FaultScore

GMC C1500 vs BMW 325XI

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 GMC C1500 BMW 325XI
Complaints on file 161 398
Model years covered 1985–1996 2001–2009
Worst model year 1995 2004
Best model year 1994 2001
Crashes reported 13 21
Fires reported 8 14
Injuries reported 9 17
Deaths reported 1 0
Most complained-about part Brakes Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 19.3% 13.1%

GMC C1500 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 33 20.5%
Seats 28 17.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 11 6.8%
Electrical System 10 6.2%
Seat Belts 9 5.6%
Airbags 8 5.0%
Engine & Cooling 6 3.7%

BMW 325XI by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 145 36.4%
Lights 35 8.8%
Steering 22 5.5%
Suspension 16 4.0%
Seat Belts 14 3.5%
Other & Unspecified 13 3.3%