Consumer Reports: Honda, Toyota Still Tops in Reliability; GM Improves

Consumer Reports: Honda, Toyota Still Tops in Reliability; GM Improves

Consumer Reports magazine revealed the results of its 2010 reliability survey Tuesday and here's the upshot:

- Toyota, despite numerous large recalls, and, to an even greater degree, Honda reign supreme in reliability.

- General Motors, which shed its debt in bankruptcy along with problem-plagued brands, showed vast improvement, especially with its newest models.

- Ford, on a continuous improvement path for the past half-dozen years, showed more incremental improvement.

- Hyundai and Kia is making "extraordinary" progress.

- Chrysler still trails everyone.

- European automakers fell off a cliff in reliability.

GM: Major Gains in Reliability

"The big news this year is how well GM has done," David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center told the Automotive Press Association in Detroit in revealing the survey results of 1.3 million vehicle owners.

Of all GM vehicles, 69 percent now achieve average or better than average reliability, up from 43 percent a year ago. Cadillac improved the most, rising seven places from last year's rankings. Chevrolet, GM's volume leader, had 83 percent rated as average or better, up from 50 percent a year ago.

Champion noted that the newer models are doing the job for GM. The Buick LaCrosse had above average reliability in its first year. "It's easier to continue to be reliable if a vehicle starts out reliable."

The Chevrolet Equinox also fared well. Oddly, however, the nearly identical GMC Terrain did not, an oddity that Champion could not explain.

Champion said GM ditching Saturn, Pontiac and Hummer, brand with problem-plagued models, helped it overall. "But older vehicles are still holding GM back," he added.

Ford: More Continuous Improvement

Ford is the one domestic manufacturer that still dominates in terms of reliability, said Champion, noting the automaker has made incremental improvements year after year for the past half-dozen years. Of all Fords (and Lincolns) sold, 90 percent rate as average or above average reliability, outdoing Mazda and Nissan and putting Ford just below Lexus.

Ford's new vehicles are reliable "right out of the gate" putting Ford overall where Toyota is, Champion said.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid took the No. 1 spot for family cars. The Fusion is the most reliable midsize sedan again in 2010, more reliable than Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. In fact, the Honda Accord ranked just behind the Fusion, the Camry took a distant third with the Chevrolet Malibu immediately behind the Camry.

The Ford Flex, equipped with the EcoBoost, was first among large SUVs for reliability. The Ford F-150 was the most reliable domestic pickup truck. The Ford Mustang was above average.

Champion, however, seemed to caution that Ford could face reliability challenges with European developed vehicles like the new Ford Fiesta and the upcoming Ford Focus.

"Ford is doing well at the moment but we'll see what happens with the Euro-based vehicles," he said.

Chrysler: Trailing the Pack

"Chrysler hasn't really improved," said Champion. "It's product line is dated and is not very competitive."

More than half of Chrysler vehicles rate below average in reliability. The sole "bright spot" is the Ram 1500, the only Chrysler vehicle on Consumer Reports' recommended list.

However, Champion is optimistic. Having recently tested some of the new upcoming Chrysler models, "we're impressed with where they are going," he said. The revamped 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee is "head and shoulders" above the one it replaces. And, Champion said, he senses a different mindset about quality and reliability at Chrysler, now run by Italy's Fiat following last year's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

"We'll have to see how the new models do -- if their reliability matches the performance we've seen," he said.

Koreans Excel

"Hyundai and Kia have made extraordinary progress," Champion said. "Those manufactuers have made the most progress in the shortest time."

Particular standouts are: the Hyundai Sonata, "among the best family sedans," Kia Sorento and Kia Soul, which had average reliability in its first year.

Only the Kia Sedona minivan is the exception. "It has been problematic since its launch and has stayed that way," said Champion.

Honda, Toyota: Still Tops

All Honda models rate above average in reliability in Consumer Reports' survey, putting it at the top of the list.

Most Toyota models came out above average.

Nissan's mainstream models did well but the Nissan Cube was below average.

European Automakers Decline

"The Europeans are really struggling at the moment," said Champion.

He said BMW is having "enormous problems" with the fuel systems and fuel pumps on turbocharged models, including the BMW 1, 3 and 5 Series.

Likewise for Audi. "The A6 was good until they put in the supercharger. Now they are having problems with the engine management system and the check engine light coming on."

In addition, Audi's A3, Q5 and Q7 rate below average in reliability

Nearly half of all Mercedes-Benz models are below average.

At Volkswagen, the Golf and Jetta TDI "do okay," the Touareg is average but the Chrysler-Built Routan "is a bit of a nightmare," champion said.

Worst, however, is the Jaguar XF, which has the worst predicted reliability rating in this year's survey, Champion added.

In contrast, all Volvo and Porsche models are average or better with the C30 coupe being Volvo's most reliable car and the Porsche Boxster being the most reliable car in the Consumer Reports' survey.

Reliability: Improving and Matters

The reliability of all vehicles has improved dramatically in the past decade or so. Champion said when he joined the magazine in 1997, the average vehicle had 28 or 29 consumer complaints per 100 vehicles sold. Today, the average is 14 or 15.

Champion said that reliability plays a pivotal role in customer loyalty. The survey asks if the owner if they would buy the same vehicle again.

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.