FaultScore

Mercedes Benz S 580 vs Lincoln Zephyr

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 S 580 Lincoln Zephyr
Complaints on file 116 289
Model years covered 2021–2024 2003–2011
Worst model year
Best model year
Crashes reported 4 13
Fires reported 3 1
Injuries reported 11 12
Deaths reported 3 0
Most complained-about part Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm 18.1% 9%

Mercedes Benz S 580 by year

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

What breaks

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 20 17.2%
Electrical System 18 15.5%
Engine & Cooling 15 12.9%
Brakes 10 8.6%
Tires 9 7.8%
Wheels 9 7.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain 7 6.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 6 5.2%

Lincoln Zephyr by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 153 52.9%
Wheels 26 9.0%
Brakes 13 4.5%
Body & Structure 13 4.5%
Engine & Cooling 12 4.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain 12 4.2%
Electrical System 11 3.8%
Other & Unspecified 10 3.5%