FaultScore

Freightliner Century vs Mercedes Benz SLK230

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 Freightliner Century Mercedes Benz SLK230
Complaints on file 76 190
Model years covered 1997–2008 1998–2004
Worst model year 2000 1999
Best model year 1999 2001
Crashes reported 0 8
Fires reported 2 8
Injuries reported 9 7
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Lights
Share of complaints involving harm 14.5% 12.1%

Freightliner Century 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 15 19.7%
Suspension 13 17.1%
Tires 7 9.2%
Steering 6 7.9%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 6 7.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 5.3%
Body & Structure 4 5.3%
Fuel & Propulsion 4 5.3%

Mercedes Benz SLK230 by year

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

What breaks

Lights 56 29.5%
Electrical System 22 11.6%
Engine & Cooling 11 5.8%
Body & Structure 10 5.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 8 4.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 8 4.2%
Brakes 7 3.7%