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Reliability ratings for cars are important stats for customers to have when looking at buying a new or used car, but can vary greatly depending on the source. While Consumer Reports uses customer feedback that can be somewhat subjective but encompassing of the entire car (including elements not necessarily involved with reliability), CarMD can more objectively (in theory) measure a car's reliability with its Vehicle Health Index. The index uses data based on problems associated with check engine codes, as well as the average costs to repair these problems.

In just the second year of its study, CarMD found that Toyota (including Scion and Lexus) has once again held its ground as the most reliable automaker having the fewest issues that would set a check engine light. Likewise, Hyundai stays at the runner up spot. BMW sits in the third spot after not being named to the list at all last year. Honda and Volkswagen round out the top five. In terms of cost to repair, it isn't that surprising that BMW has the most expensive repair costs at an average of $502.48, but we were definitely surprised to see Toyota listed in the two spot with average repairs of $490.72. American automakers General Motors and Ford dropped out of the top five to the eight and nine spots, respectively.

Overall, the most reliable car on the list is the 2010 Toyota Corolla just barely ahead of the 2008 Ford Taurus and the 2008 Toyota Yaris. Of the top 100 cars, 16 of them were Toyotas with Ford following close behind with 15 cars on the list. Ford did take the top spot when it in the truck category and Subaru was named the best in the wagon and crossover SUV category. The study even breaks down the top five causes for a check engine light by automaker.

Scroll down for the official press release, and be sure to check out the full CarMD reliability study.

Continue reading CarMD releases entirely objective reliability rankings

CarMD releases entirely objective reliability rankings originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/03/carmd-deciphers-the-check-engine-light-with-first-annual-vehic/

Is your Check Engine light staring you in the face? That bright orange warning serves as a beacon that something is wrong. Problem is, it doesn't convey anything more than that. For years, the prime culprit of an illuminated CEL has been a loose gas cap. In fact, according to CarMD.com, the gas cap has ranked as number one on the CEL hit list for the last 12 years. Recently, however, it seems people are either giving their gas caps an extra twist or the Check Engine Light has had enough because the new CEL king is the engine misfire.

CarMD has an extensive database of Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC), which date back to the 1996 introduction of mandated on-board diagnostic technology. Now, CarMD is using that data to shed some light on the oft-misunderstood Check Engine light, and it's produced its first-ever Annual Vehicle Health Index Report.

Set to be released each April, the Vehicle Health Index Report examines the most common repairs or fixes required as a result of CEL warnings. The gas cap has fallen to number two on that list, while replacement of the O2 sensor has risen to the top spot. Taking home third place is the always-expensive DTC that alerts you to replace your catalytic converter.

Click past the jump to read the full press release from CarMD.com, and to glean more insight into what our Check Engine lights are telling us. Unless, of course, you own a Volkswagen from the mid '90s, in which case you should simply get a piece of black tape and cover up the CEL because it's always on.

Continue reading CarMD's Vehicle Health Index deciphers the 'check engine' light

CarMD's Vehicle Health Index deciphers the 'check engine' light originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 May 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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