FaultScore

Mercedes Benz SL550 vs BMW R 1200 GS

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 SL550 BMW R 1200 GS
Complaints on file 46 114
Model years covered 2003–2009 2005–2014
Worst model year 2007
Best model year 2008
Crashes reported 0 7
Fires reported 5 7
Injuries reported 0 8
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Brakes Fuel & Propulsion
Share of complaints involving harm 10.9% 20.2%

Mercedes Benz SL550 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 17 37.0%
Electrical System 6 13.0%
Tires 5 10.9%
Wheels 4 8.7%
Body & Structure 3 6.5%
Engine & Cooling 2 4.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 2 4.3%
Steering 2 4.3%

BMW R 1200 GS by year

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

What breaks

Transmission & Drivetrain 18 15.8%
Engine & Cooling 7 6.1%
Brakes 7 6.1%
Suspension 7 6.1%
Wheels 6 5.3%
Electrical System 4 3.5%
Body & Structure 4 3.5%