FaultScore

Ford C-Max vs Fiat 500

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 Ford C-Max Fiat 500
Complaints on file 458 1,118
Model years covered 2013–2018 2011–2018
Worst model year 2014 2012
Best model year 2017 2017
Crashes reported 30 78
Fires reported 12 20
Injuries reported 16 50
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 12.7% 13.2%

Ford C-Max by year

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

What breaks

Steering 64 14.0%
Body & Structure 18 3.9%
Airbags 16 3.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 16 3.5%

Fiat 500 by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 137 12.3%
Engine & Cooling 111 9.9%
Airbags 52 4.7%
Steering 38 3.4%
Brakes 35 3.1%