Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1992.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 |
| 1994 500 | 6 | 1 |
| 1993 | 23 | 1 |
| 1992 500 | 15 | 1 |
| 1991 500 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 500 | 1 | 2 |
| 1985 500 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system43
- Visibility7
- Suspension7
- Unknown or other6
- Equipment6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Seat belts5
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
1,459 500 cars are on the New Zealand register; 83% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| 2014 | 21 | 2 | 18 |
| 2013 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2010 | 17 | 0 | 16 |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2008 | 14 | 2 | 11 |
| 2007 | 80 | 3 | 73 |
| 2006 | 199 | 1 | 191 |
| 2005 | 166 | 1 | 160 |
| 2004 | 102 | 0 | 96 |
| 2003 | 97 | 3 | 89 |
| 2002 | 64 | 3 | 54 |
| 2001 | 21 | 0 | 20 |
| 2000 | 27 | 0 | 24 |
| 1999 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1996 | 25 | 0 | 22 |
| 1995 | 49 | 6 | 40 |
| 1994 | 72 | 16 | 50 |
| 1993 | 92 | 16 | 65 |
| 1992 | 86 | 11 | 65 |
| 1991 | 52 | 6 | 40 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
897 500 cars are on Dutch roads; 86% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 28 | — |
| 1992 | 64 | — |
| 1991 | 43 | — |
| 1987 | 25 | — |
| 1986 | 96 | — |
| 1985 | 121 | — |
| 1984 | 123 | — |
| 1983 | 147 | — |
| 1982 | 139 | — |
| 1981 | 47 | — |
| 1980 | 64 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
57 500 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 7 | 205,000 km |
| 1992 | 8 | 216,000 km |
| 1989 | 7 | 195,000 km |
| 1988 | 6 | 237,000 km |
| 1987 | 5 | 263,000 km |
| 1986 | 6 | 267,000 km |
| 1985 | 5 | 201,000 km |
| 1983 | 8 | 186,000 km |
| 1982 | 5 | 165,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
1,236 500 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 | 4 |
| 2003 | 12 | 5 |
| 2002 | 7 | 11 |
| 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| 2000 | 1 | 3 |
| 1999 | 0 | 8 |
| 1998 | 3 | 8 |
| 1997 | 4 | 4 |
| 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 | 2 | 3 |
| 1994 | 7 | 12 |
| 1993 | 66 | 156 |
| 1992 | 88 | 239 |
| 1991 | 115 | 340 |
| 1990 | 116 | 373 |
| 1989 | 133 | 321 |
| 1988 | 117 | 266 |
| 1987 | 97 | 233 |
| 1986 | 81 | 214 |
| 1985 | 88 | 259 |
| 1984 | 89 | 124 |
| 1983 | 90 | 110 |
| 1982 | 68 | 64 |
| 1981 | 40 | 39 |
| 1980 | 7 | 10 |
| 1977 | 1 | — |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
465 500 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 79% passed first time, against 71% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 137 | 77% |
| 1990 | 110 | 80% |
| 1989 | 115 | 84% |
| 1985 | 103 | 76% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | 500 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.7% | 15.7% |
| Brakes | 6.0% | 9.8% |
| Suspension | 4.5% | 8.5% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.7% | 8.0% |
| Visibility | 3.0% | 6.5% |
| Tyres | 2.6% | 2.0% |
| Steering | 1.3% | 3.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
4 new Mercedes-Benz 500 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2012 and 2016, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2016 the largest markets were United Kingdom (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 2 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
2 campaigns cover the 500.
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY A WORN CHAIN DRIVE OF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM.
NHTSA recalls