FaultScore

Mercedes Benz S430 vs BMW 750LI

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 S430 BMW 750LI
Complaints on file 282 696
Model years covered 2000–2006 2006–2021
Worst model year 2001 2006
Best model year 2004 2009
Crashes reported 7 18
Fires reported 11 20
Injuries reported 3 7
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Electrical System Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 7.4% 6.5%

Mercedes Benz S430 by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 106 37.6%
Lights 38 13.5%
Suspension 31 11.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 17 6.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 14 5.0%
Body & Structure 11 3.9%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 10 3.5%
Engine & Cooling 7 2.5%

BMW 750LI by year

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

What breaks