FaultScore

KIA Rondo vs Mercedes Benz ML320

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 Rondo Mercedes Benz ML320
Complaints on file 446 1,087
Model years covered 2007–2011 1998–2009
Worst model year 2007 2000
Best model year 2010 2009
Crashes reported 49 93
Fires reported 5 39
Injuries reported 26 83
Deaths reported 1 0
Most complained-about part Airbags Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 18.2% 19.8%

KIA Rondo by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 53 11.9%
Engine & Cooling 52 11.7%
Steering 50 11.2%
Brakes 44 9.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 24 5.4%
Lights 23 5.2%

Mercedes Benz ML320 by year

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

What breaks