Methodology

• ▲ Better than typical

  At least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

• ● Typical for this model

  Within 30% of this model's typical year, either direction.

• ◆ Worse than typical

  30% to 100% more complaints than typical.

• ■ Significantly worse — known issue year

  More than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

• ○ Not enough data

  Too few complaints on file, or too little history on this model, for a fair comparison.

For a given model year, we compare its distinct complaint count to the median of that same model's other eligible years — median, not average, so one unusually loud or quiet year can't drag the baseline around. An "eligible" comparison year is one that independently clears the 30-complaint floor below; we require at least 5 eligible comparison years before computing a verdict at all, so a model with thin history isn't scored against a baseline built from noise.

We never show the raw ratio (e.g. "14× worse") on a page — only the discrete verdict label above. The number exists internally to rank years against each other (sibling-year strips, years-to-avoid ordering); showing it directly would invite exactly the kind of alarmist headline this site is built to avoid.

Complaints flagged for a crash, fire, injury, or death nudge a borderline year's ratio up, capped at a maximum 15% boost. The cap is deliberate: a handful of severe-but-rare complaints can tip a close call, but can never manufacture a "significantly worse" verdict out of an otherwise flat year on their own.

Model years with fewer than 30 complaints on file don't get a verdict — we still show every complaint, recall, and investigation on file, just without a ranking that a tiny sample can't support.

NHTSA leaves a meaningful share of complaints uncategorized ("unknown or other" and similar catch-all values). We exclude those from the ranked component list entirely — they're an absence of categorization, not a finding, and shouldn't occupy a "top problem" slot. Displayed percentages stay the share of this vehicle's total complaint count, not rebased over just the named components, so a year with heavy miscategorization doesn't show inflated percentages for the components that do have a name.

• We never use language like "will fail," "lemon," or "death trap." Severity badges come only from NHTSA's own crash/fire/injury/death flags.
• We never scrape CarComplaints, Consumer Reports, or J.D. Power. Every number here traces back to a public NHTSA source row.
• Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA — not independently confirmed defects.

Some pages may show sponsored VIN-check or warranty-quote links, clearly labeled "SPONSORED TOOL" and visually separated from computed content. We may earn a commission if you use one. Sponsorship never affects a verdict, a ranking, or any computed number on this site.