FaultScore

BMW 135I vs Lincoln MKS

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 BMW 135I Lincoln MKS
Complaints on file 199 492
Model years covered 2007–2013 2009–2016
Worst model year 2008 2013
Best model year 2012 2012
Crashes reported 5 29
Fires reported 5 10
Injuries reported 3 19
Deaths reported 0 14
Most complained-about part Fuel & Propulsion Steering
Share of complaints involving harm 6.5% 14.6%

BMW 135I by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 37 18.6%
Engine & Cooling 33 16.6%
Electrical System 20 10.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 6.5%
Lights 10 5.0%
Other & Unspecified 7 3.5%
Wheels 6 3.0%

Lincoln MKS by year

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

What breaks

Steering 121 24.6%
Engine & Cooling 52 10.6%
Brakes 34 6.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 24 4.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 24 4.9%