FaultScore

Audi A8 vs Mercedes Benz C230

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Audi A8 Mercedes Benz C230
Complaints on file 362 883
Model years covered 1996–2021 1997–2007
Worst model year 2015 2007
Best model year 2012 1998
Crashes reported 11 53
Fires reported 8 29
Injuries reported 2 41
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 5.8% 13.9%

Audi A8 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 101 27.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 24 6.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 24 6.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 23 6.4%
Other & Unspecified 22 6.1%
Brakes 19 5.2%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 19 5.2%

Mercedes Benz C230 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks