FaultScore

Lexus LS400 vs Mazda RX-8

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 LS400 Mazda RX-8
Complaints on file 424 1,004
Model years covered 1990–2001 2004–2011
Worst model year 1993 2004
Best model year 2000 2008
Crashes reported 58 35
Fires reported 8 17
Injuries reported 33 30
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 23.3% 8.2%

Lexus LS400 by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 131 30.9%
Brakes 26 6.1%
Lights 26 6.1%
Seat Belts 25 5.9%
Airbags 20 4.7%
Tires 20 4.7%
Engine & Cooling 18 4.2%

Mazda RX-8 by year

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

What breaks