FaultScore

Smart Fortwo vs Volvo V70

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 Smart Fortwo Volvo V70
Complaints on file 475 1,177
Model years covered 2005–2019 1996–2010
Worst model year 2008 1998
Best model year 2017 2003
Crashes reported 28 64
Fires reported 68 31
Injuries reported 22 43
Deaths reported 1 1
Most complained-about part Engine & Cooling Acceleration & Cruise Control
Share of complaints involving harm 25.1% 11.8%

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%

Volvo V70 by year

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

What breaks

Electrical System 142 12.1%
Engine & Cooling 139 11.8%
Fuel & Propulsion 124 10.5%
Brakes 103 8.8%
Lights 75 6.4%
Airbags 52 4.4%