FaultScore

Honda Element vs BMW 328I

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 Honda Element BMW 328I
Complaints on file 1,533 3,777
Model years covered 2003–2011 1996–2016
Worst model year 2003 2013
Best model year 2010 1998
Crashes reported 123 210
Fires reported 15 193
Injuries reported 101 159
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Windows, Mirrors & Wipers Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 15.6% 14.9%

Honda Element by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 322 21.0%
Suspension 115 7.5%
Brakes 91 5.9%
Seats 57 3.7%

BMW 328I 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 1,093 28.9%
Electrical System 684 18.1%
Airbags 604 16.0%
Brakes 114 3.0%
Body & Structure 112 3.0%