FaultScore

Saab 9000 vs Smart Fortwo

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 Saab 9000 Smart Fortwo
Complaints on file 196 475
Model years covered 1986–1998 2005–2019
Worst model year 1993 2008
Best model year 1995 2017
Crashes reported 5 28
Fires reported 16 68
Injuries reported 4 22
Deaths reported 0 1
Most complained-about part Transmission & Drivetrain Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 12.8% 25.1%

Saab 9000 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 26 13.3%
Engine & Cooling 23 11.7%
Fuel & Propulsion 20 10.2%
Airbags 10 5.1%
Seat Belts 10 5.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 9 4.6%

Smart Fortwo 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 106 22.3%
Seat Belts 35 7.4%
Brakes 20 4.2%