Consumer Reports‘ 2017 Auto Reliability Survey published on Thursday found “growing pains” among automakers with new and updated cars and light trucks, with “wonky” engines and “jerky” eight- and nine-speed and continuously variable transmissions, as well as infotainment systems, among the top problems.
“These new technologies can add features and improve fuel efficiency, but are more prone to have issues,” Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of automotive testing, said in a statement. “More often than not, our data suggests it’s prudent for consumers to wait for the technology to mature.”
The magazine said its survey shows some but not all automakers are quick to respond to major problems between model years. The 2016 Hyundai Tucson crossover scored poorly with owners due to transmission issues, but complaints about 2017 Tucson transmissions dropped by more than half, Consumer Reports said. Similarly, gripes about the in-car electronics on the 2017 Civic were so improved that the complaint rate was only a third of that for the 2016 version.
The 2017 results were announced at an Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit on Thursday.
Toyota led the way with a predicted new-car reliability score of 80 on a 100-point scale, with Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus right behind at 77. In last year’s ranking, Lexus was No. 1 and Toyota was No. 2.
“All the way down at the bottom is Cadillac, which is just really very disappointing because these cars are great,” Fisher said at the luncheon. “Anyone who’s driven a Cadillac lately realizes that this is a very competitive, luxury car [brand] but unfortunately, there’s a lot of reliability issues. Again, Cadillac Cue, it looks like they’re moving away from that, which is good, but there’s still a lot of issues.”
Starting with last year’s survey, Consumer Reports converted its predicted reliability score to a 100-point scale, with those brands scoring between 41 and 60 points deemed reliable. Those with scores above that were considered more reliable and those below that less reliable.
Kia, with its Niro hybrid pegged as the most reliable new vehicle in the survey, came in at No. 3 overall.
Audi remained at No. 4 and the highest-ranked European brand.
Other changes in the top 10 included BMW, up four spots to No. 5, Subaru rising five spots to No. 6 and Buick, the highest-ranked American brand, dropping five spots to No. 8.
FCA gains
The brand making the biggest jump in the rankings was Chrysler, up 10 spots to No. 17. Consumer Reports said the move represents “a huge improvement” for the brand, which was helped by an average reliability score on the new Pacifica minivan.
Jeep checked in at No. 20 (up three spots), Dodge at No. 24 (up two spots), and Ram at No. 25 (up four spots). The Grand Caravan was the only Dodge model that didn’t have below-average reliability and while the Ram 1500 improved to average reliability, Consumer Reports said, the 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickups kept the brand in third to last place.
GM tumbles, Ford up slightly
General Motors had a rough outing in the 2017 survey, with Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC all finishing in the bottom 10 of the rankings, Consumer Reports said.
Chevrolet’s Bolt was a bright spot as the brand’s most reliable model with above average reliability, the magazine found.
GMC, down two spots to No. 26 and Cadillac, down six spots to last place at No. 27, were the lowest ranked brands in the survey. The GMC Acadia is one of the 10 least-reliable new models, Consumer Reports said, and all of Cadillac’s models had below-average reliability.
Ford rose three spots to No. 15 with the F-150 improving to average reliability, Consumer Reports found, while Lincoln dropped two spots to No. 22.
“Ford [is] creeping up, but still being pulled down by the Focus and Fiesta with those transmissions,” Fisher said, referring to clutch and transmission problems.
Tesla
Tesla moved up four spots in the 2017 ranking to No. 21. The predicted reliability of the Tesla Model S was above average for the first time, Consumer Reports noted, giving the maker of electric vehicles a boost. But the Tesla Model X crossover was ranked the least reliable of all new models.
Consumer Reports also predicted that the new Model 3 will have an average reliability score based on the improvement of the Model S.
“Electric vehicles are inherently less complicated than gasoline or hybrid alternatives,” Fisher said in the statement. “The Model 3 is the least complicated Tesla yet, and should benefit from what Tesla has learned from the Model S.”
According to auto news, the survey gathered information from Consumer Reports subscribers who collectively owned or leased more than half a million vehicles, covering more than 300 models from the 2000-17 model years.
