FaultScore

Mercedes Benz R350 vs Buick Skylark

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 R350 Buick Skylark
Complaints on file 307 753
Model years covered 2006–2012 1981–2000
Worst model year 2006 1997
Best model year 2010 1998
Crashes reported 7 62
Fires reported 19 25
Injuries reported 12 44
Deaths reported 0 2
Most complained-about part Suspension Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 12.4% 17.7%

Mercedes Benz R350 by year

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

What breaks

Suspension 55 17.9%
Engine & Cooling 54 17.6%
Airbags 40 13.0%
Brakes 23 7.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain 20 6.5%
Seats 20 6.5%
Steering 17 5.5%

Buick Skylark by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 123 16.3%
Electrical System 121 16.1%
Engine & Cooling 114 15.1%
Airbags 53 7.0%
Steering 43 5.7%
Seat Belts 32 4.2%