FaultScore

Volvo V40 vs Mercedes Benz C280

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 Volvo V40 Mercedes Benz C280
Complaints on file 94 235
Model years covered 1993–2013 1994–2007
Worst model year 2007
Best model year 1994
Crashes reported 4 14
Fires reported 0 18
Injuries reported 1 8
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Brakes Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 5.3% 17%

Volvo V40 by year

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

What breaks

Brakes 34 36.2%
Engine & Cooling 13 13.8%
Suspension 7 7.4%
Electrical System 6 6.4%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 5.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 4 4.3%
Body & Structure 4 4.3%
Lights 4 4.3%

Mercedes Benz C280 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 49 20.9%
Suspension 15 6.4%
Other & Unspecified 15 6.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 13 5.5%
Airbags 13 5.5%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 12 5.1%