FaultScore

Mercedes Benz 280 vs Lincoln Nautilus

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 280 Lincoln Nautilus
Complaints on file 124 307
Model years covered 1994–2000 2019–2026
Worst model year 1995 2019
Best model year 1994 2021
Crashes reported 14 19
Fires reported 10 0
Injuries reported 10 3
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 27.4% 7.2%

Mercedes Benz 280 by year

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

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 14 11.3%
Airbags 9 7.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 8 6.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 7 5.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 5.6%
Brakes 5 4.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 3.2%

Lincoln Nautilus 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 15 4.9%
Brakes 14 4.6%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 12 3.9%