FaultScore

BMW 328D vs Volvo S40

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 328D Volvo S40
Complaints on file 275 677
Model years covered 2014–2018 2000–2011
Worst model year 2014 2001
Best model year 2018 2010
Crashes reported 10 65
Fires reported 21 18
Injuries reported 1 34
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Fuel & Propulsion Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 11.6% 17.3%

BMW 328D by year

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

What breaks

Fuel & Propulsion 106 38.5%
Engine & Cooling 76 27.6%
Other & Unspecified 24 8.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 21 7.6%
Electrical System 10 3.6%
Brakes 8 2.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 6 2.2%
Body & Structure 5 1.8%

Volvo S40 by year

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

What breaks