Mercedes Benz CL500 vs Lexus IS 300
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 CL500 | Lexus IS 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 64 | 156 |
| Model years covered | 1999–2006 | 2001–2022 |
| Worst model year | — | 2002 |
| Best model year | — | 2004 |
| Crashes reported | 0 | 32 |
| Fires reported | 8 | 7 |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 18 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Electrical System | Body & Structure |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 15.6% | 36.5% |
Mercedes Benz CL500 by year
What breaks
Electrical System
19
29.7%
Suspension
15
23.4%
Lights
6
9.4%
Engine & Cooling
5
7.8%
Brakes
4
6.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
3
4.7%
Airbags
2
3.1%
Seat Belts
2
3.1%
Lexus IS 300 by year
What breaks
Body & Structure
22
14.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
18
11.5%
Other & Unspecified
18
11.5%
Suspension
14
9.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
12
7.7%
Engine & Cooling
11
7.1%
Brakes
11
7.1%
Tires
11
7.1%