FaultScore

Chevrolet 1500 vs BMW 323I

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 Chevrolet 1500 BMW 323I
Complaints on file 278 676
Model years covered 1988–1996 1985–2011
Worst model year 1995 2000
Best model year 1993 1998
Crashes reported 25 41
Fires reported 3 14
Injuries reported 15 43
Deaths reported 1 4
Most complained-about part Windows, Mirrors & Wipers Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 15.8% 15.1%

Chevrolet 1500 by year

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

What breaks

Seats 32 11.5%
Brakes 30 10.8%
Airbags 18 6.5%
Tires 12 4.3%
Engine & Cooling 10 3.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 8 2.9%
Seat Belts 8 2.9%

BMW 323I by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 142 21.0%
Suspension 19 2.8%
Doors, Latches & Locks 19 2.8%
Tires 18 2.7%