FaultScore

Mercedes Benz ML430 vs Hyundai Santa Cruz

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 ML430 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Complaints on file 194 469
Model years covered 1990–2001 2022–2026
Worst model year 2000 2022
Best model year 2001 2025
Crashes reported 12 15
Fires reported 3 5
Injuries reported 7 8
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Brakes Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 11.3% 6%

Mercedes Benz ML430 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 42 21.6%
Steering 28 14.4%
Engine & Cooling 24 12.4%
Electrical System 16 8.2%
Stability & Traction Control 15 7.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 14 7.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 6.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 10 5.2%

Hyundai Santa Cruz by year

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

What breaks