FaultScore

Volvo V70 vs Saturn SL

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 V70 Saturn SL
Complaints on file 1,177 2,891
Model years covered 1996–2010 1991–2002
Worst model year 1998 1995
Best model year 2003 2001
Crashes reported 64 433
Fires reported 31 50
Injuries reported 43 304
Deaths reported 1 11
Most complained-about part Acceleration & Cruise Control Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 11.8% 27.6%

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%

Saturn SL 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 463 16.0%
Brakes 377 13.0%
Electrical System 322 11.1%
Seats 231 8.0%
Seat Belts 181 6.3%
Airbags 164 5.7%