FaultScore

Cadillac XLR vs Volkswagen Rabbit

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 Cadillac XLR Volkswagen Rabbit
Complaints on file 108 267
Model years covered 2004–2009 1980–2009
Worst model year 2004 2009
Best model year 2005 2006
Crashes reported 8 19
Fires reported 2 20
Injuries reported 0 10
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Body & Structure Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 9.3% 18.7%

Cadillac XLR 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 27 25.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 15 13.9%
Electrical System 8 7.4%
Lights 8 7.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 7 6.5%
Brakes 6 5.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 6 5.6%
Stability & Traction Control 5 4.6%

Volkswagen Rabbit by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 60 22.5%
Engine & Cooling 19 7.1%
Airbags 18 6.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 18 6.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 17 6.4%
Steering 17 6.4%