Reliability: Perception vs Reality

[Texasscout]

According to Consumer Reports, these are the Auto Brands that are perceived by the public as the most reliable.


Brand Perception — Top 10
1. Toyota
2. Honda
3. Ford
4. Cadillac
5. Mercedes-Benz
6. GMC
7. Lexus
8. BMW
9. Chevrolet
10. Volvo


These are the auto brands that are, actually the most reliable:

Brand Reliability — Top 10
1. Scion
2. Acura
3. Honda
4. Toyota
5. Lexus
6. Infiniti
7. Subaru
8. Hyundai
9. Mitsubishi
10. Kia


Cadillac seems to be doing fine — it ranked 31st out of 34 brands when it came to reliability, but is still perceived quite well.

Consumer Reports: Auto Reliability

[InTgr8r]

amazing how M-B hangs in on the perceived list as well.

[Espresso]

Funny how the actual reliability list doesn't include a single American or German branded car. I'm still confused as to how Ford made top 3 in the perceived list??

[TwilightBlue]

Originally Posted by Espresso

Funny how the actual reliability list doesn't include a single American or German branded car. I'm still confused as to how Ford made top 3 in the perceived list??

I have a 92 Taurus. Damn thing is bulletproof. Most reliable car I have owned so far. (note, I have not had the G35 long enough to determine its reliabillity) lol

[Jeff92se]

Perception is based on how you are treated when you come in for problems.

ie... Have minor problems but get treated like sh1t every time you go in will = crappy brand reliability

Have more problems but get treated like a king = reliable!

[Yv12345vY]

Interesting find. For whatever reason I don't think of most brands on the perception list as being reliable...

[nghiars]

8/10 for Japan and 2/10 for Korea... Damn Asians make good cars.

[Jeff92se]

Originally Posted by Yv12345vY

Interesting find. For whatever reason I don't think of most brands on the perception list as being reliable...

Ok. What brands are reliable to you? (that aren't on the list)

[Yv12345vY]

^ I meant I didn't think of the brands on the "Brand Perception" i.e. Ford, Caddy, MB as reliable. I sort of wonder how they convinced the general public to think of them as reliable.

[Jeff92se]

Actually it's a wonder Infiniti is on the list since a ton of their RevUp motors drink oil like an achololic drinks whiskey

[dofu]

Originally Posted by TwilightBlue

I have a 92 Taurus. Damn thing is bulletproof. Most reliable car I have owned so far. (note, I have not had the G35 long enough to determine its reliabillity) lol

MB builds some bulletproof motors too... their cars just have tons of electrical problems...

[astonv12]

I don't know how Honda can be so high when they had crappy transmissions in their Accord model. My 2000 Accord transmission broke and I personally knew others with the same problem.

[Yv12345vY]

Originally Posted by Jeff92se

Actually it's a wonder Infiniti is on the list since a ton of their RevUp motors drink oil like an achololic drinks whiskey

[waijai]

Originally Posted by astonv12

I don't know how Honda can be so high when they had crappy transmissions in their Accord model. My 2000 Accord transmission broke and I personally knew others with the same problem.

My mom's 2001 Accord had a bad transmission, and it got replaced under warranty about 3 years ago.

[khundkar]

We bought the toyota highlander in 2003, brand new. To this day, the only thing that went wrong with that car was the front left brake caliper. I abused the car, it was used in numerous road trips, helped people move with it, etc etc etc.

Great car.