FaultScore

Blue Bird School BUS vs Mercedes Benz 280

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 Blue Bird School BUS Mercedes Benz 280
Complaints on file 50 124
Model years covered 1984–2001 1994–2000
Worst model year 1995
Best model year 1994
Crashes reported 1 14
Fires reported 5 10
Injuries reported 3 10
Deaths reported 2 0
Most complained-about part Body & Structure Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 22% 27.4%

Blue Bird School BUS by year

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

What breaks

Body & Structure 11 22.0%
Electrical System 7 14.0%
Engine & Cooling 5 10.0%
Brakes 5 10.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 5 10.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 5 10.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 6.0%
Suspension 2 4.0%

Mercedes Benz 280 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 14 11.3%
Airbags 9 7.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 8 6.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 7 5.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 5.6%
Brakes 5 4.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 3.2%