FaultScore

Mercedes Benz SLK280 vs Honda VTX1800

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 SLK280 Honda VTX1800
Complaints on file 60 149
Model years covered 2006–2008 2002–2008
Worst model year 2008
Best model year 2006
Crashes reported 1 3
Fires reported 0 0
Injuries reported 1 2
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Airbags Transmission & Drivetrain
Share of complaints involving harm 3.3% 4%

Mercedes Benz SLK280 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 27 45.0%
Electrical System 6 10.0%
Engine & Cooling 4 6.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 6.7%
Body & Structure 3 5.0%
Lights 3 5.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 3 5.0%
Seat Belts 3 5.0%

Honda VTX1800 by year

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

What breaks

Suspension 36 24.2%
Wheels 21 14.1%
Engine & Cooling 15 10.1%
Body & Structure 11 7.4%
Tires 7 4.7%
Steering 4 2.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 3 2.0%