Last updated: July 26, 2026
This policy defines which evidence Auto Features Expert uses, how claims are verified, and how sources are presented in U.S.-market vehicle research.
Source hierarchy
Tier 1 — Primary and official sources
These sources receive the greatest weight. When an accessible primary record documents a material fact, that primary record must be checked and cited:
- NHTSA recalls, investigations, complaints, and manufacturer communications
- Vehicle manufacturer owner manuals, warranty documents, specifications, press materials, and official recall notices
- Manufacturer Technical Service Bulletins and service campaigns
- EPA fuel-economy data and fueleconomy.gov records
- IIHS and official government safety-test records
- Applicable federal or state regulatory documents
Tier 2 — Established supporting sources
- Recognized repair-cost databases and service-information providers
- Established automotive publications with identifiable testing or original reporting
- Parts catalogs and labor-time references used to validate repair scope
- Publicly accessible technical publications and industry data
Tier 2 sources may add context, but they do not override a directly applicable official record without explanation.
Tier 3 — Owner-reported evidence
- NHTSA owner complaints
- Model-specific owner forums
- Independent owner communities and discussion platforms
- Documented long-term ownership reports
Owner reports help identify symptoms and recurring patterns, but they do not prove failure rates or establish that every vehicle is affected. We do not label an issue a recurring owner pattern unless substantially similar reports appear across at least three independent discussions or complaint records and the affected configuration can be reasonably identified.
Verification requirements
- Every material technical claim must use a primary source when one is accessible.
- High-impact conclusions—such as a safety risk, widespread defect, major reliability judgment, or year-to-avoid recommendation—require corroboration from at least two independent sources.
- Exact specifications, dates, recall numbers, TSB numbers, and affected production ranges are checked against the original record.
- Repair costs require at least two current U.S. sources and are published as dated ranges.
- When a claim cannot be verified, it is qualified, clearly attributed, or excluded.
- When sources conflict, we explain the conflict and avoid false precision.
How sources appear in articles
Every article contains a References section. Citations are placed in the section containing the supported claim, and each link points to the original document, agency page, manufacturer record, or clearly identified supporting source. Search-result pages, copied summaries, and anonymous reposts are not accepted as citations. The article must distinguish official records, editorial analysis, and owner-reported experience.
Required article source record
- The primary source categories checked are displayed in the article verification panel.
- The last verified date records when recall, specification, service, or cost evidence was checked.
- Recall and TSB claims include the applicable identifier or original record where available.
- Material source changes and factual corrections are recorded in the article update log.
Costs, mileage, and lifespan figures
Costs, mileage thresholds, and lifespan estimates vary by region, vehicle condition, maintenance history, drivetrain, parts choice, and labor rate. We provide the date checked, source context, and a range where appropriate. We do not invent an average when comparable data is insufficient.
Source freshness and rechecks
Each published article carries a last verified date. Recall, investigation, warranty-extension, and service-campaign information is rechecked when an article is materially updated. We do not change dates without reviewing the underlying information.
AI is not a source
AI-assisted tools are limited to organizing research, comparing records, and identifying questions that require investigation. AI-generated text, summaries, and citations are not evidence. Every factual statement must be checked against the source hierarchy above before publication.
Excluded or limited sources
We do not rely on anonymous listicles, copied articles, uncited AI summaries, search-result snippets, promotional dealer copy, or a single social-media post as evidence for a technical conclusion. Wikipedia and general reference pages may help discover terminology but are not used as the final authority for vehicle-specific claims.
Report a source concern
If a citation is broken, outdated, misinterpreted, or insufficient, email autoexpert@autofeaturesexpert.com with the article URL and the claim in question. Material corrections are handled under our Corrections Policy.
