Mercedes Benz ML430 vs Smart Fortwo
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 | Smart Fortwo |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 194 | 475 |
| Model years covered | 1990–2001 | 2005–2019 |
| Worst model year | 2000 | 2008 |
| Best model year | 2001 | 2017 |
| Crashes reported | 12 | 28 |
| Fires reported | 3 | 68 |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 22 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 |
| Most complained-about part | Brakes | Engine & Cooling |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 11.3% | 25.1% |
Mercedes Benz ML430 by year
What breaks
Smart Fortwo by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
106
22.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
71
14.9%
Electrical System
57
12.0%
Other & Unspecified
45
9.5%
Seat Belts
35
7.4%
Fuel & Propulsion
31
6.5%
Body & Structure
26
5.5%
Brakes
20
4.2%