Oldsmobile Calais vs Mercedes Benz SL500
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 | Oldsmobile Calais | Mercedes Benz SL500 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 124 | 308 |
| Model years covered | 1985–1990 | 1992–2009 |
| Worst model year | — | 2004 |
| Best model year | — | 2006 |
| Crashes reported | 9 | 12 |
| Fires reported | 8 | 30 |
| Injuries reported | 8 | 14 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2 |
| Most complained-about part | Engine & Cooling | Suspension |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 20.2% | 18.8% |
Oldsmobile Calais by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
50
40.3%
Electrical System
15
12.1%
Steering
7
5.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
6
4.8%
Seats
6
4.8%
Brakes
5
4.0%
Suspension
5
4.0%
Body & Structure
4
3.2%
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%