Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 vs Mercedes Benz CLA 250

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 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 Mercedes Benz CLA 250
Complaints on file 57 142
Model years covered 2001–2005 2018–2025
Worst model year — 2018
Best model year — 2021
Crashes reported 7 8
Fires reported 2 2
Injuries reported 3 12
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Airbags Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 21.1% 15.5%

Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 15 26.3%
Electrical System 9 15.8%
Brakes 6 10.5%
Engine & Cooling 4 7.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 4 7.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 5.3%
Suspension 2 3.5%
Fuel & Propulsion 2 3.5%

Mercedes Benz CLA 250 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 23 16.2%
Other & Unspecified 22 15.5%
Engine & Cooling 18 12.7%
Airbags 13 9.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 12 8.5%
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 11 7.7%
Body & Structure 9 6.3%
Steering 6 4.2%