Consumer Reports 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey – Who’s up and who’s down

Ford has secured its position as the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability, according to Consumer Reports’ 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey. About 90 percent (46 of 51) of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products were found to have average or better reliability. The results now available online in the car types pages, new car selector, and on the model overview pages—all available to online subscribers.
 
Ford’s sustained production of vehicles that are as dependable—or better than—some of the industry’s best dispels the notion that only Japanese manufacturers make reliable cars. Other than the Toyota Prius, the reliability of the four-cylinder Fusion and Milan ranks higher than that of any other family sedan. Both of those Ford Motor Company products continue to beat the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, while the upscale Lincoln MKZ tops its rivals, the Acura TL and Lexus ES.
 
The findings are based on responses on 1.4 million vehicles owned or leased by subscribers to Consumer Reports or its Web site—the biggest response in the Annual Auto Survey’s history. Consumer Reports’ expert team of statisticians and automotive engineers used the survey data to predict reliability of new 2010 models. Predicted reliability is CR’s forecast of how well models currently on sale are likely to hold up. 
 
Other key findings:

The Lin­coln division has had mixed results: some models score below their Ford equivalents. All-wheel-drive versions of the Lincoln MKS, MKX, and MKZ are below average.
 
The least reliable vehicle, the Volk­swagen Touareg, is 27 times more likely to have a problem than the most reliable car, the Honda Insight.
 
Twenty of 37 small cars have above-average predicted-reliabil­ity including the Honda Fit, Scion xD and Volkswagen Golf.
 
Even good brands falter. Among the least reliable vehicles in their respective classes are the all-wheel-drive Lexus GS, the Nissan Versa sedan, and the Subaru Impreza WRX. The Lexus GS AWD is the only Toyota mod­el with below average reliability.
 
Some newer GM products are bright spots. Overall 20 of the 48 GM models Consumer Reports surveyed have aver­age reliability scores. (GM has a number of strong contenders either just released or in the pipeline, but they are too new for CR to have reliability data on them.)
 
More than one-third of Chrysler products are much worse than average, including its new car-based SUV, the Dodge Journey. Last year, Consumers Reports couldn’t Recom­mend any of its products either because of mediocre performance, poor reliability scores, or both. However, this year CR can rec­ommend: the four-wheel-drive ver­sion of the redesigned Dodge Ram 1500 pickup.
 
Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 are Asian—Toyota ac­counts for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each.

With only a few exceptions, Japanese vehicles are consistently good. All Honda and Acura products have average or above average reliability.

Hyundai and Kia continue to make reliable cars. The Hyundai Elantra and Tucson, and the Kia Sportage get top marks. Only Kia’s Sedona minivan and Sorento SUV score below average.

European brands continue to improve. Mercedes-Benz has significantly rebound­ed, with most models average or better. Scores from rival BMW are more mixed.

Volkswagen and Audi are also staging a nice reliability recovery. The Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf) and the new CC earn top scores.

Porsche has one serious hic­cup this year: The Boxster drops to below average, which strikes it from Consumer Reports Recom­mended list. But the Cayenne SUV im­proved to average.

Full reliability history charts and predicted-reliability ratings on hundreds of 2010 models, plus a list of what’s up and what’s down, best and worst models, and a comparison chart of brands can be found online in the Guide to Reliability, in the December issue of Consumer Reports, and in the latest Consumer Reports Cars publication, Best & Worst for 2010 on sale November 17, 2009, everywhere magazines are sold.

Comments

[Paul Rivers]

I don't understand why new reliablity rankings make the old rankings fluctuate so much. For example, a few months ago the 2009 Subaru Forester was rated "Average" for reliability. Now it's rated "Much better than average", despite being the same model year??

[Dave Harris]

I work as a Service Writer with 6 years experience in that position, and 7 years prior experience in the Aerospace Industry and 17 years in the Railroad Industry. I would like to think I can recognize a quality product when I find one, and from my current position, the quality and dependability of Ford Motor Company's current line up of cars and trucks are world-class and take a back seat to no other manufacturer........even the Asian offerings. Ford, led by Alan Mulally (CEO) and William Ford and all 201,000 of their employees have succeeded in producing a great product. My hat is off to them and I wish them continued success, not only for Ford, but for the automotive consumer and our economic recovery as well.
Dave

[Kelly]

Why is the Prius classified as a family vehicle? It's direct competitor, the Insight is a small car. What, didn't CR want to directly compare the two vehicles--lest someone be left out of the rankings? Let's get real CR--the Prius is NOT a family vehicle unless we want to reclassify all C-sized cars as family vehicles.

[Chris]

The Prius is NOT a sedan, it's a hatchback. It outrages me to see a Hatchback called a Sedan and compared to Family Sedans. The Volkswagen Jetta is a family sedan, the Honda Accord is a family Sedan, the Prius is a Hatchback and should be compared to the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta Sportwagen, Honda Insight (current model) and Subaru Legacy/Forester.

That stated, I've owned Volkswagen cars since 2002, and my current vehicle is a 2006 Jetta TDI. I have to say the quality control has improved much since 2002 with Volkswagen. The only peeling component on this car is an area on my driver door, on the outside, it had this vinyl coating that has peeled a little bit. Not worried about it, it's cosmetic and not functional. The interior components look new, despite 100,000 miles in 3 years time use. The fuel economy and power of the 100HP Diesel engine is also very nice, they've got a winning combination there.

I would like to see a Subaru Forester with their diesel engine and a manual transmission sold here.

[Wolverine]

What I don't get is how the Fusion Hybrid and Insight are rated despite the fact they have been in the road less than a year, and in very small numbers. That's not a very good database.

[RagnarRock]

1996 Ford Windstar:
1 - Check engine light - all the time after 80,000 miles
2 - Transmission burned up = $2100
3 - A/C eat iself up = $1900
4 - Speedometer gyrated then finally the cable snapped (the only vehicle I have owned or operated that did this!)
5 - Passenger door window stopped working.
6 - EGR pipe rubber elbow melted ($85) causing check engine light.
7 - 2 Rear van electric operated vent windows worked for less than 10000 miles got stuck and would never move again - heck we quit thinking it existed!
8 - OEM Motorcraft battery died and dealer replaced with less than 26000 miles/ 20 months.

I was so thankful that my son totaled that monster nickel and dime FORD! I gave him $100 for the favor.
I'd rather have H1N1, HIV, cancer, etc. before I would own and operate another FORD! I'll shoot myself than endure the agony.

[Nick]

RagnarRock,

I am sorry you had a poor experience with Ford. It has been almost 15 years since your Windstar, and Ford has made many strides in the 15 years. Ford is now at or better quality in all small and mid-size segments. If quality and safety isn't enough, IMO Ford has the best technology in each segment (top rated navigation, SYNC, Blind Spot Radar, Rear view camera, Stabilitrak, traction control, adaptive headlights, keyless entry and start, 911 assist, traffic awareness via SYNC, Premium 12 speaker sound systems (and this is just in the Fusion). If you want to talk design, IMO Ford has the best design in both the exterior and interior. The C/CD/D segments (Focus, Fusion, Taurus) beat all the Asian equiv. Again, sorry that you had such a poor experience, but I will ask when was the last time you were in a dealership? A lot has happened in 15 years.

[Sjones]

If this data was collected in the spring how could vehicles like the Venza and Insight be rated as reliable? Anyone responding to a survey for those vehicles (and there weren't likely many) couldn't have had the car for more than a month or two. Why doesn't CR tell us how many responces are necessary to be considered an adequate sample size?