⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›Volvo›S60› 2019
Volvo · Compact Sedan

2019 Volvo S60

Plug-in hybrid Gas
Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5
Complaints1 crash · 2 fire · 2 injured reported 25
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 31 mpg
2025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2019 Volvo S60 is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas compact sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the S60 AWD PHEV, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 25 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Volvo S60 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Volvo S60 · Photo: Benespit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
S60 AWD PHEVPlug-in hybridAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo + 34 and 65 kW 3-phase Sync.293431 (43 MPGe blended)22 mi electric433 h$2,650
S60 FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243628———$2,950
S60 AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo213225———$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41255, 40235, 40236.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
S60 AWD PHEV7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite
S60 FWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
S60 AWD7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 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

Horsepower250 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Inscription, Momentum, R-Design). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length187.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.8 in
Height56.3 in
Wheelbase113.0 in
Track, front63.0 in
Track, rear63.0 in
Curb weight3,664 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Sedan. 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 2019 S60
Other years The 2018 S60 Recalls Volvo recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2019 Volvo S60 is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

R10254
346 vehicles 94% reported repaired
Problem Volvo Car USA, LLC. (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2024 S60 vehicles. The passenger air bag may not be secured properly, which can cause the air bag to deploy improperly. Risk An air bag that does not deploy properly in a crash increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts securing the passenger air bag, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 5, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10254.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V780000 reported Nov 21, 2023 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

R10100
85,550 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail. Risk Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V414000 reported Jun 2, 2021 Volvo Car USA, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

R10029
308,260 vehicles 75% reported repaired
Problem Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash. Risk An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V378000 reported Jun 30, 2020 Volvo Car USA LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Forward Collision Avoidance

R29998
121,605 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended. Risk If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V144000 reported Mar 12, 2020 Volvo Car USA LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Suspension

R19938
8,266 vehicles 94% reported repaired built Sep 25, 2018 – Apr 1, 2019
Problem Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2019 S60 vehicles. The rear suspension toe link flange lock nuts may not have been properly tightened, possibly resulting in a sudden change in vehicle handling. Risk A sudden change in vehicle handling can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear toe link flange bolts and lock nuts, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 6, 2019. Owner's my contact Volvo Customer Service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R19938.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V327000 reported Apr 25, 2019 Volvo Car USA LLC 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

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific S60

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2019 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volvo 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 →Volvo’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 2019 Volvo S60, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2019 Volvo S60

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 S60 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
25complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

17 per 10,000 built · Volvo reported 14,780 S60 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Electrical System 6
Tires 4
Unspecified 3
Forward Collision Avoidance 2
Visibility/Wiper 2
Seats 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.

The crimping on the A/C hose from the firewall to the compressor failed and leaked all the freon from the system. This is a design flaw, the mounting location causes excess vibration in the hose leading to the crimping failure.
Visibility/Wiper Jan 5, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11708767
The DIM (Driver Instrument Module) flickers intermittently and I have no idea when it's going to go out completely. It actually does go out and there's a solid white panel or colored lines, but it comes back in. This displays the speedometer & fuel. This is a safety issue. I would hate for this to go completely out while I am driving.
Electrical System Feb 28, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11645460
Passenger seat was unbolted from floor during a service appointment and not secured when dealer returned vehicle to me. Passenger safety was at risk due to the seat rocking during acceleration and deceleration and in turns. The issue was confirmed by the dealer and has since been repaired. No warnings issued by vehicle.
Seats Oct 17, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11620495
2019 Volvo S60 headlamp system malfunction alert headlights/foglights to blink or turn off when turning the vehicle at night. I keep my headlights on auto so they are on during the day and I have only seen the error at night
Exterior Lighting Sep 24, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11616189
Have there been complaints about the Pirelli tires with foam inlays falling apart because the foam comes unattached, then causing misalignment. Car becomes unsafe to drive as the tires start to disintegrate. My car started shaking so bad it became difficult to drive.
Tires Aug 3, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11606254
The passenger seat belt failed and will not retract. People riding in my car are not safe with the seatbelt hanging loose. I read this was a recall which included 2019 S60s but my specific VIN is not including for some reason
Seat Belts May 21, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11590026

