BMW 328I vs Mercedes-Benz C230
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
BMW 328I
- Total complaints
- 2,572
- Avg per model year
- 161
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 25
- Most complained year
- 2011 (577)
Top problems: Electrical System, Engine, Air Bags
Mercedes-Benz C230
- Total complaints
- 646
- Avg per model year
- 60
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 5
- Most complained year
- 2007 (212)
Top problems: Air Bags, Power Train, Engine and Engine Cooling
Complaints by model year
| Year | BMW 328I | Mercedes-Benz C230 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 398 | 212 | ||
| 2001 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2000 | 112 | 29 | ||
| 1999 | 98 | 29 | ||
| 1998 | 26 | 39 | ||
| 1997 | 25 | 7 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.