FaultScore

Mercedes Benz SL500 vs GMC Sierra 3500

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 SL500 GMC Sierra 3500
Complaints on file 308 769
Model years covered 1992–2009 1996–2026
Worst model year 2004 2020
Best model year 2006 2025
Crashes reported 12 47
Fires reported 30 26
Injuries reported 14 25
Deaths reported 2 1
Most complained-about part Suspension Brakes
Share of complaints involving harm 18.8% 12.9%

Mercedes Benz SL500 by year

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

What breaks

Suspension 64 20.8%
Brakes 43 14.0%
Engine & Cooling 16 5.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain 14 4.5%
Airbags 14 4.5%
Steering 10 3.2%

GMC Sierra 3500 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 149 19.4%
Engine & Cooling 79 10.3%
Airbags 56 7.3%
Steering 41 5.3%