FaultScore

Mercedes Benz 500 vs Porsche Macan

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 500 Porsche Macan
Complaints on file 122 304
Model years covered 1984–2003 2015–2025
Worst model year 2000 2017
Best model year 2003 2016
Crashes reported 5 30
Fires reported 2 8
Injuries reported 6 9
Deaths reported 3 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 13.1% 15.5%

Mercedes Benz 500 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 8 6.6%
Suspension 7 5.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 7 5.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 5.7%
Equipment & Accessories 7 5.7%
Brakes 6 4.9%
Other & Unspecified 6 4.9%

Porsche Macan by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 54 17.8%
Brakes 28 9.2%
Lights 27 8.9%
Steering 20 6.6%
Other & Unspecified 18 5.9%