FaultScore

Mercedes Benz 230 vs KIA Niro Phev

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 Mercedes Benz 230 KIA Niro Phev
Complaints on file 39 96
Model years covered 1974–2004 2018–2025
Worst model year 2019
Best model year 2023
Crashes reported 12 3
Fires reported 2 0
Injuries reported 11 0
Deaths reported 1 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 66.7% 3.1%

Mercedes Benz 230 by year

74 88 99 01 02 03 04
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Electrical System 7 17.9%
Airbags 5 12.8%
Engine & Cooling 3 7.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 7.7%
Brakes 3 7.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 7.7%
Suspension 2 5.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 5.1%

KIA Niro Phev by year

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

What breaks

Other & Unspecified 16 16.7%
Electrical System 10 10.4%
Engine & Cooling 9 9.4%
Brakes 5 5.2%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 5.2%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 5 5.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 4 4.2%