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 Volvo itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 6.8 per 100,000 built. Every S60 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 676
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-14
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 666 service bulletins, 6 others, 4 service campaigns

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

  • 37426.2.0 Service bulletin
    2026-09-14 · Exterior Lighting
  • This is a TJ Text only no attachments. --- If the crystal gear shift knob light stays illuminated after the vehicle is locked and is not in active mode, A fix for this issue is introduced with software version 5.0.5.
  • 37774.1.0 Service bulletin
    2026-07-28 · Exterior Lighting
  • This is a TJ - Text plus 1 PDF attachment - f the headlamp horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted via the set screw, If the horizontal light aim cannot be adjusted because the cogwheel knob is broken, do not replace the entire headlamp. Instead, use the spare part kit part number 32476677 to replace the affected component, please follow the instructions under "Service".
  • 33031.6.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-23 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 1 .jpg attachment - If remote control key is not detected by the car and shows message in DIM "Car key not found" or if functions such as lock/unlock are not working, please follow advice for detecting key
  • 36496.10.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-07 · Power Train
  • This is a Technical Journal: Intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. If the sound corresponds to attached sound file, change front drive shafts to the below part numbers.
  • 36376.6.0 Service bulletin
    2026-05-07 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal: Text only no attachments - Before replacing a cell module, make sure the latest BECM software is downloaded. This is important for utilizing the VIDA method described here and receiving the correct cell balancing diagnostics after the replacement.
  • 34521.11.1 Service bulletin
    2026-05-07 · Exterior Lighting
  • This is a Technical Journal: Headlamp condensation inside lens - information/leak test. If the result is not ok (air leak), it is ok to replace the headlamp
  • 35526.1.8 Service bulletin
    2026-04-23 · Engine
  • This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
  • 37809.1.1 Service bulletin
    2026-04-07 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" section

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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2019 Volvo S60 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 2.7% for every 2019 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.3% (every 2019 vehicle: 1.7%).

New York inspections 1.3%

failed emissions

760 initial inspections of 748 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2019 S60Every 2019 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.3%2.7%759
Failed the safety inspection1.3%1.7%760
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.13%0.20%760
Miles driven a year8,3759,904odometer at inspection
Average odometer61,30372,084odometer 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 2019 vehicle” is every 2019 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).

S60 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2025 C 3 0 31 mpg2024 C 4 22 31 mpg2023 D 7 3 31 mpg2022 D 4 15 31 mpg2021 C 3 8 30 mpg2020 D 6 12 30 mpg2019 this page C 5 25 31 mpg2018 A 1 4 29 mpg2017 D 6 18 29 mpg2016 C 4 29 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2019 S60

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2019 Volvo S60 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2019 Volvo S60. The most serious on file is 23V780000, 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 2019 Volvo S60?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2019 Volvo S60 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (70/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Volvo S60?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2019 Volvo S60, the best EPA combined figure is 31 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions). Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2019 Volvo S60?

Transport Canada measured it at 187.4 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 56.3 in tall, on a 113.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,664 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2019 Volvo S60?

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Volvo S60, most often about electrical system, tires, unspecified. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 2 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 2019 Volvo S60?

The EPA smog rating for the 2019 Volvo S60 runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2019 Volvo S60?

The manufacturer has filed 676 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2019 Volvo S60, most often covering equipment, electrical system, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-09-14. 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 2019 Volvo S60 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2019 Volvo S60 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 2.7% for every 2019 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.3% (every 2019 vehicle: 1.7%). 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.

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.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints25NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratingsnoneNHTSA NCAPNHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins676NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
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 NHTSA12 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 2018 S60 The S60 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 1 recall.Recalls Every Volvo recall on file All campaigns filed against Volvo vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this S60 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.

JSON for this page · API