FaultScore

BMW X5 SAV 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 X5 SAV Volvo 850
Complaints on file 293 732
Model years covered 2003–2013 1993–2000
Worst model year 2007 1996
Best model year 2013 1997
Crashes reported 14 45
Fires reported 5 51
Injuries reported 13 38
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Airbags Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 10.9% 18.7%

BMW X5 SAV by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 57 19.5%
Engine & Cooling 48 16.4%
Brakes 32 10.9%
Seats 13 4.4%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 10 3.4%

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%