FaultScore

BMW 740I vs Honda Prelude

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 740I Honda Prelude
Complaints on file 186 463
Model years covered 1993–2024 1981–2001
Worst model year 1993 1997
Best model year 2017 2000
Crashes reported 14 52
Fires reported 7 15
Injuries reported 11 29
Deaths reported 0 2
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 17.2% 21.2%

BMW 740I 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 21.0%
Electrical System 24 12.9%
Brakes 15 8.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain 11 5.9%
Airbags 11 5.9%
Suspension 11 5.9%
Other & Unspecified 11 5.9%
Fuel & Propulsion 10 5.4%

Honda Prelude 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 53 11.4%
Seat Belts 35 7.6%
Steering 33 7.1%
Airbags 26 5.6%
Suspension 25 5.4%