FaultScore

Dodge Shadow vs BMW Z4

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 Shadow BMW Z4
Complaints on file 598 1,444
Model years covered 1986–1999 2002–2022
Worst model year 2003
Best model year 2008
Crashes reported 99 34
Fires reported 33 7
Injuries reported 71 9
Deaths reported 2 2
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Steering
Share of complaints involving harm 34.3% 3.6%

Dodge Shadow 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 72 12.0%
Seats 68 11.4%
Airbags 67 11.2%
Brakes 33 5.5%
Seat Belts 33 5.5%

BMW Z4 by year

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

What breaks

Steering 993 68.8%
Airbags 101 7.0%
Wheels 25 1.7%
Brakes 21 1.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain 18 1.2%
Body & Structure 18 1.2%