CRs annual reliability tables are supposedly compiled from the surveys they mail to subscribers. I don't know how much the figures are massaged, but one would think that people who have had a bad experience with a car are more likely to vent and return the survey than those who are satisfied.
Then, you've got to adjust for the mentalty of the public, most of whom aren't "car people"..........like those who downgrade a Jeep Wrangler for it's ride or "body integrity".........what did they expect? There are knuckleheads who are surprised that their Excursion gets bad gas mileage or their Suburban towing a 40 foot trailer in the mountains wears out breaks. And people who buy a Chevy and never change the oil, but take their Beetle or Scion to the dealer every 5000 miles for a going-over.