Ford continues to fall while seven
Japanese brands top our list
Only two years ago,
Ford was Detroit’s poster child for reliability. It cracked the top 10 among
brands in our predicted-reliability scores, with more than 90 percent of its
models being average or better. Since then, a perfect storm of reliability scores,
with more than 90 percent of its models being average or better. Since then, a
perfect storm of reliability problems has dropped Ford to next to last among
the 28 brands in our survey. And Lincoln, Ford’s luxury brand, placed just a
notch higher.
Toyota prius C
Toyota, on the other
hand, excelled in our latest ratings. Its three brands - Scion, Toyota, and
Lexus-swept the top spots. They were followed by four other Japanese makes:
Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura. All of the models produced by the top seven
brands had average or better reliability. And of the 90 Japanese models
reflected in our brand comparison, 86 were average or better, with 35 earning
the highest rating.
Audi A7
Those findings from
our 2012 Annual Auto Survey are based on subscribers’ experiences with 1.2
million vehicles. We use that extensive data to predict how well new cars that
are currently on sale will hold up.
Several factors
contributed to Ford’s decline. A few new or redesigned models, including the
Explorer, Fiesta, and Focus, came out of the gate with more problems than
normal. Ford has also added the MyFord/MyLincoln Touch electronic infotainment
system, which has been problematic so far, to many vehicles. In addition, three
historically reliable models – the Ford Escape and Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ-
are not included in the analysis. They were redesigned for 2013, and we don’t
know how the new versions will fare.
Cadillac CTS
Other highlights from
our survey:
·
The
subcompact Toyota Prius C earned our top score, and the worst score went to the
V6, four-wheel-drive Ford Explorer, Other Prius versions- the hatchback, V
wagon, and new Plug-in hybrid- were also above average.
·
Cadillac
is the top U.S. brand, having moved up 14 spots this year. Its CTS coupe was
the most reliable domestic car.
·
Mazda
is hot on the trail of the three Toyota brands, and its improvement is buoyed
by the predicted-reliability score for the new 2013 CX-5 SUV, which was much
better than average.
·
Audi
had its best showing ever, moving up 18 spots to eighth place, making it easily
the most reliable European make, and the top non-Japanese brand.
·
Nissan’s
Leaf, the first all-electric car in our survey, earned a top reliability score.
·
Jaguar,
with two models in our survey continued to rank at the bottom
2013 Mazda CX-5
How did we do?
85% of the 2012 models
that we predicted would have average or better reliability actually do. As for
our misses, we find that subscribers can give us a better idea of how reliable
a models is after it has been on the market for a couple of years.
Big three’s mixed bag
Ford’s bumpy road is
evident in the numbers. Sixty percent of Ford-branded models and half of
Lincolns were below average in predicted reliability, and none placed above.
Only two Lincoln models, the MKS and the Navigator, reached average.
Not all of Ford’s
problems are shared by its domestic counterparts. The General Motors nameplates
– Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC-moved up in ranking. Cadillac climbed the
farthest, but the best news might be from Chevrolet. The Volt extended-range
electric car continues to have above-average reliability, and the compact
Chevrolet Cruze, dismal I nits first year, improved to average.
Chevrolet Cruze
Chrysler brans had a
few setbacks. Unlike last year, we now have sufficient data for some recently
revamped Chrysler and Dodge models, and their problems have dragged the
nameplates’ ranking down some. The Dodge Charger, for example, returns with
well-below-average reliability. Other models had ups and downs. The V6 version
of the Chrysler 300 sedan, with an average rating, is now the brand’s most
reliable models, and the V8 300 is its worst. Likewise, the V6 Jeep Grand
Cherokee scores average and the V8 is now below par. The differences stem from
the alternative powertrains and the extra features found in higher-priced
versions.
The V6 version of the Chrysler 300
sedan, with an average rating, is now the brand’s most reliable models
Separating its trucks
into a new name-plate, Ram, didn’t help Dodge’s standing. And Fiat’s 500
debuted with average reliability in its first year in the U.S.
Japanese models are tops.
Toyota is clearly
setting the pace in reliability. Of 27 models in the brand’s lineup, 16 earned
the highest rating.
Subaru also improved
its standing, with its redesigned Impreza debuting with top marks and none of
its models scoring below average. Honda dropped one spot in the ranking, to
sixth place, but its worst vehicle, the Odyssey minivan, improved from average
to average.
Subaru also improved its standing, with
its redesigned Impreza debuting with top marks and none of its models scoring
below average.
Nissan and its
Infiniti luxury brand performed well overall, but a few models kept them from
ranking with the other Japanese nameplates. Nissan’s Versa sedan, redesigned
for 2012, was much worse than average, as was the large Armada SUV. The Titan
pickup truck was also below par. Of the seven Infiniti models, only the
convertible version of the G scored below average.
Germans lead Europe
All of the German
luxury brands improved. Six of the seven Audis in our survey rated average or
better, as did 10 of the 12 BMWs. But the high-end BMW 7 Series and the
turbocharged six-cylinder version of the X3 SUV were much worse than average.
Mercedes-Benz made a good showing, with the turbocharged, four-cylinder C250
sedan doing well in its first years and the V6 E-Class sedan moving form
average to above average. But the redesigned M-Class came in below average in its
first year.
Six of the seven Audis in our survey
rated average or better, as did 10 of the 12 BMWs
Volkswagen was a mix.
The redesigned Passat did well, and the CC, Eos, and diesel Jetta sedan
improved. But the redesigned Beetle, four- and five – cylinder gasoline Jetta,
sporty GTI, and Touareg SUV were below average. Volvo, which ranked highest
among European brands last year, dropped 10 places, hurt by declining cores for
the C30 hatchback and C70 convertible and a below – average showing for the
aging XC90 SUV.
