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U.S. Cars Reported to Gain in Reliability
Monday March 8, 6:36 pm ET
By John Porretto, AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) -- For the first time in a quarter century, U.S. carmakers can say they make more reliable cars than their competitors in Europe. Asian manufacturers still hold top bragging rights, however.
The consumer survey in Consumer Reports' 2004 auto issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday, showed imports still outscoring domestically built cars in owner satisfaction.
But on the issue of reliability, cars and trucks from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group topped those made in Europe -- something that hasn't happened in 25 years, the publication said.
"To our subscribers and to many people, reliability is what they're looking for," David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test staff, said Monday in a conference call. "The domestics are making tremendous progress in putting to bed a lot of the problems they were stuck with."
Consumer Reports, known for its scrutiny of products, sent questionnaires to 4.1 million subscribers of its magazine and Web site, seeking insight on vehicles they own.
Reliability trends are based on 675,000 responses. Consumer Reports asked subscribers to report problems in any of 14 areas, such as engine or electrical trouble, for vehicles up to eight years old.
For the 2003 model year, the industry average was 17 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 18 in the 2002 survey.
The survey revealed that among cars and trucks less than a year old, the average problem rate for European brands was 20 per 100 vehicles -- two more than domestic brands.
Last year, U.S. and European automakers were tied at 21 problems per 100 vehicles less than a year old.
The problem rate for the newest models from Japanese and Korean automakers held steady year-over-year at 12 per 100 vehicles. The magazine said vehicles from Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda and Toyota have been the most reliable over the past five years.
Among European brands, all models from Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover were rated below average in the survey.
In owner satisfaction, Asian and European brands filled all but three of 33 slots in Consumer Reports' list of "most satisfying" vehicles. The list was based on responses from 226,000 subscribers.
Consumer Reports said it also gave an "excellent" overall safety rating in the new issue to 21 sedans, up from nine three years ago. The number of sport utility vehicles with an excellent rating rose to 11 from only two during the same period.
Full Story Here
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Monday March 8, 6:36 pm ET
By John Porretto, AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) -- For the first time in a quarter century, U.S. carmakers can say they make more reliable cars than their competitors in Europe. Asian manufacturers still hold top bragging rights, however.
The consumer survey in Consumer Reports' 2004 auto issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday, showed imports still outscoring domestically built cars in owner satisfaction.
But on the issue of reliability, cars and trucks from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group topped those made in Europe -- something that hasn't happened in 25 years, the publication said.
"To our subscribers and to many people, reliability is what they're looking for," David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test staff, said Monday in a conference call. "The domestics are making tremendous progress in putting to bed a lot of the problems they were stuck with."
Consumer Reports, known for its scrutiny of products, sent questionnaires to 4.1 million subscribers of its magazine and Web site, seeking insight on vehicles they own.
Reliability trends are based on 675,000 responses. Consumer Reports asked subscribers to report problems in any of 14 areas, such as engine or electrical trouble, for vehicles up to eight years old.
For the 2003 model year, the industry average was 17 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 18 in the 2002 survey.
The survey revealed that among cars and trucks less than a year old, the average problem rate for European brands was 20 per 100 vehicles -- two more than domestic brands.
Last year, U.S. and European automakers were tied at 21 problems per 100 vehicles less than a year old.
The problem rate for the newest models from Japanese and Korean automakers held steady year-over-year at 12 per 100 vehicles. The magazine said vehicles from Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda and Toyota have been the most reliable over the past five years.
Among European brands, all models from Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Jaguar and Land Rover were rated below average in the survey.
In owner satisfaction, Asian and European brands filled all but three of 33 slots in Consumer Reports' list of "most satisfying" vehicles. The list was based on responses from 226,000 subscribers.
Consumer Reports said it also gave an "excellent" overall safety rating in the new issue to 21 sedans, up from nine three years ago. The number of sport utility vehicles with an excellent rating rose to 11 from only two during the same period.
Full Story Here
