FaultScore

BMW R1200 GS Adventure vs Mercedes Benz S 580

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 R1200 GS Adventure Mercedes Benz S 580
Complaints on file 47 116
Model years covered 2006–2018 2021–2024
Worst model year
Best model year
Crashes reported 0 4
Fires reported 3 3
Injuries reported 1 11
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Fuel & Propulsion Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
Share of complaints involving harm 8.5% 18.1%

BMW R1200 GS Adventure by year

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

What breaks

Fuel & Propulsion 19 40.4%
Brakes 11 23.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 8 17.0%
Engine & Cooling 2 4.3%
Electrical System 2 4.3%
Body & Structure 1 2.1%
Tires 1 2.1%
Seats 1 2.1%

Mercedes Benz S 580 by year

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

What breaks

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 20 17.2%
Electrical System 18 15.5%
Engine & Cooling 15 12.9%
Brakes 10 8.6%
Tires 9 7.8%
Wheels 9 7.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain 7 6.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 6 5.2%