FaultScore

Mercedes Benz CLS500 vs Acura RSX

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 CLS500 Acura RSX
Complaints on file 87 214
Model years covered 2004–2009 2001–2008
Worst model year 2002
Best model year 2003
Crashes reported 5 29
Fires reported 0 1
Injuries reported 3 15
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Fuel & Propulsion Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 9.2% 21%

Mercedes Benz CLS500 by year

04 06 07 09
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Brakes 24 27.6%
Airbags 6 6.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 4.6%
Electrical System 4 4.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 4 4.6%
Wheels 4 4.6%
Engine & Cooling 3 3.4%

Acura RSX 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 15.4%
Engine & Cooling 26 12.1%
Suspension 21 9.8%
Brakes 13 6.1%
Lights 11 5.1%
Body & Structure 10 4.7%
Electrical System 9 4.2%