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2025 Toyota Corolla

Hybrid Gas

Compact Cars
12 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

87 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints10 crash · 1 fire · 7 injured reported 42

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 50 mpg

Starting MSRP9 trims · manufacturer $22,325

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2025 Toyota Corolla is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact sedan with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Corolla Hybrid (Normal/Eco Modes), is EPA-rated at 50 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 42 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $22,325 to $28,190 across 9 trims.

Toyota Corolla — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Toyota Corolla · Photo: オーバードライブ83 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
LE	Gas	FWD	$22,325	169 hp	151 lb-ft	35 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	16 in
SE	Gas	FWD	$24,765	169 hp	151 lb-ft	34 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	18 in
FX Edition	Gas	FWD	$26,650	169 hp	151 lb-ft	34 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	18 in
XSE	Gas	FWD	$28,040	169 hp	151 lb-ft	34 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	18 in
Corolla Hybrid LE Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	$23,825	138 hp	105 lb-ft	50 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	16 in
Corolla Hybrid LE Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	$25,225	138 hp	105 lb-ft	48 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	16 in
Corolla Hybrid SE Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	$26,265	138 hp	105 lb-ft	47 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	18 in
Corolla Hybrid SE Hybrid AWD	Hybrid	AWD	$27,665	138 hp	105 lb-ft	44 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	18 in
Corolla Hybrid XLE Hybrid	Hybrid	FWD	$28,190	138 hp	105 lb-ft	50 mpg	5	13.1 cu-ft	16 in

Warranty basic 3 yr / 36,000 mi · powertrain 5 yr / 60,000 mi · roadside 2 yr

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Corolla Hybrid (Normal/Eco Modes)	Hybrid	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl + 207V Li-Ion	53	46	50	$1,350
Corolla Hybrid AWD (Normal/Eco Modes)	Hybrid	AWD	1.8L 4-cyl + 207V Li-Ion	51	44	48	$1,400
Corolla Hybrid (Sport/Normal/Eco Modes)	Hybrid	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl + 207V Li-Ion	50	43	47	$1,450
Corolla Hybrid AWD (Sport/Normal/Eco Modes)	Hybrid	AWD	1.8L 4-cyl + 207V Li-Ion	47	41	44	$1,500
Corolla	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	32	41	35	$1,900
Corolla Hatchback	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	32	41	35	$1,900
Corolla	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	31	40	34	$1,950
Corolla	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	31	38	34	$1,950
Corolla FX	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	31	39	34	$1,950
Corolla Hatchback XSE	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	30	38	33	$2,050
GR Corolla	Gas	AWD	1.6L 3-cyl turbo	21	28	24	$3,400
GR Corolla	Gas	AWD	1.6L 3-cyl turbo	19	27	22	$3,750

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 49139, 49140, 48490, 48492, 48493, 47996, 48494, 48495, 48496, 47997.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Corolla Hybrid (Sport/Normal/Eco Modes)	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / Other	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Corolla Hybrid AWD (Sport/Normal/Eco Modes)	6 / 10	Other / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Corolla, Corolla FX, Corolla Hatchback XSE	6 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
Corolla Hatchback	6 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
GR Corolla	4 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / Other	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
GR Corolla	4 / 10	Other / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	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.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Electrical System

See Part 573 Report

591,377 vehicles 50% reported repaired

Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights. Risk An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury. Fix Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numb

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V595000 reported Sep 11, 2025 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Service Brakes, Electric

24TA11

145,383 vehicles 92% reported repaired Hybrid only

Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla Cross Hybrid and 2023-2025 Corolla Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the skid control electronic control unit (ECU) may result in a loss of power brake assist when turning a corner. Risk A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the skid control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2024. Additionally, notifications to owners of the Corolla Hybrid vehicles were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24TA11.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V708000 reported Sep 20, 2024 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing 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 Corolla

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. Toyota 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 →Toyota’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 Toyota Corolla, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

42complaints filed

10 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

1.8 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 230,469 Corolla built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2024: 2 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 23

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance 10

Service Brakes 8

Unspecified 7

Air Bags 6

Tires 6

Electrical System 6

In owners' own words

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

I pulled into XXX drive way at 6:53pm XXX. By 7:12 pm we were on the phone with 911. My car alarm when off. I went over to my car. It was smoking had a bad smell it smelt like it was about to explode. It wouldn’t let me unlock the car.

Electrical System Aug 24, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11759279

I was driving west bound on I40 with the adaptive cruise control, and lane assist on at 75 MPH. It was around 8:30 PM when I seen the instrument panel flash, just drop for less than half a second, and then come back up but dimmer, like when the headlights come on, except they already were on.

Forward Collision Avoidance Apr 26, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11733816

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Corolla equipped with Dunlop Tires, Tire Line: SP Sport 5000, Tire Size: 225/40/R18, DOT Number: 1EUT74MBR5024. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from each tire, and the tires were slick while driving in inclement weather.

