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Volkswagen · Midsize Hatchback

2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

Gas

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

Safety Signal

83 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 3

Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 14

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg

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

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize hatchback with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Golf, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 14 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volkswagen Golf GTI — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Volkswagen Golf GTI · Photo: Charles01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Golf	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	29	35	32	$2,100
Golf	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	28	36	31	$2,150
GTI	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	24	32	27	$2,500
GTI	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	24	32	27	$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42433, 42434, 42124, 42231.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Golf	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
GTI	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	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 vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

228 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Manual/Standard
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes one configuration rather than every trim (seen: S, SE, Autobahn). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	167.3–179.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	70.9 in
Height	57.1–59.8 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Track, front	60.6–61.0 in
Track, rear	59.4–59.8 in
Curb weight	2,906–3,422 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 Alltrack, 4-door Hatch, 4-door R Hatch, 4-door Sportwagen, 4-door Sportwagen 4Motion. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

VW: 20UF/AUDI:20YF

261,257 vehicles 57% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister. Risk A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. Fix Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and re

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 24V110000 reported Feb 14, 2024 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Electrical System

28H7

62,538 vehicles 64% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf Sportwagen, 2019-2020 Golf GTI, and Jetta vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch. The ignition switch may fail, especially in high temperature environments. Risk Ignition switch failure can cause the electrical system to shut down and the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 28H7.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V604000 reported Aug 30, 2023 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Tires

AU:45J7,VW:45J6,45J8

296,044 vehicles 84% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems." Risk An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audis customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V815000 reported Oct 31, 2022 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Fuel System, Gasoline — Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647) closed

On December 12, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened RQ23-007 to investigate the remedy repair effectiveness and scope of Volkswagen (VW) recall 16V-647. Recall 16V-647 was issued on September 2, 2016, for a defective suction jet pump (SJP) inside the fuel tank. Failure of the SJP could lead to a fuel leak from the vehicle. This recall covered certain model year (MY) 2015-2016 Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 passenger car vehicles. The recall remedy repair replaced SJP Version 1.0 with an improved version, Version 1.1. The SJP is designed to purge fuel from the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system. VW’s recall filing stated the SJP may have been damaged during assembly, which c

Opened Dec 12, 2023 · closed Jul 1, 2024 · action RQ23007 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Golf / GTI

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 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 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

14complaints filed

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

13 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 11,080 Golf / GTI built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Engine 5

Power Train 2

Fuel/Propulsion System 2

Unspecified 2

Electrical System 2

Structure 1

In owners' own words

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

The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Golf. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that there was a leak in the evaporative emissions system after scanning the vehicle and retrieving DTC: P0456.

Fuel/Propulsion System at 17,000 miles Feb 13, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11717877

I have bought the new 6 speed manual Gti this week and put 150 miles on it so far. Only 4 days after purchase, the car stalled while stopping with the clutch depressed during shifting to neutral, with no warning signs or errors

Engine at 220 miles Oct 24, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11366189

I turn my vehicle on and immediately and presented with a message on the dashboard display: "SOS Emergency Call Function Not Available: See Dealer." indicating that the emergency call function of the vehicle is not working and inaccessible.

Electrical System Dec 4, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11558354

While driving with the cruise control set to 55 mph, the car began an uncommanded acceleration. When I looked down on the dashboard display I noticed that the cruise control target speed was set to 95 mph. I switched of the cruise control and resumed manual control of the speed.

Vehicle Speed Control Oct 21, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11621140

This vehicle has proximity alert automatic braking. I emergency stopped the vehicle when there was absolutely no reason to, no hazard in front of me. I AM working with the dealer and VW to try and get this dangerous feature permanently disabled. I was nearly rear ended by a truck because it emergency stopped the car for no reason

Electronic Stability Control at 180 miles Aug 6, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11343773

I was driving on the freeway going approximately 65 MPH. It was a clear day (about 70 degrees f), very light traffic, no other cars were in my immediate vicinity. I was not driving under any overpass nor did I see or hear any rocks hit my car. Out of nowhere, I heard a very loud pop which sounded like a gunshot.

Structure at 210 miles Mar 26, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11319399

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	13%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	13%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

8.5 years or 85,000 miles, whichever comes first · Volkswagen warranty extension VWP-25-16For applicable Settlement Class Vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended to cover 50% of the repair or replacement of the Turbocharger by an authorized Volkswagen Dealer for 8.5…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Volkswagen warranty extension VWP-24-04These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement

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 1,291

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1246 service bulletins, 39 others, 6 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train.

V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
2026-09-17 · Engine
Suggested fuel additive
SM 39-2026 Other
2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
V4622022067177_5 Service bulletin
2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
Repair or Replace Information
V4015022033347_8 Service bulletin
2026-08-10 · Power Train
Replacement instruction
TT 00-13-04_7 Other
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

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
P0496 P0496 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	41 bulletins
P0463 P0463 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	37 bulletins
P11A1 P11A1 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A2 P11A2 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A3 P11A3 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A4 P11A4 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A5 P11A5 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A6 P11A6 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A7 P11A7 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A8 P11A8 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11A9 P11A9 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 bulletins
P11AA P11AA on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	29 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 2.3%

failed emissions

481 initial inspections of 470 vehicles.

Measure	The 2020 Golf / GTI	Every 2020 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.3%	2.2%	479
Failed the safety inspection	1.7%	1.6%	481
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.21%	0.19%	481
Miles driven a year	8,309	9,980	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	51,867	62,630	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 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 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).

Golf / GTI by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 28 mpg 2026 A 0 4 27 mpg 2025 A 1 0 27 mpg 2024 B 2 41 27 mpg 2023 C 5 23 28 mpg 2022 C 6 119 28 mpg 2021 A 2 11 33 mpg 2020 this page B 3 14 32 mpg 2019 D 7 284 Do not drive 2018 F 10 76 Do not drive 2017 D 7 301 125 mi 2016 F 14 237 83 mi

Common questions about the 2020 Golf / GTI

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI. The most serious on file is 24V110000, 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 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 5 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 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, the best EPA combined figure is 32 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Transport Canada measured it at 167.3–179.5 in long, 70.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.1–59.8 in tall, on a 103.5 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,906–3,422 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 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, most often about engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI is 7 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 SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?

The manufacturer has filed 1291 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI, 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.

How does the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Volkswagen Golf / GTI failed the emissions check on 2.3% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). 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	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 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	14	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	1291	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	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

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

Sources & method

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

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

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