FaultScore

Dodge Pickup vs Mercedes Benz 320

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 Dodge Pickup Mercedes Benz 320
Complaints on file 133 332
Model years covered 1976–2002 1994–2002
Worst model year 1996 1994
Best model year 1994 2001
Crashes reported 3 17
Fires reported 6 13
Injuries reported 3 22
Deaths reported 0 6
Most complained-about part Brakes Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 9% 17.5%

Dodge Pickup by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 28 21.1%
Body & Structure 14 10.5%
Suspension 14 10.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 13 9.8%
Engine & Cooling 11 8.3%
Tires 10 7.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain 9 6.8%
Steering 8 6.0%

Mercedes Benz 320 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 25 7.5%
Steering 19 5.7%
Brakes 19 5.7%
Lights 19 5.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 17 5.1%