Tires at 8,000 miles Aug 24, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11759227

I was broadsided at the front end of the drivers side on Saturday 07/25/2026 by a wayward vehicle drifting into my lane. After the crash, the airbags deployed and then I could not open the driver seat door. Three other passer-bys who kindly stopped to check on me could not open the door from outside either.

Air Bags Jul 27, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11753117

I performed a search on Google for any corolla's braking problem and found an incident "EXACTLY" like my daughter experienced! Here is the link to it on Reddit - Terrifying brake failure on my new 2025 Corolla Hybrid – Pedal went to the floor with zero warning!

Service Brakes Jun 19, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11745303

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota GR Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at night with the low-beam headlights activated, there was a large dark shadow at certain angles, obstructing visibility while driving at various speeds. The shadow disappeared once the high-beam headlights were activated.

Exterior Lighting at 3,200 miles Jun 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11742340

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: 41 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 48 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 18 per 100,000 built. Every Corolla model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
5 HB FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 149

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-08-20

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 145 service bulletins, 4 service campaigns

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

T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 Service bulletin
2026-08-20 · Engine
OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.
T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2026-01-07 · Unknown Or Other
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
T-SB-0059-25 Service bulletin
2025-08-15 · Engine
Some 2020 – 2025 model year Corolla vehicles may exhibit a vibration or rattle noise from the right-hand engine mounting insulator sub-assembly. This condition will usually go away when the engine’s Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) are above idle. This condition is typically found on vehicles in warm climates/weather. No Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) are associated with this condition. This conditio
T-SB-0010-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2025-06-25 · Electrical System
Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, and 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 vehicles with A25A-FKS and M20A-FKS engines may have a MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) upon cold soak start up with engine coolant temperatures between 14°F – 41°F: •P030027 – Random/Multiple
T-TT-0784-25 Rev1 Service bulletin
2025-06-17 · Engine
Some ECUs can set a DTC that is common with other ECUs. This can lead to accidental use of the wrong repair manual when diagnosing these type of DTCs.
T-TT-0784-25 Service bulletin
2025-06-13 · Engine
Some ECUs can set a DTC that is common with other ECUs. This can lead to accidental use of the wrong repair manual when diagnosing these type of DTCs.
T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 Service campaign
2025-06-13 · Electrical System
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
T-TT-0779-25 Service bulletin
2025-04-02 · Electrical System
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the system and are only to be used when requested by FTS and/or FPE.

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.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P2C90	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	4 owner reports

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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.56%

failed the safety inspection

4,803 initial inspections of 4,751 vehicles.

Measure	The 2025 Corolla	Every 2025 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the safety inspection	0.56%	0.36%	4,803
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.19%	0.16%	4,803
Miles driven a year	7,609	8,354	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	11,298	12,194	odometer at inspection

New York does not emissions-test model years this new, 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 Corolla with

Any vehicle, your weights →

Head-to-head	Verdict
2025 BMW 3 Series · Midsize Sedan · grade B	Corolla +19
2025 BMW i4 · Compact Hatchback · grade B	i4 +14.3
2025 Porsche Taycan · Midsize Sedan · grade C	Taycan +24.4

Corolla by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 50 mpg 2026 A 1 18 50 mpg 2025 this page B 2 42 50 mpg 2024 C 4 74 50 mpg 2023 D 6 85 50 mpg 2022 A 0 105 52 mpg 2021 A 1 188 52 mpg 2020 C 6 314 52 mpg 2019 C 6 205 36 mpg 2018 B 3 143 34 mpg 2017 B 3 190 34 mpg 2016 A 1 215 34 mpg

Common questions about the 2025 Corolla

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2025 Toyota Corolla cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $22,325 for the LE FWD to $28,190 for the Corolla Hybrid XLE Hybrid FWD, across 9 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2025 Toyota Corolla have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2025 Toyota Corolla. The most serious on file is 24V708000, covering Service Brakes, Electric. 1 campaign is phased, so the repair reached some model years before others. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2025 Toyota Corolla?

NHTSA gave the 2025 Toyota Corolla 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (87/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Toyota Corolla?

Across the 12 EPA-rated configurations of the 2025 Toyota Corolla, the best EPA combined figure is 50 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2025 Toyota Corolla?

Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Toyota Corolla, most often about forward collision avoidance, service brakes, unspecified. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 7 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 Toyota Corolla?

The EPA smog rating for the 2025 Toyota Corolla runs 4 to 6 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, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70, Other — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2025 Toyota Corolla?

The manufacturer has filed 149 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2025 Toyota Corolla, most often covering unknown or other, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-08-20. 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 Toyota Corolla do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2025 Toyota Corolla failed the safety inspection on 0.56% 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.

Which 2025 Toyota Corolla trim is the best value?

$5,865 separates the cheapest of the 9 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

Is the 2025 Toyota Corolla better than the 2025 BMW 3 Series?

The Toyota Corolla wins clearly, 91.1 to 72.1, on price, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and space & cargo. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2025 Toyota Corolla against the 2025 BMW 3 Series — 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	12 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	10 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	42	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	4 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	149	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
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	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	9 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

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. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API