Toyota hit hard by new Consumer Reports predicted reliability ratings
UPDATE: Read Toyota's response to Consumer Reports here.
So you thought Consumer Reports was biased in favor of imports, did you? Tuesday's release of CR's 2007 Annual Car Reliability Survey suggests otherwise, as the Toyota Camry V6, Tundra V8 4WD and Lexus GS AWD were all bumped from the magazine's vaunted "Recommended" list for receiving below average ratings. This news also has farther reaching effects, as CR will no longer recommend new or redesigned Toyotas based solely on the automaker's past reliability, a practice for which we dinged them back in August.
Meanwhile, Ford did very well in the new survey, with 41 out of 44 of its products scoring average or better in predicted reliability. Plus, the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Ford F-150 V6 2WD were three of the only four domestic models that earned the label of "Most Reliable".
Follow the jump to find out which other brands made quality gains in the eyes of CR subscribers.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Gallery: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited
Gallery: 2008 Lexus GS 460/350
Overall, however, Consumer Reports states on its blog that U.S. automakers still have a way to go, with 20 out of 44 models on the "Least Reliable" list belonging to domestic automakers. The European brands including Audi, BMW, Volvo, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, are seeing improvements with specific models like the Audi A3, A4 and A6; BMW 3-, 5- and 7-Series, the Volvo S60 and Porsche 911 all earning above average ratings.
Love 'em or hate 'em, disagree with their testing and survey practices or not, but there's no denying that Consumer Reports holds a lot of sway with potential car buyers. Tuesday's news will surely be felt by Toyota at some level. The company has long enjoyed an unquestioned reign of superior quality that may be coming to an end soon.
For more results from CR's survey, click the Read link below, but for the full results you'll need to be a subscriber.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
craig g 7:51PM (4/21/2008)
I have a 2002 toyota tacoma which was a super clean truck until the eng. blown up on me with less than 75,000 miles.I always thought they were good trucks.Buyers beware,I always thought I would get good life from this truck, but I was wrong!
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craig g 8:05PM (4/21/2008)
I agree with you about toyota's I'll never buy one again!
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Mike 1:31PM (7/12/2008)
The truth is, there are cars who go 200k miles easy with no real big issues, even cars that they give bad ratings(GM,FORD and many other American automobiles). There is no such thing as a bulletproof car. Most of us defend what we like or what we drive, so there is no such thing as "THE BEST" car. All automakers have their share of issues just read online forums, so saying that Toyotas are the best cars is an OPINION which some try to make a FACT. I own a 2001 Lexus ES300 with a bad engine and if you read online it was a bad engine design, Toyota is paying for repairs becuase of the flaw. I know Toyotas are reliable cars but they are VERY much over rated. When you are so in a rush to be labled as the #1 automaker of course your quality falls a little and some problems rise. So to say that people are anti-Toyota because they say anything negative about Toyota, is very childish. I can with all honesty say that I am speaking because I drive a Toyota product and know. I know that personally, I will never buy another Toyota product again and im selling my Lexus as soon as its repaired.
By the way this car has had all the oil changes on time and has not been driving hard at all(for the ones who may say it was my fault).This is the link to prove my point.....www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_engine.html
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Marla 4:44PM (2/03/2009)
Just on the Internet looking for information on new model Toyotas and their reliability. I have an '09 Matrix with 21,000 miles. It has been making a noise while braking ever since 10,000 miles or so. At 15,500 miles I took it to the dealer in Temecula, CA where they told me I had 80% left, approx. 7MM of brake pads remaining. The braking sound (hard braking or on a hill...not normal road daily braking)...had gotten worse. Today, at 21,000 miles, I took it in to my local dealer. First, I was told that the front brakes were completely worn down almost "metal to metal." Frustrated, for several obvious reasons, I asked to speak to the manager. The manager told me that this is a wear item and that they'd give me a $30 discount and do my brakes for $169.99, but that was all he could do. I've had almost every Toyota they make (and drive the same I assume :)... and have never had this problem. Just frustrated at the quality.
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Ryan 1:31PM (10/16/2007)
I always said Mercury's and Ford's were Awesome and Reliable automobiles!!!!!
