FaultScore

Mercedes Benz ML500 vs Infiniti I30

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 Infiniti I30
Complaints on file 141 345
Model years covered 2002–2007 1996–2004
Worst model year 2006 2001
Best model year 2003 1997
Crashes reported 9 38
Fires reported 20 19
Injuries reported 14 19
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Steering Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 30.5% 22%

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%

Infiniti I30 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 53 15.4%
Suspension 33 9.6%
Brakes 31 9.0%
Body & Structure 24 7.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 17 4.9%