FaultScore

Mercedes Benz SLK230 vs Nissan D21

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 SLK230 Nissan D21
Complaints on file 190 466
Model years covered 1998–2004 1988–1997
Worst model year 1999 1995
Best model year 2001 1996
Crashes reported 8 66
Fires reported 8 16
Injuries reported 7 35
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Lights Body & Structure
Share of complaints involving harm 12.1% 25.3%

Mercedes Benz SLK230 by year

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

What breaks

Lights 56 29.5%
Electrical System 22 11.6%
Engine & Cooling 11 5.8%
Body & Structure 10 5.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 8 4.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 8 4.2%
Brakes 7 3.7%

Nissan D21 by year

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

What breaks

Body & Structure 69 14.8%
Engine & Cooling 47 10.1%
Tires 43 9.2%
Airbags 36 7.7%
Seat Belts 36 7.7%
Brakes 34 7.3%