FaultScore

Honda VTX1300 vs BMW 323I

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 VTX1300 BMW 323I
Complaints on file 279 676
Model years covered 2003–2009 1985–2011
Worst model year 2004 2000
Best model year 2003 1998
Crashes reported 8 41
Fires reported 0 14
Injuries reported 10 43
Deaths reported 0 4
Most complained-about part Steering Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 6.5% 15.1%

Honda VTX1300 by year

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

What breaks

Steering 127 45.5%
Suspension 58 20.8%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 16 5.7%
Electrical System 15 5.4%
Fuel & Propulsion 15 5.4%
Wheels 13 4.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 12 4.3%
Other & Unspecified 7 2.5%

BMW 323I by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 142 21.0%
Suspension 19 2.8%
Doors, Latches & Locks 19 2.8%
Tires 18 2.7%