FaultScore

Mercedes Benz S550 vs Buick Roadmaster

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 S550 Buick Roadmaster
Complaints on file 184 452
Model years covered 2010–2017 1989–1999
Worst model year 2015 1994
Best model year 2016 1996
Crashes reported 19 61
Fires reported 11 12
Injuries reported 13 43
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Other & Unspecified Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 23.4% 25.7%

Mercedes Benz S550 by year

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

What breaks

Other & Unspecified 24 13.0%
Steering 18 9.8%
Fuel & Propulsion 16 8.7%
Body & Structure 15 8.2%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 13 7.1%
Seat Belts 12 6.5%
Engine & Cooling 11 6.0%
Electrical System 11 6.0%

Buick Roadmaster by year

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

What breaks