FaultScore

BMW 328I vs Pontiac G6

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 328I Pontiac G6
Complaints on file 3,777 8,448
Model years covered 1996–2016 2003–2014
Worst model year 2013 2006
Best model year 1998 2010
Crashes reported 210 381
Fires reported 193 111
Injuries reported 159 198
Deaths reported 1 10
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Steering
Share of complaints involving harm 14.9% 8.3%

BMW 328I 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 1,093 28.9%
Electrical System 684 18.1%
Airbags 604 16.0%
Brakes 114 3.0%
Body & Structure 112 3.0%

Pontiac G6 by year

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

What breaks

Steering 3,129 37.0%
Electrical System 1,000 11.8%
Lights 987 11.7%
Brakes 738 8.7%
Airbags 411 4.9%