FaultScore

BMW 335D vs Mercedes Benz E300

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 335D Mercedes Benz E300
Complaints on file 75 185
Model years covered 2009–2011 2016–2017
Worst model year
Best model year
Crashes reported 0 2
Fires reported 9 4
Injuries reported 1 8
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 13.3% 7.6%

BMW 335D by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 19 25.3%
Airbags 13 17.3%
Engine & Cooling 11 14.7%
Seats 6 8.0%
Steering 5 6.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 4 5.3%
Seat Belts 4 5.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 4.0%

Mercedes Benz E300 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 39 21.1%
Electrical System 22 11.9%
Other & Unspecified 18 9.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 17 9.2%
Steering 12 6.5%
Body & Structure 10 5.4%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 9 4.9%