FaultScore

KIA RIO vs BMW X5

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 RIO BMW X5
Complaints on file 1,816 4,530
Model years covered 2000–2023 2000–2026
Worst model year 2002 2021
Best model year 2023 2007
Crashes reported 229 189
Fires reported 149 234
Injuries reported 163 142
Deaths reported 8 7
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 30.2% 12.6%

KIA RIO 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 399 22.0%
Airbags 274 15.1%
Brakes 184 10.1%
Seat Belts 64 3.5%

BMW X5 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 902 19.9%
Airbags 628 13.9%
Electrical System 538 11.9%
Brakes 308 6.8%
Steering 136 3.0%