FaultScore

Mercedes Benz C320 vs Mercury Tracer

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 C320 Mercury Tracer
Complaints on file 303 754
Model years covered 2001–2007 1988–2000
Worst model year 2001 1997
Best model year 2004 1998
Crashes reported 17 93
Fires reported 9 60
Injuries reported 8 71
Deaths reported 1 3
Most complained-about part Electrical System Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 11.6% 30.1%

Mercedes Benz C320 by year

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

What breaks

Seats 46 15.2%
Airbags 18 5.9%
Lights 17 5.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 16 5.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 14 4.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 4.3%

Mercury Tracer 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 83 11.0%
Airbags 76 10.1%
Brakes 67 8.9%
Seat Belts 64 8.5%
Suspension 48 6.4%