Consumer Reports: 2010 Reliability scores as predictable as Asian cars are... reliabl

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Filed under: Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo

Consumer Reports has released its annual reliability scores for the automotive industry. The 2010 edition reads like the 2009 report... which reads like the 2008 publication, which reminds us of the 2007 version that was similar to the 2006 release. Asia is once again at the head of the class while America has reportedly made great strides and Germany is a mixed bag.

Even with a recent rash of recalls, Toyota (along with Scion and Lexus) is still near near the top of CR's reliability chart. Honda and Acura are also listed as producing highly reliable vehicles, with only the four-cylinder Accord and TSX receiving average ratings. Nissan had a strong showing despite the fact that its Cube, in the first year it has appeared in this report, received a below average score. The Nissan Titan was also hit as being below average. The rest of the lineup however, was rated average or better, including the entire Infiniti model line. Subaru, Hyundai and Kia all had good scores as well, with only Subie's WRX falling below average.

The U.S. automakers made major improvements for 2010. Eighty-three percent of the Chevrolet lineup received scores of average or better. In total, nearly 70 percent of the entire General Motors family is rated at average or better. Ford is the top domestic manufacturer on the list though, with 90 percent of its lineup being given ratings of at least average. That figure is inclusive of the Lincoln brand. It's not all good news in the states unfortunately as none of the Chrysler products were able to receive a rating higher than average.

Reliability for European cars has always been an journey filled with ups and downs. The 2010 reliability scores are no exception. Porsche and Volvo are near the top of the industry while Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi are among the worst. BMW was certainly not helped by its N54 engine, Mercedes has six of 13 models receiving below average ratings and Audi got the same ratings for 75 percent of its lineup. On the flip side, the Porsche Boxster has the highest rated reliability in the entirety of the report.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

[Source: Consumer Reports]Continue reading Consumer Reports: 2010 Reliability scores as predictable as Asian cars are... reliable

Consumer Reports: 2010 Reliability scores as predictable as Asian cars are... reliable originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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[derf]

This "predicted reliability" score is really quite a joke. The biggest problem with it is that it's an opinion survey of subscribers. From a real statistical analysis perspective, the ratings have no merit whatsoever. The sampling pool is all from a specific classification of people (i.e. subscribers to the magazine who choose to respond to the survey) and their bias, if any, cannot be predicted and discounted. There needs to be far more people from a more diverse pool to get any kind of accurate prediction.

Not only that, there are discussions about self imposed peer pressure affecting the survey results. People who buy a brand for its predicted reliability can either overlook problems and justify to themselves that it's just one car but the brand is still reliable or they can be afraid of giving an honest opinion that negatively hurts a brand that they are told is reliable. Likewise, a brand that does not have a fantastic reputation in the first place may drive individuals to go overborad in describing how bad an average car is.

In order for there to be a useful "predicted reliability" score assigned to brands and cars, Consumer Reports needs to toss out the opinion survey altogether and replace it with a study of warranty claims and repair records on all cars made. The manufacturers have the records. Unfortunately, they're not likely to release them for a variety of reasons.

In the end, lemmings will keep believing what they are told to believe and keep reporting it to the magazine so they can keep reporting it so people know what to believe...