BMW 545I vs Smart Fortwo
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 545I | Smart Fortwo |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 198 | 475 |
| Model years covered | 2004–2005 | 2005–2019 |
| Worst model year | — | 2008 |
| Best model year | — | 2017 |
| Crashes reported | 4 | 28 |
| Fires reported | 3 | 68 |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 22 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 |
| Most complained-about part | Airbags | Engine & Cooling |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 6.6% | 25.1% |
BMW 545I by year
What breaks
Airbags
56
28.3%
Electrical System
26
13.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
23
11.6%
Engine & Cooling
17
8.6%
Brakes
15
7.6%
Seat Belts
14
7.1%
Steering
9
4.5%
Seats
7
3.5%
Smart Fortwo by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
106
22.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
71
14.9%
Electrical System
57
12.0%
Other & Unspecified
45
9.5%
Seat Belts
35
7.4%
Fuel & Propulsion
31
6.5%
Body & Structure
26
5.5%
Brakes
20
4.2%