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2022 Toyota Tacoma

Gas

Small Pickup Trucks 4WD
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

83 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3

Complaints11 crash · 10 injured reported 59

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 21 mpg

Starting MSRP22 trims · manufacturer $27,750

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2022 Toyota Tacoma is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact pickup truck with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tacoma 2WD, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 59 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $27,750 to $49,890 across 22 trims.

Toyota Tacoma — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Toyota Tacoma · Photo: Clock38030 · CC BY 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	Wheels
SR	Gas	4X2	$27,750	159 hp	180 lb-ft	21 mpg	4	16 in
SR	Gas	4X2	$30,010	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	4	16 in
SR	Gas	4X2	$28,580	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	5	16 in
SR 2.7L	Gas	4X4	$30,825	159 hp	180 lb-ft	20 mpg	4	16 in
SR 3.5L	Gas	4X4	$34,015	278 hp	265 lb-ft	20 mpg	5	16 in
SR5	Gas	4X2	$29,540	159 hp	180 lb-ft	21 mpg	4	16 in
SR5	Gas	4X2	$32,985	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	4	16 in
SR5	Gas	4X2	$34,130	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	5	16 in
SR5	Gas	4X4	$32,615	278 hp	265 lb-ft	20 mpg	4	16 in
SR5	Gas	4X4	$37,205	278 hp	265 lb-ft	20 mpg	5	16 in
TRD Sport	Gas	4X2	$34,660	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	4	17 in
TRD Sport	Gas	4X2	$35,915	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	5	17 in
TRD Sport Manual	Gas	4X4	$36,435	278 hp	265 lb-ft	18 mpg	4	17 in
TRD Sport Automatic	Gas	4X4	$38,880	278 hp	265 lb-ft	20 mpg	5	17 in
TRD Off-Road	Gas	4X2	$35,940	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	5	16 in
TRD Off-Road	Gas	4X4	$37,970	278 hp	265 lb-ft	18 mpg	4	16 in
TRD Off-Road	Gas	4X4	$38,905	278 hp	265 lb-ft	20 mpg	5	16 in
TRD Off-Road	Gas	4X4	$37,075	278 hp	265 lb-ft	18 mpg	5	16 in
TRD Pro Automatic	Gas	4X4	$49,890	278 hp	265 lb-ft	18 mpg	5	16 in
TRD Pro Manual	Gas	4X4	$47,185	278 hp	265 lb-ft	18 mpg	5	16 in
Limited	Gas	4X2	$40,505	278 hp	265 lb-ft	21 mpg	5	18 in
Limited	Gas	4X4	$43,580	278 hp	265 lb-ft	20 mpg	5	18 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*
Tacoma 2WD	Gas	RWD	3.5L 6-cyl	19	24	21	$3,200
Tacoma 2WD	Gas	RWD	2.7L 4-cyl	20	23	21	$3,200
Tacoma 4WD	Gas	4WD (part-time)	3.5L 6-cyl	18	22	20	$3,350
Tacoma 4WD	Gas	4WD (part-time)	2.7L 4-cyl	19	22	20	$3,350
Tacoma 4WD	Gas	4WD (part-time)	3.5L 6-cyl	17	21	18	$3,700
Tacoma 4WD D-CAB MT TRD-ORP/PRO	Gas	4WD (part-time)	3.5L 6-cyl	17	20	18	$3,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44474, 44475, 44477, 44480, 44478, 44479.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Tacoma 2WD, Tacoma 4WD, Tacoma 4WD D-CAB MT TRD-ORP/PRO	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / 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 (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Power Train

24TB05 / 24TA05

381,199 vehicles 90% reported repaired

Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturer (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tacoma vehicles. The axle shaft sub-assembly may separate from the axle housing due to debris causing improperly secured fasteners. Risk Axle shaft separation can cause a loss of vehicle stability and brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect the rear axle assembly, tighten the axle retaining nuts as necessary, and repair or replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB05 and 24TA05.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V152000 reported Feb 27, 2024 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Child Seat

22TB09/ 22TA09

75,316 vehicles 85% reported repaired

Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tacoma vehicles. One or more of the individual welds in the upper child seat anchors may be insufficient. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage System." Risk An insufficient weld may prevent the child seat from being anchored properly, allowing the seat to move during a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect the upper child seat anchors and reweld the child seat anchors, as necessary. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 02, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TB09/ 22TA09.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V520000 reported Jul 21, 2022 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Equipment

22R1

661 vehicles 99% reported repaired

Problem Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2022 4Runner, Tacoma, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification labels may not be permanent and can fade, becoming illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." Risk An illegible label may allow the vehicle to be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix GST will notify owners by mail, including a replacement load carrying capacity modification label for their vehicle and detailed replacement instructions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R1.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V310000 reported May 6, 2022 Gulf States Toyota, 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Tacoma

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 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 2022 Toyota Tacoma, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

59complaints filed

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

2.5 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 240,232 Tacoma built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 17 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

Power Train 10

Unspecified 8

Air Bags 8

Structure 8

Engine 7

Service Brakes 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 hit an elk on the road. The elk came in direct impact with the front of my truck. No air bags deployed despite the force of the significant frontal impact. There had been no warnings or messages leading up to this that the airbags were not functional, nor was I notified that these airbags were part of any recall.

