FaultScore

Mercedes Benz CLS550 vs BMW 335XI

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 CLS550 BMW 335XI
Complaints on file 82 205
Model years covered 2006–2009 2007–2015
Worst model year 2007 2008
Best model year 2006 2010
Crashes reported 1 11
Fires reported 1 22
Injuries reported 4 7
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Fuel & Propulsion Fuel & Propulsion
Share of complaints involving harm 7.3% 19.5%

Mercedes Benz CLS550 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 6 7.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 6 7.3%
Electrical System 6 7.3%
Suspension 6 7.3%
Airbags 5 6.1%
Brakes 4 4.9%
Other & Unspecified 4 4.9%

BMW 335XI 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 32 15.6%
Airbags 21 10.2%
Other & Unspecified 9 4.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 7 3.4%
Brakes 7 3.4%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 3.4%