Toyota hit hard by new Consumer Reports predicted reliability ratings

UPDATE: Read Toyota's response to Consumer Reports

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]

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.