FaultScore

Kawasaki Ninja 300 vs Mercedes Benz SLK230

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 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Mercedes Benz SLK230
Complaints on file 77 190
Model years covered 2013–2015 1998–2004
Worst model year 1999
Best model year 2001
Crashes reported 2 8
Fires reported 0 8
Injuries reported 1 7
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Lights
Share of complaints involving harm 3.9% 12.1%

Kawasaki Ninja 300 by year

13 14 15
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 39 50.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain 15 19.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 13 16.9%
Electrical System 4 5.2%
Steering 2 2.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 2.6%
Brakes 1 1.3%
Tires 1 1.3%

Mercedes Benz SLK230 by year

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

What breaks

Lights 56 29.5%
Electrical System 22 11.6%
Engine & Cooling 11 5.8%
Body & Structure 10 5.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 8 4.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 8 4.2%
Brakes 7 3.7%