FaultScore

Mercedes Benz 320 vs Cadillac Catera

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 320 Cadillac Catera
Complaints on file 332 826
Model years covered 1994–2002 1997–2003
Worst model year 1994 1997
Best model year 2001 1999
Crashes reported 17 44
Fires reported 13 11
Injuries reported 22 34
Deaths reported 6 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 17.5% 10.8%

Mercedes Benz 320 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 25 7.5%
Steering 19 5.7%
Brakes 19 5.7%
Lights 19 5.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 17 5.1%

Cadillac Catera 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 212 25.7%
Electrical System 100 12.1%
Suspension 59 7.1%
Tires 57 6.9%
Brakes 55 6.7%
Steering 41 5.0%
Airbags 37 4.5%
Lights 37 4.5%