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Your vehicleHome›Volvo›V60› 2016
Volvo · Compact Wagon

2016 Volvo V60

Gas
Small Station Wagons
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4
Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 23
Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 29 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Volvo V60 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact wagon with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the V60 FWD, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 23 complaints, most often about the engine.

Volvo V60 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Volvo V60 · Photo: MercurySable99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
V60 FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo253729$2,300
V60 AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo223125$3,300
V60 AWDGasAWD2.5L 5-cyl turbo202823$2,900
V60 CC AWDGasAWD2.5L 5-cyl turbo202823$2,900
V60 AWDGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo182721$3,200
V60 PoleStar AWDGasAWD3.0L 6-cyl turbo182721$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36292, 37197, 36236, 36246, 36237, 36238.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
V60 FWD5–6 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-III ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
V60 AWD5–6 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-III ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
V60 AWD, V60 CC AWD, V60 PoleStar AWD5–6 / 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 styleWagon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower240 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

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: SV33 Premier, SV35 Platinum, SVP9 Polestar Special Edition). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length182.7 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.2 in
Height58.3–61.0 in
Wheelbase109.4 in
Track, front62.6–63.8 in
Track, rear62.2–62.6 in
Curb weight3,602–4,017 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear62/38

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: 4-door Wagon T5 AWD, 4-door Wagon T5 Drive-E FWD, 4-door Wagon T6 AWD, Cross Country 4-door Wagon T5 AWD. 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 V60
Other years The 2026 V60 Recalls Volvo recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Volvo V60 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 (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲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

Latches/Locks/Linkages

R89978
144,937 vehicles 77% reported repaired built Jun 2, 2010 – Dec 31, 2016
Problem Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not. Risk A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant. Fix Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, 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 R89978.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V849000 reported Nov 26, 2019 Volvo Car USA LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

R89708
74,027 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Feb 16, 2015 – Aug 22, 2016
Problem Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 XC90, S90, XC60, V60 Cross Country, V60, S60 Cross Country, S60, and S60 Inscription vehicles manufactured February 16, 2015, to August 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loosen, allowing the buckle to separate from the seat belt bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages" and number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." Risk If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89708.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V798000 reported Nov 2, 2016 Volvo Car USA LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Electrical System

R39574
7,855 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Apr 8, 2015 – Aug 19, 2015
Problem Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preventing the car from restarting when necessary. Risk If the vehicle is unexpectedly unable to be started in the middle of traffic, such as when stopped at an intersection, there is an increased risk of a crash. Fix Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 or by visiting http://volvo.custhelp.com. Volvo's number for this recall is R39574.
NHTSA campaign 15V555000 reported Sep 2, 2015 Volvo Cars of N.A., 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific V60

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. 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 2016 Volvo V60, 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 Volvo V60

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 V60 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
23complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2016: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Engine 12
Electrical System 4
Structure 2
Visibility/Wiper 2
Service Brakes 2
Wheels 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.

Hello, I currently drive a 2016 Volvo V60 Cross Country which falls under the year of recalled vehicles related to the piston ring issue outlined in the Buchanan, et al. v. Volvo Car USA, LLC, et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-02227.
Engine Jan 17, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11711626
BCM Trouble Codes: C000101, C000201, and C008248 Incident & Defect Summary: The Brake Control Module (BCM) experienced a premature internal electrical circuit failure at only 55,188 total vehicle miles.
Service Brakes Sep 10, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11763254
Power steering cuts out intermittently. When I took the Volvo in for a recall (seatbelt Sept 5, 2024) I mentioned to Volvo that this was happening. I was told not to worry about it unless it was more consistent. After that it cut out for about a week. I took it in to my mechanic for a diagnostic, but it had started working again.
Steering Nov 5, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11623702
Booster seat will not return to adult position/flat. When this happens the seat cannot be used by an adult
Child Seat at 56,000 miles Jul 15, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11231991
Infotainment screen reboots continuously and never completes loading, making many control functions of the vehicle completely inaccessible. This occurs during any time when the car is running, regardless of whether it is stationary or moving
Electrical System at 50,500 miles Mar 27, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11192008
Exploding sunroof. On friday 26 jan 2018, at 4:10pm, I was driving in alabama on interstate 65 northbound mile at marker 180 in the middle lane at 70 MPH. The temperature was approximately 55f and overcast with no rain.
Visibility/Wiper at 61,250 miles Jan 29, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11065606

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 36k

miles, typically

Half the 13 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 56,000 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 13 on file: 6 under 10k, 2 30k–40k, 2 50k–60k, 1 60k–70k, 1 70k–80k, 1 150k +.

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

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

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 647
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-04-23
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 641 service bulletins, 4 service campaigns, 2 others

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, Wheels.

  • 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
  • 37536 Service bulletin
    2025-12-11 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a TJ text, only no attachments - If the Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) does not work in Sensus Connect vehicle, follow advice under "Service". This Technical Journal is only valid for vehicles with VDN: VI07 TRAFFIC INFORMATION RTTI + TMC P
  • 19245 Service bulletin
    2025-12-06 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.
  • 35912 Service bulletin
    2025-07-23 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal: AC evaporator repair, additional parts needed. Add resister in line jumper cable.
  • 8501 Service bulletin
    2025-04-10 · Exterior Lighting
  • This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V. •Connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a VOE (Volvo OBD to Ethernet) adapter and perform a NEW vehicle readout.
  • S10303 Service campaign
    2025-02-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle. The corrective action is to download SP Softw
  • 37175 Service bulletin
    2025-01-16 · Unknown Or Other
  • This is a Technical Journal: Vehicle/Connectivity report checklist. To provide timely and high-quality feedback to the appropriate department or factory

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
P05EBManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine2 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.

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 2016 Volvo V60 failed the emissions check on 5.8% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 5.8%

failed emissions

277 initial inspections of 264 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 V60Every 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check5.8%4.2%274
Failed the safety inspection1.4%2.2%277
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.36%0.27%277
Miles driven a year10,11310,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer103,831103,109odometer 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 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 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).

V60 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 1 2 26 mpg2025 C 3 0 31 mpg2024 C 3 6 27 mpg2023 C 5 5 31 mpg2022 D 4 1 31 mpg2021 D 4 3 30 mpg2020 F 5 12 30 mpg2019 D 4 2 28 mpg2018 B 2 2 29 mpg2017 D 6 6 29 mpg2016 this page C 4 23 29 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 V60

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Volvo V60 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Volvo V60. The most serious on file is 20V378000, covering Seat Belts. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Volvo V60?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2016 Volvo V60 yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (76/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Volvo V60?

Across the 6 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Volvo V60, the best EPA combined figure is 29 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Volvo V60?

Transport Canada measured it at 182.7 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 58.3–61.0 in tall, on a 109.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,602–4,017 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 2016 Volvo V60?

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volvo V60, most often about engine, electrical system, structure. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Volvo V60?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Volvo V60 runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Volvo V60?

The manufacturer has filed 647 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Volvo V60, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-04-23. 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 2016 Volvo V60 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Volvo V60 failed the emissions check on 5.8% of first inspections — higher than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.4% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). 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 & configurations6 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates6 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints23NHTSA 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 bulletins647NHTSA 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 NHTSA10 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 2026 V60 The V60 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 V60 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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