FaultScore

Lexus GS400 vs BMW 135I

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 Lexus GS400 BMW 135I
Complaints on file 80 199
Model years covered 1994–2000 2007–2013
Worst model year 2008
Best model year 2012
Crashes reported 33 5
Fires reported 0 5
Injuries reported 20 3
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Acceleration & Cruise Control Fuel & Propulsion
Share of complaints involving harm 66.3% 6.5%

Lexus GS400 by year

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

What breaks

Acceleration & Cruise Control 14 17.5%
Brakes 12 15.0%
Airbags 10 12.5%
Suspension 9 11.3%
Electrical System 8 10.0%
Seat Belts 6 7.5%
Engine & Cooling 5 6.3%
Tires 4 5.0%

BMW 135I by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 37 18.6%
Engine & Cooling 33 16.6%
Electrical System 20 10.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 6.5%
Lights 10 5.0%
Other & Unspecified 7 3.5%
Wheels 6 3.0%