BMW Z3 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 Z3 | Volvo 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 299 | 732 |
| Model years covered | 1996–2003 | 1993–2000 |
| Worst model year | 1997 | 1996 |
| Best model year | 2001 | 1997 |
| Crashes reported | 17 | 45 |
| Fires reported | 10 | 51 |
| Injuries reported | 31 | 38 |
| Deaths reported | 3 | 3 |
| Most complained-about part | Airbags | Brakes |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 20.4% | 18.7% |
BMW Z3 by year
What breaks
Airbags
59
19.7%
Seat Belts
35
11.7%
Seats
34
11.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain
27
9.0%
Body & Structure
25
8.4%
Electrical System
18
6.0%
Suspension
18
6.0%
Engine & Cooling
17
5.7%
Volvo 850 by year
What breaks
Brakes
117
16.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
73
10.0%
Electrical System
73
10.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
67
9.2%
Engine & Cooling
55
7.5%
Tires
45
6.1%
Airbags
42
5.7%
Seats
37
5.1%