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LeRobert 1:33PM (10/16/2007)
You are deluded, sir.
Ryan 1:35PM (10/16/2007)
Well I appreciate that.
Mondo 1:36PM (10/16/2007)
You're joking right? RIGHT??
If not I have a '99 Escort ZX2 that would like to speak with you but you'll have to come to her gravesite since she died years ago.
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 1:39PM (10/16/2007)
I'll stand by you Ryan. 4 Fords with over 100K miles and no mechanical problems, I'd have to agree with you.
Just some of the fit and finish needs work.
Strongbadinator 4:21PM (10/16/2007)
Wow a WHOLE 100 thousand miles! Golly gee, that sure is a lot of miles. You should talk to my 89 honda with 257,000 miles original engine transmission with no problems whatsoever. Or my 192,000 mile subaru.
>rolls eyes<
Even rental cars can hit 100k miles.
Elliott 3:11PM (10/16/2007)
If you replace "I always said" with, "I've been saying for the last 18 months", then I'll agree with Ryan.
Azrael4h 7:49PM (10/16/2007)
I'll answer the Honda with my grandfather's old '92 Ford Ranger, which he sold with 270,000 on the clock. I'd have to ask my cousin, who bought it, how many miles it currently has on it.
I'll raise you with my brother's last Ranger, a '96 which had 290,000+ when he got it (ok, he got it in payment for some work he did). He only kept it a while, but since his Nissan is a POS, the Ranger ended up absorbing more miles during the brief time he owned it than he was willing to trust the Nissan to. Only issues were with the tires, which he never could find a decent tire at a junk yard and thus generally had to deal with repeat flats.
All that, and I hate Fords. I'm getting nicer in my old age.
Judy Zik 7:16PM (10/16/2007)
1998 Ford Windstar in the family with over 300,000kms on original engine, transmission, paint and even a/c. Driven through 10 Canadian winters and never been stuck on the side of the road. My sister still has a 1996 Escort with original engine, transmission. Not bad considering they were made before Ford really stepped up the quality. The older Fords didn't drive as nice or have the same fit and finish. Now they are getting the whole package together. I would buy a 2008 Ford.
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 9:37PM (10/16/2007)
The only reason I said 100K is because the Focus is still a young vehicle.
a 96 escort with 187K and a f150 with 240K are part of those 4.
congrats on the burban and honda though.
fish 8:23PM (10/20/2007)
I work in a garage and we have replaced well over 100 ford ball joints this year, about half that on GM`s and none on toyotas, none on nissians and 1 on a honda. If you own a ford please have your front end checked.
Albert 10:00PM (10/20/2007)
I agree with you Ryan as I have a 1993 Tempo, 4 door GL with all the bells and whistles. It now has 214,00 miles on it. The car still drives and runs like it did when I bought it in 1994. I also have a 1993 Ford Ranger Splash with over 200,000 miles on it and it runs great.
Albert 9:57PM (10/20/2007)
I agree with you Ryan as I have a 1993 Tempo, 4 door GL with all the bells and whistles. It now has 214,00 miles on it. The car still drives and runs like it did when I bought it in 1994. I also have a 1993 Ford Ranger Splash with over 200,000 miles on it and it runs great.
v-man mopar nut 3:01AM (10/21/2007)
The lesser ratings on Toyota products apply only to those built in the USA...!
Darn NAFTA...
Tony 3:22AM (10/21/2007)
You got to be kidding me . Ford and Mercury are not good cars .
Toyota, Honda and Nissan make the best cars .
Foreign cars last a lifetime .
American cars barely get to a 100,000 miles before breaking down completely.
TriShield 1:33PM (10/16/2007)
No surprises here. It's no secret Toyota's quality has been suffering lately as the company has grown by leaps and bounds. Toyota may find that being number one isn't all it's cracked up to be.
As for CU, I've always valued their automotive reviews and reliability studies even if I didn't necessarily agree with them. They rate cars from the perspective of most American buyers, practicality, comfort and reliability from point A to B in daily use. It's good for most people to know what models excel and what models do not. Even if that prompts knee-jerk hatred from enthusiasts or brand fanboys.
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