FaultScore

Mercedes Benz C Class vs Dodge Shadow

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 C Class Dodge Shadow
Complaints on file 249 598
Model years covered 1991–2006 1986–1999
Worst model year 1995
Best model year 2000
Crashes reported 8 99
Fires reported 16 33
Injuries reported 10 71
Deaths reported 1 2
Most complained-about part Electrical System Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 14.1% 34.3%

Mercedes Benz C Class 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 26 10.4%
Fuel & Propulsion 16 6.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 15 6.0%
Brakes 11 4.4%
Suspension 11 4.4%
Seats 10 4.0%
Airbags 9 3.6%

Dodge Shadow 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 72 12.0%
Seats 68 11.4%
Airbags 67 11.2%
Brakes 33 5.5%
Seat Belts 33 5.5%