Mercedes Benz SL500 vs KIA K5
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 | KIA K5 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 308 | 765 |
| Model years covered | 1992–2009 | 2021–2026 |
| Worst model year | 2004 | 2022 |
| Best model year | 2006 | 2026 |
| Crashes reported | 12 | 56 |
| Fires reported | 30 | 14 |
| Injuries reported | 14 | 52 |
| Deaths reported | 2 | 4 |
| Most complained-about part | Suspension | Fuel & Propulsion |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 18.8% | 16.5% |
Mercedes Benz SL500 by year
What breaks
Suspension
64
20.8%
Electrical System
60
19.5%
Brakes
43
14.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
36
11.7%
Engine & Cooling
16
5.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain
14
4.5%
Airbags
14
4.5%
Steering
10
3.2%
KIA K5 by year
What breaks
Fuel & Propulsion
155
20.3%
Electrical System
95
12.4%
Engine & Cooling
90
11.8%
Other & Unspecified
90
11.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain
57
7.5%
Body & Structure
43
5.6%
Brakes
27
3.5%