Air Bags May 13, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11588558

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter turned hard. The contact also stated that while shifting the gear, she noticed an abnormal sound. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer.

Power Train Apr 26, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11585485

In March 2022 brake master cylinder failed and was replaced. Today March 14, 2024 notified by dealer that brake master cylinder has gone out again. Toyota certified dealer working with Toyota on fixing. This creates a major safety issue with braking system

Service Brakes Mar 14, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11577398

The adaptive cruise control will randomly slam on the brakes out of nowhere. This has happened multiple times to me while driving behind no one. Not only is this startling to me and everyone in the vehicle, but it is a safety hazard. Someone driving behind me who is not paying attention is going to slam into me.

Forward Collision Avoidance Mar 1, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11574893

Tires are cracking and I had to patch 3 diff tires since I purchased this 2022 Tacoma

Tires Sep 9, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11543539

Truck will stall at random times and random speeds. All the engine lights will turn on and then the truck will shut off. Need to roll to a safe spot to stop the vehicle, put it in park, turn the engine off, then turn it back on

Electrical System May 25, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11523923

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: 70 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 87 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 29 per 100,000 built. Every Tacoma 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
PU/CC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%
PU/CC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	19%
PU/EC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%
PU/EC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	19%

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Toyota warranty extension 23TE08In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Customer Support Program to provide coverage for paint peeling on door frames and front inner fenders on…

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 →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 123

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-01-30

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 112 service bulletins, 6 others, 3 warranty extensions

Most often about: Structure, Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Power Train.

T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin
2026-01-30 · Electrical System
OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
T-SB-0001-26 Service bulletin
2026-01-28 · 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.
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
23TE08 Service campaign
2025-11-11 · Structure — Body
Toyota has received some reports of paint peeling along the exterior door window frames, front inner fenders as can been seen with the hood open, and on the A-pillars on certain Tacoma vehicles with 040 Super White paint color. Although the vehicle paint is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for three years, or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the custom
T-TT-0780-25 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.
T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin
2025-02-11 · 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. The SST is used with applicable vehicles to deliver the update, however, the process for generating license keys differs from previous generations.
T-SB-0099-24 Rev1 Service bulletin
2025-01-17 · Structure — Body
Some 2016 – 2022 model year Tacoma vehicles with Super White (040) paint may exhibit paint peeling along the exterior window door frames, inner fender edges under the hood, and/or A-pillars. The affected panel(s) require repainting to address this condition. The paint repair may need to be sublet to a body shop.
T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint

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
P17A0 P17A0 on Toyota →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	2 bulletins
P17A4	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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.52%

failed emissions

4,471 initial inspections of 4,394 vehicles.

Measure	The 2022 Tacoma	Every 2022 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.52%	1.7%	4,464
Failed the safety inspection	1.5%	1.4%	4,471
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.11%	0.18%	4,471
Miles driven a year	10,711	10,455	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	45,894	44,815	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 2022 vehicle” is every 2022 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).

Tacoma by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 12 23 mpg 2025 C 5 112 23 mpg 2024 C 6 154 24 mpg 2023 C 4 54 21 mpg 2022 this page B 3 59 21 mpg 2021 A 0 81 21 mpg 2020 A 1 90 21 mpg 2019 C 4 219 21 mpg 2018 C 3 209 21 mpg 2017 C 5 243 21 mpg 2016 C 4 324 21 mpg

Common questions about the 2022 Tacoma

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2022 Toyota Tacoma cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $27,750 for the SR 4X2 to $49,890 for the TRD Pro Automatic 4X4, across 22 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 2022 Toyota Tacoma have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma. The most serious on file is 24V152000, covering Power Train. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2022 Toyota Tacoma?

NHTSA gave the 2022 Toyota Tacoma 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (83/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Toyota Tacoma?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Toyota Tacoma, the best EPA combined figure is 21 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2022 Toyota Tacoma?

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Toyota Tacoma, most often about power train, unspecified, air bags. Of those, 11 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 2022 Toyota Tacoma?

The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma is 5 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 LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma?

The manufacturer has filed 123 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Toyota Tacoma, most often covering structure, equipment, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-01-30. 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 2022 Toyota Tacoma do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Toyota Tacoma failed the emissions check on 0.52% of first inspections — lower than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.5% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%). 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 2022 Toyota Tacoma trim is the best value?

$22,140 separates the cheapest of the 22 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.

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	6 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	6 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	59	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	123	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	22 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