FaultScore

Infiniti I35 vs Volvo 850

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 Infiniti I35 Volvo 850
Complaints on file 300 732
Model years covered 2001–2004 1993–2000
Worst model year 2002 1996
Best model year 2004 1997
Crashes reported 19 45
Fires reported 4 51
Injuries reported 17 38
Deaths reported 7 3
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 15.7% 18.7%

Infiniti I35 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 109 36.3%
Airbags 32 10.7%
Electrical System 23 7.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 21 7.0%
Suspension 15 5.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 14 4.7%
Brakes 14 4.7%
Other & Unspecified 13 4.3%

Volvo 850 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 117 16.0%
Tires 45 6.1%
Airbags 42 5.7%
Seats 37 5.1%