• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • First Look: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
  • Tesla Takes Top Two Sales Spots in California for 2022
  • New Vehicle Buyers Face Squeeze as Interest Rates Climb
  • The Inside Story of the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
  • Honda’s Big Bet on Fuel-Cell Tech Doesn’t Stop with Passenger Cars
  • First Look: 2024 BMW X5 and X6
  • Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi Expand Global Partnership
  • Better the Second Time: Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
  • VinFast Raises Launch Concerns by Cutting 80 U.S. Jobs
  • Faraday Future Secures Cash, Prepares to Build Cars
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid
    • First Drive: 2023 Honda Accord
    • A Week With: 2023 Lexus GX 460 Black Line
    • A Week With: 2023 BMW X1 xDrive28i
    • A Week With: 2023 Kia Niro EV
    • A Week With: 2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
    • A Week With: 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R 4x4 Super Crew
    • A Week With: 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 V-8
    • First Drive: 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > news > Automobiles > Lexus, Toyota Top Latest Consumer Reports Reliability Survey

        Lexus, Toyota Top Latest Consumer Reports Reliability Survey

        CR yanks recommendation for Tesla Model S.

        Paul A. Eisenstein
        Paul A. Eisenstein , Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
        Oct. 20, 2015
        Lexus ranked at the top of the CR Automotive Reliability Study thanks to vehicles like the RX450h.

        As has been the case consistently over the past few decades, Toyota and its upscale Lexus brand once again topped the 2015 Consumer Reports Automotive Reliability Study; but the annual survey of U.S. motor vehicle owners also revealed a number of surprises.

        Among other things, the CR study shows big gaps between the best and worst manufacturers, whether Asian, American or European. And while some of the biggest reliability issues in recent years have involved advanced infotainment technologies, the 2015 study indicates U.S. motorists have also been experiencing serious problems with the latest, high-mileage transmissions.

        Another unexpected finding comes as a bit of an embarrassment for Consumer Reports itself. Earlier this year, the magazine gave its highest rating ever to the Tesla Model S. But CR has now withdrawn its sought-after “Recommended Buy” endorsement from the battery car because of significant reliability issues.

        Subscribe Now!

        “Tesla has moved from ‘Average’ to ‘Below Average,’ said Jake Fisher, who oversees automotive testing for the non-profit magazine. “Were no longer recommending the Model S,” which suffered from a variety of issues, ranging from squeaks and rattles to drivetrain failures, as well as electric door handles that wouldn’t operate properly, explained Fisher.

        The annual Automotive Reliability Study is based on surveys – completed entirely online this year for the first time – by 750,000 U.S. motor vehicle owners. While the publication’s testers do extensive road tests on new models, this study focuses solely on reliability, which helps explain why a car like the Tesla Model S can score well on one hand and do badly on the other.

        (Less than perfect. Click Here to see what are Consumer Reports’ worst vehicles.)

        When it comes to reliability, Lexus clearly topped the chart, with every vehicle scoring better than the industry norm and the brand, on the whole, having about 56% fewer reliability issues than the industry norm. The mainstream Toyota brand wasn’t far behind.

        The Fiat 500L was one of the worst models in the CR study, driving the brand to a last-ranked finish.

        In all, seven brands earned an “Above Average” rating, Audi ranking third and then, in order, Mazda, Subaru, Kia and Buick.

        At the other end of the reliability spectrum, 12 brands were rated “Below Average,” Italy’s Fiat anchoring the list in the number 28 spot, with an 177% more problems than the industry norm. Fiat’s 500L microvan was called out as one of the study’s poorest-performing products, along with Ford’s Focus and Fiesta models, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL and Nissan Pathfinder.

        One of the most significant findings, said Fisher, is that on a regional basis, old stereotypes no longer hold true. “In terms of Asia,” he explained, “it’s no longer a sure thing.” While Japanese makers captured four of the “Above Average” spots, that list also included one brand from Europe, another from Korea – Kia outscoring vaunted Honda — and, in the seventh rank, Buick.

        (Kia gets hungry as sales surge. Click Here for the story.)

        U.S. automakers were all over CR’s map, and there was wide disparity, even among some manufacturers. While Buick earned an “Above Average” ranking, Cadillac was stuck in 26th place, with a “Least Reliable” black mark. Ford rose six spots, though was still 17th, and also in the “Least Reliable” category.

        A variety of problems led CR testers to pull their endorsement of the Tesla Model S battery-car.

        The second-largest Detroit automaker has had a number of problems with its Sync and MyTouch infotainment technologies in recent years – a trend that has tripped up a majority of the brands covered by the CR study. But Ford has also had problems with the high-mileage dual-clutch transmissions that made the Focus and Fiesta models so trouble-prone, according to owners.

        And that’s another negative trend, noted Fisher. After years of seeming to get traditional, mechanical problems under control, transmission trouble has become a “problem again.” Ironically, that’s because manufacturers have been trying to meet consumer demands – and government mandates – for better fuel economy. And one part of the solution has been to switch from generally trouble-free six-speed automatics to new, trouble-prone 7-, 8- and 9-speed gearboxes.

        It’s actually not the hardware causing most of the issues, Fisher added, but most often the electronic control systems. Automakers have plenty of experience building mechanical devices and have largely worked the bugs out, he explained. But the industry is still struggling to deal with newer digital technology.

        (Quality issues, higher prices making consumers angry. Click Here for more.)

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published
        2024 Toyota Grand Highlander - front 3-4 REL

        First Look: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

        Yesterday
        2021 Tesla Model Y blue

        Tesla Takes Top Two Sales Spots in California for 2022

        Yesterday
        February car sales

        New Vehicle Buyers Face Squeeze as Interest Rates Climb

        Yesterday

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: