Volkswagen Rabbit vs BMW 525I
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 | Volkswagen Rabbit | BMW 525I |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 267 | 663 |
| Model years covered | 1980–2009 | 1989–2009 |
| Worst model year | 2009 | 2004 |
| Best model year | 2006 | 1994 |
| Crashes reported | 19 | 15 |
| Fires reported | 20 | 63 |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 24 |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 |
| Most complained-about part | Brakes | Airbags |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 18.7% | 15.4% |
Volkswagen Rabbit by year
What breaks
Brakes
60
22.5%
Electrical System
30
11.2%
Stability & Traction Control
27
10.1%
Engine & Cooling
19
7.1%
Airbags
18
6.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
18
6.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
17
6.4%
Steering
17
6.4%
BMW 525I by year
What breaks
Airbags
168
25.3%
Electrical System
86
13.0%
Engine & Cooling
79
11.9%
Seats
45
6.8%
Seat Belts
43
6.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain
32
4.8%
Brakes
32
4.8%
Lights
25
3.8%