FaultScore

BMW Z3 Roadster vs Mercedes Benz CLA 250

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 Mercedes Benz CLA 250
Complaints on file 55 137
Model years covered 1998–2001 2018–2025
Worst model year 1998 2018
Best model year 2001 2020
Crashes reported 1 8
Fires reported 0 2
Injuries reported 3 12
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Body & Structure Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 7.3% 16.1%

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%

Mercedes Benz CLA 250 by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 23 16.8%
Other & Unspecified 20 14.6%
Engine & Cooling 17 12.4%
Airbags 13 9.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 11 8.0%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 10 7.3%
Body & Structure 9 6.6%
Steering 6 4.4%