FaultScore

BMW Z3 Roadster vs Lincoln Mark VII

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 Z3 Roadster Lincoln Mark VII
Complaints on file 55 137
Model years covered 1998–2001 1984–1998
Worst model year 1998
Best model year 2001
Crashes reported 1 10
Fires reported 0 21
Injuries reported 3 8
Deaths reported 0 2
Most complained-about part Body & Structure Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 7.3% 29.9%

BMW Z3 Roadster by year

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

What breaks

Body & Structure 15 27.3%
Airbags 9 16.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 7 12.7%
Suspension 6 10.9%
Electrical System 3 5.5%
Engine & Cooling 2 3.6%
Brakes 2 3.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 2 3.6%

Lincoln Mark VII by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 22 16.1%
Engine & Cooling 14 10.2%
Suspension 11 8.0%
Lights 11 8.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 9 6.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain 7 5.1%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 5.1%