FaultScore

Mercedes Benz 240 vs Lincoln Zephyr

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 240 Lincoln Zephyr
Complaints on file 116 289
Model years covered 1979–2003 2003–2011
Worst model year 2002
Best model year 2001
Crashes reported 19 13
Fires reported 2 1
Injuries reported 6 12
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 23.3% 9%

Mercedes Benz 240 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 19 16.4%
Engine & Cooling 13 11.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 12 10.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 8 6.9%
Airbags 8 6.9%
Body & Structure 8 6.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 8 6.9%
Brakes 7 6.0%

Lincoln Zephyr by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 153 52.9%
Wheels 26 9.0%
Brakes 13 4.5%
Body & Structure 13 4.5%
Engine & Cooling 12 4.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain 12 4.2%
Electrical System 11 3.8%
Other & Unspecified 10 3.5%