FaultScore

Mercedes Benz GLS450 vs BMW 320I

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 GLS450 BMW 320I
Complaints on file 100 247
Model years covered 2017–2021 1978–2018
Worst model year 2014
Best model year 2013
Crashes reported 5 36
Fires reported 16 8
Injuries reported 5 24
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 26% 27.5%

Mercedes Benz GLS450 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 23 23.0%
Other & Unspecified 16 16.0%
Engine & Cooling 11 11.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 8 8.0%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 8 8.0%
Lights 6 6.0%
Steering 4 4.0%
Seats 4 4.0%

BMW 320I 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 47 19.0%
Airbags 25 10.1%
Other & Unspecified 23 9.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 17 6.9%
Brakes 17 6.9%
Lights 14 5.7%