Question 1

What are NHTSA safety ratings?

Accepted Answer

NHTSA safety ratings are crash test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Vehicles are tested in frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios and given a rating from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the safest.

Question 2

How are crash tests performed?

Accepted Answer

NHTSA conducts frontal crash tests by driving a vehicle into a fixed barrier at 35 mph. Side crash tests involve a 3,015-pound barrier hitting the driver side at 38.5 mph. Rollover resistance is measured using a static stability factor based on the vehicle's center of gravity and track width.

Question 3

What does a 5-star safety rating mean?

Accepted Answer

A 5-star overall rating means the vehicle has the lowest probability of serious injury in a crash. Specifically, it indicates a 10% or less chance of serious injury in frontal and side crash tests. Not all vehicles are tested every year.

Question 4

How do I read NHTSA complaint data?

Accepted Answer

NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted reports about vehicle problems. Each complaint lists the affected component (brakes, engine, etc.), a description of the issue, and whether it resulted in a crash, fire, or injury. Higher complaint counts for a specific component may indicate a systemic issue.

Question 5

Are complaints the same as recalls?

Accepted Answer

No. Complaints are voluntary reports from vehicle owners about problems they have experienced. Recalls are official safety actions issued by NHTSA or the manufacturer requiring a free fix. However, a high volume of complaints about the same issue can trigger a federal investigation that leads to a recall.

Question 6

What should I do if my car has many complaints?

Accepted Answer

Review the complaints to understand the specific issues reported. Check if any related recalls have been issued using our free Recall Check tool. If you experience a safety problem, file your own complaint at NHTSA.gov. For used car buyers, complaint data helps you identify models with known issues before purchasing.

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