FaultScore

BMW I3 vs Volvo 850

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 I3 Volvo 850
Complaints on file 293 732
Model years covered 2014–2019 1993–2000
Worst model year 2017 1996
Best model year 2018 1997
Crashes reported 16 45
Fires reported 2 51
Injuries reported 8 38
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Steering Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 8.9% 18.7%

BMW I3 by year

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

What breaks

Steering 48 16.4%
Body & Structure 39 13.3%
Airbags 28 9.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 20 6.8%
Other & Unspecified 20 6.8%
Fuel & Propulsion 19 6.5%

Volvo 850 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 117 16.0%
Tires 45 6.1%
Airbags 42 5.7%
Seats 37 5.1%