FaultScore

Mercedes Benz CLK430 vs BMW 328

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 CLK430 BMW 328
Complaints on file 50 125
Model years covered 1999–2003 2007–2013
Worst model year 2011
Best model year 2012
Crashes reported 1 7
Fires reported 4 3
Injuries reported 0 4
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 10% 11.2%

Mercedes Benz CLK430 by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 12 24.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 11 22.0%
Engine & Cooling 6 12.0%
Body & Structure 4 8.0%
Brakes 3 6.0%
Airbags 2 4.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 4.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 4.0%

BMW 328 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 33 26.4%
Electrical System 23 18.4%
Engine & Cooling 17 13.6%
Other & Unspecified 11 8.8%
Seat Belts 9 7.2%
Stability & Traction Control 5 4.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 3.2%
Steering 4 3.2%