Mercedes Benz S500 vs Volvo S40
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 S500 | Volvo S40 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 274 | 677 |
| Model years covered | 1993–2007 | 2000–2011 |
| Worst model year | 2000 | 2001 |
| Best model year | 1999 | 2010 |
| Crashes reported | 9 | 65 |
| Fires reported | 4 | 18 |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 34 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Electrical System | Brakes |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 7.7% | 17.3% |
Mercedes Benz S500 by year
What breaks
Electrical System
96
35.0%
Lights
45
16.4%
Suspension
27
9.9%
Engine & Cooling
19
6.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain
15
5.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
12
4.4%
Brakes
11
4.0%
Steering
7
2.6%
Volvo S40 by year
What breaks
Brakes
119
17.6%
Electrical System
103
15.2%
Engine & Cooling
79
11.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
51
7.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
42
6.2%
Airbags
39
5.8%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
37
5.5%
Lights
27
4.0%