FaultScore

Mercedes Benz 320 vs Pontiac Aztek

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 Pontiac Aztek
Complaints on file 332 829
Model years covered 1994–2002 2001–2005
Worst model year 1994 2001
Best model year 2001 2005
Crashes reported 17 43
Fires reported 13 18
Injuries reported 22 38
Deaths reported 6 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Fuel & Propulsion
Share of complaints involving harm 17.5% 11.9%

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%

Pontiac Aztek by year

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

What breaks