BMW R 1250 RT vs Mercedes Benz GL550

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 R 1250 RT Mercedes Benz GL550
Complaints on file 29 71
Model years covered 2019–2024 2010–2016
Worst model year — 2013
Best model year — 2011
Crashes reported 0 3
Fires reported 0 3
Injuries reported 0 7
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Brakes Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 0% 18.3%

BMW R 1250 RT by year

19 20 21 22 23 24
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Brakes 14 48.3%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 5 17.2%
Engine & Cooling 2 6.9%
Electrical System 2 6.9%
Body & Structure 2 6.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 1 3.4%
Lights 1 3.4%
Wheels 1 3.4%

Mercedes Benz GL550 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 20 28.2%
Engine & Cooling 10 14.1%
Electrical System 9 12.7%
Other & Unspecified 7 9.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 5.6%
Steering 4 5.6%
Brakes 4 5.6%
Body & Structure 2 2.8%