FaultScore

Lexus LS430 vs Oldsmobile 98

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 LS430 Oldsmobile 98
Complaints on file 169 417
Model years covered 2001–2005 1975–1999
Worst model year 2001 1995
Best model year 2004 1997
Crashes reported 43 31
Fires reported 4 10
Injuries reported 50 31
Deaths reported 1 0
Most complained-about part Body & Structure Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 58% 17.3%

Lexus LS430 by year

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

What breaks

Body & Structure 36 21.3%
Doors, Latches & Locks 16 9.5%
Brakes 14 8.3%
Airbags 12 7.1%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 4.1%
Steering 6 3.6%
Equipment & Accessories 6 3.6%

Oldsmobile 98 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 83 19.9%
Airbags 33 7.9%
Seat Belts 33 7.9%
Steering 22 5.3%
Body & Structure 16 3.8%