Honda and Toyota Top Reliability Survey, but Ford Closes Gap

Consumer Reports has released results from its annual car reliability survey, which will be published in the December issue of the magazine.

According to the survey, Honda and Toyota continue to have the most reliable vehicles, but Ford is very close behind. The magazine said Ford’s performance in the survey “dispels the notion that only Japanese manufacturers make reliable cars.”

Leading the way for Ford were the 4-cylinder versions of the Fusion and its sibling, the Mercury Milan, which were judged to be more reliable than two old standbys, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Lincoln MKZ, a luxury version of the Fusion, also bests the Lexus ES and the Acura TL.

In fact, 90 percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the survey were found to have average or better-than-average predicted reliability. But all was not perfect in Blue Oval-land. The all-wheel-drive versions of the Lincoln MKS, MKX and MKZ all scored below average in reliability. And all-wheel-drive versions of the Ford Edge and Fusion were not as reliable as their front-wheel-drive versions either.

The annual Consumer Reports reliability ratings are based on a survey covering 1.4 million vehicles leased or owned by subscribers of Consumer Reports. The magazine averages the overall reliability scores for up to the most recent three model years if a model didn’t change in that period and didn’t change substantially for 2010. If a model is all-new or has been redesigned during that time, Consumer Reports may use one or two years of data. Conducted last spring, the current survey covers the 2000-9 model years.

The Honda Insight scored the highest of any vehicle in predicted reliability. And of the eight most reliable family cars, five were hybrids: Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Small cars and gas-electric hybrids also performed well. Twenty of the 37 small cars surveyed, including the Honda Fit, Scion xD and Volkswagen Golf, had above-average predicted reliability.

Among automakers over all, Honda was at the top, with every Honda and Acura vehicle surveyed having average or better-than-average predicted reliability.

Toyota and Lexus models were right behind, with 98 percent of the models surveyed having average-or-better predicted reliability. The Lexus GS was the one Toyota model with below-average reliability.

Consumer Reports said General Motors’ performance “shows some bright spots.” It found 20 of the 48 G.M. models surveyed had average predicted reliability. One star was the Chevrolet Malibu V-6, with a better-than-average score. The magazine said it “is on par with the most reliable family sedans.”

The news was not so good for Chrysler, which the magazine said “continues to struggle.” It also noted that more than one-third of Chrysler products “are much worse than average, including its new car-based S.U.V., the Dodge Journey.” Last year Consumer Reports could not recommend any Chrysler products. This year it is recommending one: the 4-wheel-drive version of the redesigned Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, which rates average in reliability.

Mercedes-Benz significantly improved, the magazine said, “with most models average or better.”
Also, the diesel version of Volkswagen’s Jetta is the only diesel of those surveyed that Consumer Reports recommends.

Among Hyundai and Kia vehicles, models getting top scores were the Hyundai Elantra and Tucson as well as the Kia Sportage.

Source;
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/honda-and-toyota-top-reliability-survey-but-ford-closes-gap/