What this site is
MotorCensus is an independent statistics engine built from the 2026-07-19 NHTSA ODI snapshot. The pipeline grouped 2,155,302 vehicle component rows into 398,146 deduplicated matched complaint incidents. It screened 874 model years in 127 cohorts and publishes 731 model-year records across 34 models and 11 makes.
Every published record includes its sample size, 95% interval, and visible limitations. Complaint reports are not mechanical failure rates or a complete measure of reliability.
Why it exists
Used-car decisions often rely on anecdotes. MotorCensus turns public NHTSA complaint records into comparable summaries while keeping the source population and uncertainty visible.
Every shipped statistic can be rebuilt from the same snapshot and published method
The operating principleHow it stays independent
- No manufacturer money, dealer partnerships, or sponsored placements
- If advertising is introduced, it will be clearly labeled and kept separate from the numbers
- No score can be bought, adjusted, or removed for payment
- The method is versioned so changes remain auditable
Who runs it and how corrections work
MotorCensus is designed, engineered, and maintained by one independent engineer. Statistical pages are generated deterministically from reviewed data artifacts; no manufacturer or advertiser can edit a score.
Spotted an error? Write to support@motorcensus.com with the page URL, the statistic, and supporting evidence. Material corrections update the visible date, the data artifact when needed, and the changelog.