FaultScore

KIA Cadenza vs BMW 535I

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 KIA Cadenza BMW 535I
Complaints on file 292 722
Model years covered 2014–2019 1986–2016
Worst model year 2014 2011
Best model year 2016 2016
Crashes reported 10 37
Fires reported 9 30
Injuries reported 10 23
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 9.9% 12.5%

KIA Cadenza 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 65 22.3%
Brakes 36 12.3%
Steering 18 6.2%
Body & Structure 12 4.1%
Fuel & Propulsion 11 3.8%

BMW 535I 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 167 23.1%
Fuel & Propulsion 146 20.2%
Airbags 51 7.1%
Lights 43 6.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 21 2.9%