FaultScore

BMW 735 vs Harley-Davidson Sportster

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 735 Harley-Davidson Sportster
Complaints on file 30 75
Model years covered 1985–1998 1985–2008
Worst model year
Best model year
Crashes reported 6 9
Fires reported 0 0
Injuries reported 5 7
Deaths reported 0 2
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 36.7% 24%

BMW 735 by year

85 86 88 89 90 91 92 97 98
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 5 16.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 16.7%
Steering 4 13.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 10.0%
Seats 3 10.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 2 6.7%
Airbags 2 6.7%
Tires 2 6.7%

Harley-Davidson Sportster 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 12 16.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 12 16.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 10 13.3%
Brakes 9 12.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 9 12.0%
Electrical System 5 6.7%
Lights 5 6.7%
Steering 4 5.3%