Which Dawn years should I avoid?

The 2017 Rolls-Royce Dawn has the most documented issues — 2 recalls, 0 complaints, and a problem score of 6. Also exercise caution with .

VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Rolls-Royce Dawn2016–2023

Q: What is the best year Dawn to buy?

See the year-by-year table for a full ranking of every Dawn model year.

Q: What are the most common Dawn problems?

Run a year-specific search above to see the most common complaints for each model year.

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

Years Analyzed

Total Recalls

Total Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Rolls-Royce Dawn Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2017

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Rolls-Royce Dawn — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

Year	Recalls	Injuries	Deaths	Reliability	Value	Buyer Score	Verdict
2023	0	—	—	100	78	92	Excellent
2022	0	—	—	100	85	95	Excellent
2021	0	—	—	100	88	96	Excellent
2020	0	—	—	100	87	95	Excellent
2019	0	—	—	100	83	94	Excellent
2018	0	—	—	100	77	92	Excellent
2017	2	—	—	90	70	83	Avoid
2016	0	—	—	100	63	87	Excellent

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Dawn compares — best year within each era shown.

2018–Present

Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 96).

Best: 2021

2021 · 96 2020 · 95 2022 · 95 2019 · 94 2018 · 92 2023 · 92

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2016 (Buyer Score 87).

Best: 2016

2016 · 87 2017 · 83

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Dawn to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Dawn model year.

Which Dawn years have the most problems?+

The 2017 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2017 Dawn leads with 2 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Dawn problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Rolls-Royce Dawn.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar luxury vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Dawn year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

Run a VIN Check →