Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey (updated October 2011)
F is for Fraud
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 0
From: Québec
Whoa. 
Wait a minute. $6000 for WRX brakes? Somebody is getting taken to the cleaners. Even though WRX brakes are larger then those of regular Imprezas, they should run a couple of hundered dollars....even all four should be well under $1000. The STi, of course, has more expensive Brembos, but even so, should not run anywhere near $6000, given a normal brake job without added work.
Wait a minute. $6000 for WRX brakes? Somebody is getting taken to the cleaners. Even though WRX brakes are larger then those of regular Imprezas, they should run a couple of hundered dollars....even all four should be well under $1000. The STi, of course, has more expensive Brembos, but even so, should not run anywhere near $6000, given a normal brake job without added work.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,809
Likes: 143
From: MA
Ok, just found this for the GS AWD
Major brake issues? I've never heard of anybody complaining about the brakes apart from dust.
Fuel system? Audio? Did they just fudge these??
I think the issue is the GS fell through the cracks so to speak. According to the site, there are only 2 GS: GS 300 and GS 450h. Yes, that's right, all of them are GS 300 even for 2008!
Also, the GS RWD is above average and recommended! WTF?
Major brake issues? I've never heard of anybody complaining about the brakes apart from dust.
Fuel system? Audio? Did they just fudge these??
I think the issue is the GS fell through the cracks so to speak. According to the site, there are only 2 GS: GS 300 and GS 450h. Yes, that's right, all of them are GS 300 even for 2008!
Also, the GS RWD is above average and recommended! WTF?
Other things on CR's report that made me think twice about CR's ability to rate anything except for household appliance is that they claim the GS have major brake issues. As far as I know, there is only a dust and squeaks problem, which are not Major brake issues. Also, as ivanz said, it seems like they just tested the 2007 GS300 and the GS450h and use the same report for all 2008 and 2009 GS350 and GS V8.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,574
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Here in America, for 1K, you could have probably had it done at a dealership, and maybe (?) got back some change.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,589
Likes: 285
From: Illinois
I had a 2008 GS350 AWD last year and did extensive research on the GS's reliability. The Consumer report's much worst than average rating for the GS350 AWD and above average rating for the RWD just did not make sense since the AWD system in the GS is pretty relaible. So I research some more and found a link where one editor ask CR why the rating were so different between the 2 version. The CR editor’s respond was the AWD version have extensive interior panel integrity issues. I assume they meant to say the dash rattles. The funny thing is that both the AWD and RWD share the same interior panels.
Other things on CR's report that made me think twice about CR's ability to rate anything except for household appliance is that they claim the GS have major brake issues. As far as I know, there is only a dust and squeaks problem, which are not Major brake issues. Also, as ivanz said, it seems like they just tested the 2007 GS300 and the GS450h and use the same report for all 2008 and 2009 GS350 and GS V8.
Other things on CR's report that made me think twice about CR's ability to rate anything except for household appliance is that they claim the GS have major brake issues. As far as I know, there is only a dust and squeaks problem, which are not Major brake issues. Also, as ivanz said, it seems like they just tested the 2007 GS300 and the GS450h and use the same report for all 2008 and 2009 GS350 and GS V8.
Not sure of the details included in each, just reading off of the report.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,809
Likes: 143
From: MA
The last time I check, the chassis, interior, power equipments and audio system is all the same with AWD and RWD.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,269
Likes: 296
From: ------
Not surprised the Volkswagen Touareg was the worst vehicle in reliability again. I am surprised the new Honda Insight hybrid was the number 1 car in reliability because I believe Consumer Reports really did not like it in a previous test and was pretty critical of it and even did not recommend it.
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...rs-score-well/
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...rs-score-well/
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,538
Likes: 177
From: IL
I would hope reliability would weigh issues (fuel system) that lead to the car being unusable much higher than other issues (rattles).
My point is, if the radio craps out none of us would score a car as unreliable. In their set up a radio failure and a squeak result in a bad score.
The lesson here is, data without real assessment = noise.
My point is, if the radio craps out none of us would score a car as unreliable. In their set up a radio failure and a squeak result in a bad score.
The lesson here is, data without real assessment = noise.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,589
Likes: 285
From: Illinois
The reliability reports (from owner surveys) and the reviews (from the road tests and editor reviews) are two separate areas in the CR reports.
A car can get a favorable review from the magazine and not so good reliability ratings from the owner survey and vice versa.
A car can get a favorable review from the magazine and not so good reliability ratings from the owner survey and vice versa.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
From: CA
While you, of course, are entitled to your opinion, most of us feel that CR is one of the best sources out there (if not THE best) for auto reliability. True, they don't do the same kind of sport-oriented testing that the enthusiast mags do, but that is not their purpose.
Honda reliability has always ranked among the top according to CR. However, my experience with Honda is far from it. I am only listing the big ticket items that I have had with my hondas
1. 01 Accord - Dead AT transmission @ ~75k miles
2. 01 CRV - AC compressor failed prematurely and had a major head job for burned valves.
3. 05 S2K- 1st & 2nd gear synchros replaced due to it poping out under load so the transmission had to be removed and fixed. Sure I tracked it so did my 00 ITR. The ITR was abused much much more than the S2k but never had a problem.
4. 08 S2K CR - is beginning to experience the same problem. It only has 9K miles on the clock and I have only tracked it a few times. Yes, I do know how to drive a stick.
So, you see why I use CR as toilet paper?
Last edited by newr; Oct 28, 2009 at 12:09 PM.
