FaultScore

Mercedes Benz E300 vs Pontiac Pontiac

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 E300 Pontiac Pontiac
Complaints on file 53 132
Model years covered 1995–2009 1971–2003
Worst model year 1998 2003
Best model year 1997 2001
Crashes reported 5 6
Fires reported 1 10
Injuries reported 3 9
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Electrical System Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 17% 19.7%

Mercedes Benz E300 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 10 18.9%
Suspension 9 17.0%
Engine & Cooling 8 15.1%
Lights 5 9.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 7.5%
Brakes 4 7.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 3 5.7%
Airbags 2 3.8%

Pontiac Pontiac 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 28 21.2%
Electrical System 16 12.1%
Lights 14 10.6%
Brakes 11 8.3%
Body & Structure 11 8.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 8 6.1%
Steering 7 5.3%
Fuel & Propulsion 7 5.3%