FaultScore

Freightliner Columbia vs BMW 328D

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 Columbia BMW 328D
Complaints on file 110 275
Model years covered 2000–2010 2014–2018
Worst model year 2005 2014
Best model year 2007 2018
Crashes reported 8 10
Fires reported 8 21
Injuries reported 22 1
Deaths reported 2 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Fuel & Propulsion
Share of complaints involving harm 36.4% 11.6%

Freightliner Columbia 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 32 29.1%
Body & Structure 7 6.4%
Brakes 6 5.5%
Electrical System 5 4.5%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 5 4.5%
Tires 5 4.5%
Wheels 4 3.6%

BMW 328D by year

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

What breaks

Fuel & Propulsion 106 38.5%
Engine & Cooling 76 27.6%
Other & Unspecified 24 8.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 21 7.6%
Electrical System 10 3.6%
Brakes 8 2.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 6 2.2%
Body & Structure 5 1.8%