Consumer Reports Magazine Reliability Surprises

[c7scayman]

I read the Consumer Reports magazine at Barnes & Noble Saturday night. It looked at 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 data.

I know Ford is made fun of for being unreliable, but I thought the European Ford's were good cars. I guess not. The Toyobaru was also a surprise.

Least Reliable compact crossover: Ford Escape
Least Reliable sports car: Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ
Least Reliable Sub Compact Car: Ford Fiesta, Sentra was 2nd worst.
Least Reliable Compact Car: Ford Focus
Least Reliable Full Size Pick Up Truck: Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500.
Least Reliable Midsized Sedan: Nissan Altima V6 (4 cylinder model was 2nd worst)
Least Reliable Sub-Compact Car: Fiat 500
Least Reliable Hybrid: Ford C-Max

Most Reliable sports car went to Honda Civic Si, with the Mazda MX-5 in 2nd place.

As for brand reliability, the usual's were in the top 5. Toyota/Lexus, Mazda, Honda, Subaru.

Buick was awarded the title of most reliable American brand.

Most reliable compact crossovers went to Subaru Forester and Mazda CX-5.

Another surprise:
The Toyota Rav4 fell down the list. The 2005-2012 models have several unresolved recalls related to the rear suspension and steering column and they are having engine failure around 100,000 miles due to rapid oil burning and gasket issues. The 2013-2015 model has some carry over parts so I'm curious to see if it will be reliable.

[akley88]

the altima one doesnt surprise me. there are 30 or so owners for 2013+, mostly 13s, that have had buy backs or had their transmissions replaced. My 14 hasnt had any issues yet.

[Big_Jim]

Im not surprised about the engine issues in the RAV4. That motor is the same that's in the 2nd gen Scion xB (08-current) and people have been numerous oil burning issues.

[mckpat03]

How reliable are these reliability reports, in reality? I was talking to a friend about a certain car that I would love to own sometime. One of the selling points is how they're supposed to be super reliable. My friend said he did recalls (or TSBs or whatever) on them all the time, which is contrary to everything else I had heard. Then he says, with a laugh, "It was all just for floor mats or similarly stupid stuff."

[Bates]

Most Reliable sports car went to Honda Civic Si

Da fuq?

[c7scayman]

Originally Posted by Bates

Most Reliable sports car went to Honda Civic Si

Da fuq?

To elaborate. It actually said Most Reliable Sports/Sporty Cars.

I just types sports car because it was faster to type.

[c7scayman]

Originally Posted by mckpat03

How reliable are these reliability reports, in reality?

Well they get their data from us, the consumers, so I assume it is accurate, but I still wouldn't follow it because it does not consider other factors, like people and environment. That also affects reliability. Hot vs cold. Female vs male., Old drivers vs young drivers. People who follow the maintenance schedule and those who don't, speeders vs slow drivers, construction sites and pot holes vs clean air and smooth roads.

[JST2KWIK]

Originally Posted by Bates

Most Reliable sports car went to Honda Civic Si

Da fuq?

Well if you are driving in reverse, the Civic SI could technically be considered a 200hp RWD, rear engine Porsche Boxster fighter

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Originally Posted by Big_Jim

Im not surprised about the engine issues in the RAV4. That motor is the same that's in the 2nd gen Scion xB (08-current) and people have been numerous oil burning issues.

I "think" they fixed it on the XB after 2009 and issued a TSB to replace the pistons and ring lands with newly designed ones.