FaultScore

Volvo VN610 vs Mercedes Benz ML350

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 VN610 Mercedes Benz ML350
Complaints on file 261 651
Model years covered 1997–2001 2001–2009
Worst model year 1998 2006
Best model year 2000 2005
Crashes reported 5 43
Fires reported 1 80
Injuries reported 6 35
Deaths reported 2 0
Most complained-about part Suspension Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 5.4% 24.3%

Volvo VN610 by year

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

What breaks

Suspension 91 34.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain 21 8.0%
Steering 20 7.7%
Engine & Cooling 19 7.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 13 5.0%
Other & Unspecified 13 5.0%
Brakes 12 4.6%

Mercedes Benz ML350 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 86 13.2%
Steering 74 11.4%
Seats 62 9.5%
Airbags 61 9.4%
Brakes 47 7.2%
Lights 28 4.3%