BMW 530IA vs Mercedes Benz CLS550
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 530IA | Mercedes Benz CLS550 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 34 | 84 |
| Model years covered | 1994–2003 | 2006–2009 |
| Worst model year | — | 2007 |
| Best model year | — | 2006 |
| Crashes reported | 1 | 1 |
| Fires reported | 7 | 1 |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 4 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Airbags | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 26.5% | 7.1% |
BMW 530IA by year
What breaks
Airbags
11
32.4%
Engine & Cooling
10
29.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain
6
17.6%
Seats
3
8.8%
Electrical System
2
5.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
1
2.9%
Fuel & Propulsion
1
2.9%
Mercedes Benz CLS550 by year
What breaks
Fuel & Propulsion
34
40.5%
Engine & Cooling
6
7.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
6
7.1%
Electrical System
6
7.1%
Suspension
6
7.1%
Airbags
5
6.0%
Brakes
5
6.0%
Other & Unspecified
4
4.8%