FaultScore

Lexus LS vs Volvo 850

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 LS Volvo 850
Complaints on file 293 732
Model years covered 1994–2025 1993–2000
Worst model year 2007 1996
Best model year 2009 1997
Crashes reported 21 45
Fires reported 3 51
Injuries reported 20 38
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Brakes Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 15% 18.7%

Lexus LS by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 63 21.5%
Body & Structure 19 6.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 18 6.1%
Fuel & Propulsion 14 4.8%
Airbags 13 4.4%

Volvo 850 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 117 16.0%
Tires 45 6.1%
Airbags 42 5.7%
Seats 37 5.1%