Consumer Reports and JD Power both released reliability reports in 2005, and their results were very different. Here is a quote from the one from Consumer Reports:
April 2005 U.S. autos narrow the gap
Our latest survey of subscribers' experiences with their cars shows that the 2004 Hyundai Sonata is the single most reliable vehicle. The Nissan Quest and Lincoln Navigator are the least reliable 2004 models. Our survey also shows that improvement in the reliability of U.S. vehicles was no fluke. American cars and trucks continue to edge closer to Japanese and Korean makes. European vehicles continue to be among the least reliable overall.
Here are highlights from this year's survey focusing on the 2004 model year:
. The Hyundai Sonata had only 2 problems per 100 vehicles (we call this figure the problem rate). That showing further establishes Hyundai's remarkable turnaround from one of the least reliable brands to one of the best.
. The most reliable 2004 brand overall is now Subaru, which averages 8 problems per 100. Honda, long a reliability leader, averaged 9 problems per 100.
. Japanese and Korean automakers once again produced the most trouble-free vehicles, with an overall problem rate of 12 per 100 for the 2004 model year. That rate has not changed in the past three years.
. Overall, Asian automakers are likely to produce the most reliable 2005 cars as well; see the chart below.
. DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors inched a little closer to Asian automakers with an overall problem rate of 17 per 100. Last year U.S. automakers had a combined problem rate of 18 per 100.
So according to CR, Subaru is at the top of the list, with Honda right on their tail.
However, J.D. Power paints a very different picture. Their top ten most reliable vehicle brands, with the average number of problems reported per
100 vehicles:Lexus 139 Porsche 149 Lincoln 151 Buick 163 Cadillac 175 Infiniti 178 Toyota 194 Mercury 195 Honda 201 Acura 203
Why so different? Well, to make sure I'm not comparing apples to oranges, I would have to know the sizes and demographics of each company's surveys, how far beck they went, whether or not repair incidents were weighted for cost, etc. Fir example, Consumer Reports surveyed owners of new cars--2004 models, while JD Power surveyed owners of slightly older 2002 models.
It's a catch-22. In order to get long-term reliability results, you have to survey owners of older cars--but the older the model, the less similar it is likely to be to newer models and the less statistically significant the results are.
I'd like to see CR do overall data releases for 2002 models as well. Otherwise my next car might be a Lincoln or Buick! (I can't afford a Lexus yet.)
Can anyone more familiar with all this shed some light for me please?