FaultScore

BMW M5 vs Subaru SVX

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 M5 Subaru SVX
Complaints on file 152 373
Model years covered 2000–2025 1990–1997
Worst model year 2006
Best model year 2019
Crashes reported 7 7
Fires reported 10 1
Injuries reported 6 4
Deaths reported 2 0
Most complained-about part Airbags Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 16.4% 3.2%

BMW M5 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 47 30.9%
Engine & Cooling 26 17.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 8.6%
Electrical System 10 6.6%
Seat Belts 10 6.6%
Seats 7 4.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 6 3.9%
Other & Unspecified 6 3.9%

Subaru SVX by year

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

What breaks

Suspension 24 6.4%
Brakes 13 3.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 10 2.7%
Electrical System 9 2.4%
Other & Unspecified 8 2.1%
Airbags 6 1.6%
Steering 6 1.6%