FaultScore

Pontiac GTO vs Saturn LS

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 Pontiac GTO Saturn LS
Complaints on file 786 1,885
Model years covered 1968–2006 2000–2004
Worst model year 2004 2001
Best model year 2006 2000
Crashes reported 23 49
Fires reported 3 49
Injuries reported 17 38
Deaths reported 1 5
Most complained-about part Suspension Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 5.6% 7.5%

Pontiac GTO by year

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

What breaks

Suspension 488 62.1%
Tires 130 16.5%
Steering 15 1.9%
Engine & Cooling 14 1.8%
Airbags 13 1.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 10 1.3%

Saturn LS by year

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

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 745 39.5%
Electrical System 258 13.7%
Lights 213 11.3%
Steering 86 4.6%
Suspension 78 4.1%
Brakes 70 3.7%