Harley-Davidson Sportster vs BMW 745I
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 | Harley-Davidson Sportster | BMW 745I |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 75 | 187 |
| Model years covered | 1985–2008 | 2001–2007 |
| Worst model year | — | 2003 |
| Best model year | — | 2005 |
| Crashes reported | 9 | 24 |
| Fires reported | 0 | 10 |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 7 |
| Deaths reported | 2 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Engine & Cooling | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 24% | 21.9% |
Harley-Davidson Sportster by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
12
16.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
12
16.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
10
13.3%
Brakes
9
12.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
9
12.0%
Electrical System
5
6.7%
Lights
5
6.7%
Steering
4
5.3%
BMW 745I by year
What breaks
Transmission & Drivetrain
38
20.3%
Brakes
29
15.5%
Electrical System
27
14.4%
Engine & Cooling
25
13.4%
Airbags
20
10.7%
Seat Belts
6
3.2%
Other & Unspecified
6
3.2%
Seats
5
2.7%