FaultScore

Mercedes Benz ML500 vs Chrysler Imperial

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 ML500 Chrysler Imperial
Complaints on file 141 351
Model years covered 2002–2007 1966–1995
Worst model year 2006
Best model year 2003
Crashes reported 9 18
Fires reported 20 3
Injuries reported 14 10
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Steering Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 30.5% 9.1%

Mercedes Benz ML500 by year

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

What breaks

Steering 22 15.6%
Brakes 22 15.6%
Electrical System 20 14.2%
Seats 14 9.9%
Engine & Cooling 12 8.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain 10 7.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 5.0%
Other & Unspecified 6 4.3%

Chrysler Imperial by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 234 66.7%
Suspension 33 9.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 3.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 13 3.7%
Electrical System 12 3.4%
Engine & Cooling 10 2.8%
Steering 7 2.0%
Lights 7 2.0%