Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey 2009

[encore888]

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...10/620000533/1

Consumer Reports: Chrysler ranks dead last and Toyota's Scion places first in predicted reliability
Oct 27, 2009

When it comes to predicted reliability -- coming after years of gab from Detroit about how how its cars don't break down anymore -- six American brands rank dead last in Consumer Reports' latest predictions on automotive reliability being released right now. Tops was Toyota's Scion brand.

The worst is Chrysler and its least-reliable model is the Town & Country minivan, pictured above. A third of Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge models are considered much worse than average including the new Dodge Journey crossover. Only one Chrysler product is recommended by the magazine, the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup in the four-wheel-drive version. Last year, none got the nod.

And the best: The top seven are all Japanese, led by Toyota's Scion, with the eighth a South Korean, Hyundai. Toyota and Honda dominate the reliability charts. Three of the top five models are made by Toyota, including the Lexus ES, Toyota Venza, and Toyota Yaris hatchback. Number one is the Honda Insight, pictured above right.

In the press release, Consumer Reports touts the reliability of Fords, saying it is the only Detroit maker with "world-class reliability," yet the top ranking Ford brand is Mercury at 10th, followed by Ford at 16th and Lincoln at 20th. The report lauds the Ford Flex crossover, but rips on all-wheel-drive Lincoln clones of Ford cars, the MKS, MKX and MKZ. "They are now consistently making cars with world-class reliability," said Rik Paul, automotive editor of the magazine. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, both built on the same platform, beat out the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in reliability for the second year in a row.

There are vast differences between models. A new Honda Insight is 27 times less likely to have a problem than the biggest dog in the pack, the Volkswagen Touareg, Consumer Reports says.

Here's the brand ranking, best to worst:

1. Scion
2. Honda
3. Toyota
4. Infiniti
5. Acura
6. Mitsubishi
7. Lexus
8. Hyundai
9. Porsche
10. Mercury
11. Saab
12. Subaru
13. Suzuki
14. Kia
15. Mazda
16. Ford
17. Nissan
18. Volvo
19. Buick
20. Lincoln
21. Volkswagen
22. Pontiac
23. Mercedes-Benz
24. Audi
25. Chevrolet
26. BMW
27. Mini
28. GMC
29. Saturn
30. Jeep
31. Dodge
32. Cadillac
33. Chrysler

[Allen K]

Not such a good showing for Lexus.

[1SICKLEX]

Originally Posted by Allen K

Not such a good showing for Lexus.

I see it this way. They are #1-#3 every year for 20 years. Number #7 is bad for LEXUS but GREAT for most everyone else. We have seen/heard some of the quality complaints so I can again see the credibility of this survey. I'm sure Lexus is hard at work to get back to #1. Their run was incredible at #1 or so....I see them rising in the future as the quirks are fixed with current models.

Scion is an amazing turnaround, they were among the WORST. Mitsubishi is kind of shocking, never seen them so high.

Sad to see Caddy so low the big 3 Germans all are in the rear...

There are vast differences between models. A new Honda Insight is 27 times less likely to have a problem than the biggest dog in the pack, the Volkswagen Touareg



lol

2008 results
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/car-...ty-survey.html

[Allen K]

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX

I see it this way. They are #1-#3 every year for 20 years. Number #7 is bad for LEXUS but GREAT for most everyone else. We have seen/heard some of the quality complaints so I can again see the credibility of this survey. I'm sure Lexus is hard at work to get back to #1. Their run was incredible at #1 or so....I see them rising in the future as the quirks are fixed with current models.

No shame in being #7, but like you said, we've been spoiled with #1-3 for too long

[mmarshall]

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX

Scion is an amazing turnaround, they were among the WORST.

When was Scion ever that bad? I sure don't remember it. Most Scions, except for the tC, were essentially redone Toyota Tercels, Echos, and Corollas.......some of the most reliable cars in the buisness.

If you want to see a REAL turnaround, it was Hyundai from late 90's to the early 2000's.

Mitsubishi is kind of shocking, never seen them so high.

As you and I both know, they are rather unimpressive and cheaply built, but their mechanicicals are not that bad. Older Mitsubushi engines often had upper-block problems starting around 80K miles, but not so much on newer ones.

There are vast differences between models. A new Honda Insight is 27 times less likely to have a problem than the biggest dog in the pack, the Volkswagen Touareg

The Insight is another example of a car that is rather cheaply built with unimpressive trim, but that, otherwise, has Swiss-Watch assembly quality...I noted that in my Insight review.

[huddleston]

very interesting. so much for all of the commercials from Ford!

[encore888]

Just to add, Lexus' CR recent rankings: 2008 #5, 2007 #5, 2006 #1, 2005 #2, 2004 #4, 2003 #1. According to http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...utomakers.html, the GS AWD was again an issue for Lexus: "The Lexus GS AWD is the only Toyota model with below average reliability." That model, which counted in the 2007, 2008, and 2009 years, has been a factor in each.

[1SICKLEX]

Originally Posted by encore888

Just to add, Lexus' CR recent rankings: 2008 #5, 2007 #5, 2006 #1, 2005 #2, 2004 #4, 2003 #1. According to http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...utomakers.html, the GS AWD was again an issue for Lexus: "The Lexus GS AWD is the only Toyota model with below average reliability." That model, which counted in the 2007, 2008, and 2009 years, has been a factor in each.

Whats odd is the 3GS forum has our share of threads with issues like any other forum but we haven't seen it solely with the AWD 300... I cannot sit here and say the GS 300 AWD is the one 3GS model that sticks out like a sore thumb. For instance the rattles some people have are all the early models and some other TSBs are all the models, not just the AWD one.

Odd

[CDNROCKIES]

Dammit...why did you post this? All the cars that I've been shopping recently are on here....and not in a good way. Q7, GL320 & 535xi??? Something new to consider.

[1SICKLEX]

Originally Posted by CDNROCKIES

Dammit...why did you post this? All the cars that I've been shopping recently are on here....and not in a good way. Q7, GL320 & 535xi??? Something new to consider.

Cross your fingers when you sign the paperwork

[bagwell]

....totally useless graphic now that "domestics" can be made outside the US and "imports" can(and are) made IN the US.

[bagwell]

these guys should all be embarrassed!!

Mercedes @ 23
Audi @ 24
BMW @ 26

[bad co]

Originally Posted by bagwell

these guys should all be embarrassed!!

Mercedes @ 23
Audi @ 24
BMW @ 26

Yes and no, MB has been bumping it's self up the list for a while but its not in the top 10 yet, but its getting there....

[MPLexus301]

At first, seeing Lexus ranked 7th almost made me choke, but glancing down the rest of the list makes 7th seem as attractive as first. Don't get me wrong - Lexus has room to improve - but don't forget that this study is looking at data that is 3 years old and we are still seeing some of those 2006 quality quibbles showing through in that timeframe. However, looking at the rest of the list and judging Lexus against it's rivals makes 7th place seem worthy of a trophy.

19 - Buick (Since Lexus is GM's target)
23 - Mercedes
24 - Audi
26 - BMW
32 - Cadillac
?? - Jaguar?

My initial reaction of shock for Lexus quickly turned to disbelief when considering the others. What happened to Mercedes alleged strides in reliability? And the improvement from Audi and BMW? Cadillac is just ridiculous...

[TRDFantasy]

Chrysler ranks dead last, sounds about right. Not only are most Chrysler vehicles hideous and uncompetitive, they are also unreliable. They can't even tout low price as a selling point anymore, as I would much rather get a Hyundai or Ford any day over a Chrysler.