FaultScore

Mercedes Benz CLK320 vs Freightliner Cascadia

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 CLK320 Freightliner Cascadia
Complaints on file 160 400
Model years covered 1999–2009 2005–2026
Worst model year 2003 2019
Best model year 2005 2024
Crashes reported 25 39
Fires reported 7 32
Injuries reported 16 32
Deaths reported 0 11
Most complained-about part Electrical System Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
Share of complaints involving harm 30% 28.5%

Mercedes Benz CLK320 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 20 12.5%
Seat Belts 13 8.1%
Engine & Cooling 11 6.9%
Body & Structure 11 6.9%
Tires 10 6.3%
Other & Unspecified 9 5.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain 8 5.0%

Freightliner Cascadia by year

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

What breaks

Steering 46 11.5%
Brakes 46 11.5%
Other & Unspecified 22 5.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 21 5.3%
Fuel & Propulsion 19 4.8%