-26 Service bulletin2026-01-28 · Electrical System
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
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 complaintsCodes 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.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| P26CB | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 5 owner reports |
| P0087 P0087 on Toyota → | Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded. | Equipment · Fuel pump → | 1 bulletin · 1 owner report |
| P0171 P0171 on Toyota → | The engine is running lean on bank 1: too much air, or not enough fuel, for the mixture the computer wants. | Equipment · Mass air flow sensor → | 1 bulletin · 1 owner report |
| P0A7F P0A7F on Toyota → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment | 2 bulletins |
| P0A80 P0A80 on Toyota → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment | 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.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Toyota Camry failed the emissions check on 1.5% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).
failed emissions
8,993 initial inspections of 8,773 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2018 Camry | Every 2018 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 1.5% | 3.0% | 8,979 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.8% | 1.9% | 8,993 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.24% | 0.22% | 8,993 |
| Miles driven a year | 10,404 | 10,002 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 86,034 | 82,833 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. 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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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).
Camry by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2018 Camry
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2018 Toyota Camry have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 8 recall campaigns for the 2018 Toyota Camry, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V108000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2018 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA gave the 2018 Toyota Camry 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (56/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Toyota Camry?
Across the 7 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Toyota Camry, the best EPA combined figure is 52 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2018 Toyota Camry?
Transport Canada measured it at 192.5 in long, 72.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 58.3 in tall, on a 111.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,241–3,549 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 2018 Toyota Camry?
Owners have filed 779 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota Camry, most often about power train, service brakes, engine. Of those, 48 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 45 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 2018 Toyota Camry?
The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Toyota Camry runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. 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 LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Toyota Camry?
The manufacturer has filed 546 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Toyota Camry, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-10. 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 2018 Toyota Camry do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Toyota Camry failed the emissions check on 1.5% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.8% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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.
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 | 7 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 7 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 8 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 779 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 546 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 1 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No 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 NHTSA | 13 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.