FaultScore

Chevrolet K15 vs BMW 550I

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 K15 BMW 550I
Complaints on file 155 386
Model years covered 1982–1996 2006–2016
Worst model year 1995 2011
Best model year 1994 2013
Crashes reported 29 14
Fires reported 6 31
Injuries reported 16 5
Deaths reported 1 0
Most complained-about part Brakes Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 33.5% 13%

Chevrolet K15 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 35 22.6%
Seats 28 18.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain 22 14.2%
Airbags 12 7.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 11 7.1%
Electrical System 8 5.2%
Steering 8 5.2%
Suspension 6 3.9%

BMW 550I by year

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

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 79 20.5%
Airbags 36 9.3%
Tires 30 7.8%
Wheels 21 5.4%
Lights 18 4.7%