FaultScore

Ford Mustang Cobra vs BMW 525XI

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 Mustang Cobra BMW 525XI
Complaints on file 27 67
Model years covered 1997–1999 2006–2011
Worst model year
Best model year
Crashes reported 1 0
Fires reported 1 5
Injuries reported 0 0
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 7.4% 7.5%

Ford Mustang Cobra by year

97 98 99
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 6 22.2%
Suspension 6 22.2%
Seat Belts 4 14.8%
Brakes 3 11.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain 2 7.4%
Electrical System 2 7.4%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 7.4%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 3.7%

BMW 525XI by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 23 34.3%
Engine & Cooling 9 13.4%
Electrical System 9 13.4%
Steering 6 9.0%
Brakes 6 9.0%
Seats 4 6.0%
Seat Belts 3 4.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain 1 1.5%