BMW 318 vs Oldsmobile 98
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 318 | Oldsmobile 98 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 169 | 417 |
| Model years covered | 1984–2001 | 1975–1999 |
| Worst model year | 1995 | 1995 |
| Best model year | 1996 | 1997 |
| Crashes reported | 25 | 31 |
| Fires reported | 2 | 10 |
| Injuries reported | 18 | 31 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Engine & Cooling | Brakes |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 26.6% | 17.3% |
BMW 318 by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
63
37.3%
Airbags
21
12.4%
Electrical System
19
11.2%
Fuel & Propulsion
11
6.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain
10
5.9%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
7
4.1%
Brakes
6
3.6%
Seat Belts
6
3.6%
Oldsmobile 98 by year
What breaks
Brakes
83
19.9%
Electrical System
45
10.8%
Engine & Cooling
40
9.6%
Airbags
33
7.9%
Seat Belts
33
7.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain
25
6.0%
Steering
22
5.3%
Body & Structure
16
3.8%