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Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›CC› 2016
Volkswagen · Compact Sedan

2016 Volkswagen CC

Gas
Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints1 crash · 1 injured reported 26
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 25 mpg
20172016

The 2016 Volkswagen CC is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CC, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 26 complaints, most often about the air bags.

2016 Volkswagen CC

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
CCGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223125$3,300
CCGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo213225$3,300
CC 4motionGasAWD3.6L 6-cyl172520$3,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36577, 36578, 36579.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
CC5–9 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV / Bin 3All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
CC 4motion5–6 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEVAll 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 vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower200 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

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 one configuration rather than every trim (seen: 2.0T Base, Sport, R-Line). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length189.0 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.2 in
Height55.9 in
Wheelbase106.7 in
Track, front61.0 in
Track, rear61.0 in
Curb weight3,366 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Coupe Sportline/Highline 2.0 Tsi. 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.

Also on file Beside the 2016 CC
Other years The 2017 CC Recalls Volkswagen recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Volkswagen CC 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 →

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

69Z5
27,822 vehicles 67% reported repaired built May 6, 2015 – Dec 17, 2015
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags. Risk Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V535000 reported Jul 17, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Air Bags

69S8/69Y5
119,394 vehicles 82% reported repaired built May 20, 2014 – Nov 28, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V014000 reported Jan 11, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Unknown Or Other

01C5/01C6
252 vehicles 78% reported repaired built Jan 19, 2012 – Nov 18, 2015
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements. Risk If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V329000 reported May 16, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

20AE
280,915 vehicles 49% reported repaired built Jan 19, 2012 – Apr 15, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail. Risk If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
NHTSA campaign 17V509000 reported Aug 16, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seats

72G5
23 vehicles 70% reported repaired built Nov 18, 2015 – Jun 3, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 CC vehicles. Incorrect front seat head restraints (rests) may have been installed, possibly resulting in the seat occupant's head being inadequately restrained in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints." Risk If the seat occupant's head is inadequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72G5.
NHTSA campaign 17V287000 reported Apr 28, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

58C9
5,658 vehicles 78% reported repaired built Jan 12, 2016 – Feb 3, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle. Risk If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V464000 reported Jun 24, 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, 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 CC

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volkswagen 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 →Volkswagen’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 2016 Volkswagen CC, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 Volkswagen CC

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 CC →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
26complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2017: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 2

Most-cited components

Air Bags 11
Fuel/Propulsion System 8
Electrical System 4
Unspecified 3
Service Brakes 2
Exterior Lighting 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.

I purchased my Volkswagen CC in 2019. It hasn't been officially 4 years of owning the vehicle, and the clock spring or air bag light comes on in which it seems every 1.5 years. It costs over $800 to repair, and the first repair was replaced by certified VW OEM parts. I can't get an inspection and pass because the horn will not work.
Air Bags May 5, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11520704
When I put my car in drive (to move forward) from a cold start, the vehicle hesitates, does not respond to the accelerator pedal, and does not move. During this time, the transmission does not engage, and the vehicle shakes and produces a loud clunking sound from underneath.
Structure Jan 7, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11500563
Vehicle has factory installed splash guards, the car bottoms out when hitting the slightest bump. Nina at VW corporate has been totally useless
Suspension Nov 2, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11439071
Several times now when attempting to turn out into traffic my car stutters and caused me to almost get hit. Recently while driving in traffic my car stopped receiving gas and started coasting. It literally stopped working in the middle of traffic almost causing an accident with myself and child in the car
Fuel/Propulsion System at 39,000 miles Jun 3, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11327163
Constantly receiving message, ' adaptive front lighting system.' after research I noticed that this is a recall issue on other models of the same year and I feel that this is connected being that it's the same message received as the other models. Vehicle is stationary and I receive the message every time I start the car.
Exterior Lighting at 32,900 miles Nov 4, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11278168
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Cc. While pulling into a parking space with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated without warning, the contact applied excessive force to the brake pedal; however, it crashed into a cement wall. The contact sustained neck, shoulder, and arm injuries that required medical attention.
Service Brakes at 28,000 miles Feb 1, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11173513

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.

When owners reported it

Reported at 41k

miles, typically

Half the 12 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 33,000 and 49,000 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.

Too few readings for a curve — the 12 on file: 1 under 10k, 1 10k–20k, 1 20k–30k, 2 30k–40k, 4 40k–50k, 2 50k–60k, 1 70k–80k.

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
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆—
4 DR FWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆—

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

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

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 Volkswagen warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 654
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 642 service bulletins, 9 others, 3 warranty extensions

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

  • V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
    2026-09-17 · Engine
  • Suggested fuel additive
  • 2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
  • 2026-08-21 · Engine
  • This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts going forward.
  • 2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other
  • Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
  • V0026012081638_2 Service bulletin
    2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • Differences between a leak and seepage
  • VOS-26-42 Service bulletin
    2026-07-15 · Electrical System
  • This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.
  • V1718062017813_24 Service bulletin
    2026-07-09 · Engine
  • Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
  • TT 13-20-01_3 Service bulletin
    2026-06-18 · Engine
  • Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.

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.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P013E
P013E on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment19 bulletins
P309D
P309D on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →7 bulletins
P309F
P309F on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →7 bulletins
P164B
P164B on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
P0011
P0011 on Volkswagen →		Camshaft timing on bank 1 is more advanced than commanded.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P0016
P0016 on Volkswagen →		The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P0100Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment3 bulletins
P0101The mass air flow sensor is reporting a figure the engine computer does not believe for the conditions.Equipment · Mass air flow sensor →3 bulletins
P0299The turbocharger or supercharger is not making the boost the computer asked for.Equipment3 bulletins
P2181
P2181 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P2407
P2407 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →3 bulletins
P0088
P0088 on Volkswagen →		Fuel rail pressure is above what the system commanded.Equipment2 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.

CC by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2017 C 3 4 25 mpg2016 this page D 6 26 25 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 CC

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Volkswagen CC have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2016 Volkswagen CC, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 19V014000, 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 2016 Volkswagen CC?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 Volkswagen CC yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it D (61/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Volkswagen CC?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Volkswagen CC, the best EPA combined figure is 25 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Volkswagen CC?

Transport Canada measured it at 189.0 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 55.9 in tall, on a 106.7 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,366 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Volkswagen CC?

Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen CC, most often about air bags, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Of those, 1 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 2016 Volkswagen CC?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Volkswagen CC runs 5 to 9 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 — Bin 3, Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Volkswagen CC?

The manufacturer has filed 654 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Volkswagen CC, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. 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.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints26NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins654NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No 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 NHTSA9 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2017 CC The CC model year with the cleanest record on file — grade C, 3 recalls.Recalls Every Volkswagen recall on file All campaigns filed against Volkswagen vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this CC by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

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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