FaultScore

BMW 535I US vs Mercedes Benz Mercedes Benz

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 535I US Mercedes Benz Mercedes Benz
Complaints on file 45 112
Model years covered 2011–2011 1977–2003
Worst model year 2002
Best model year 1995
Crashes reported 0 6
Fires reported 0 5
Injuries reported 0 6
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Tires Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 0% 15.2%

BMW 535I US by year

11
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Tires 18 40.0%
Engine & Cooling 7 15.6%
Wheels 4 8.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 6.7%
Electrical System 3 6.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 3 6.7%
Steering 2 4.4%
Other & Unspecified 2 4.4%

Mercedes Benz Mercedes Benz 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 14 12.5%
Equipment & Accessories 11 9.8%
Electrical System 10 8.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 9 8.0%
Brakes 9 8.0%
Lights 7 6.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 6.3%
Tires 7 6.3%