FaultScore

BMW 740IL vs Audi A5

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 740IL Audi A5
Complaints on file 180 443
Model years covered 1993–2001 2008–2025
Worst model year 1998 2013
Best model year 2000 2023
Crashes reported 8 16
Fires reported 5 5
Injuries reported 8 8
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 11.7% 7.2%

BMW 740IL 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 37 20.6%
Electrical System 20 11.1%
Fuel & Propulsion 17 9.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 7.2%
Brakes 13 7.2%
Airbags 12 6.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 10 5.6%
Steering 9 5.0%

Audi A5 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 70 15.8%
Airbags 50 11.3%
Steering 27 6.1%
Body & Structure 17 3.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain 16 3.6%