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After high quality ratings in recent years, Ford has dropped sharply in this year’s Consumer Reports reliability survey because of problems with new models and new technologies.
And you were expecting what from the rice wine drunken engineers(LOL!) from CR? Several of the world noted automotive research firms have asked the same question in regards to CRs credibility. Seems the only place they have any following are from the folks stupid enough to subscribe to their rags.
Way to go Chrysler, Jeep is the most reliable domestic brand now. They deserve a pat on the back for that.
Even more amazing is that the Chrysler 200 scored "well above average" in reliability. Considering that the 200 used to be the Sebring, which everybody hated, maybe Chrysler didn't put lipstick on a pig, but instead, gave Cinderella some better clothes.
As for Ford, I bet most of the problems they've had are because of their MyTouch system.
The new Ford Fusion rated well though, especially the hybrid. Seems like the new-model Explorer, Fiesta and Focus was what pulled down the score for Ford.
Ford lost ground in this "study" and they also lost a lot of ground in the JD Powers one as well. The thing that bothers me with these is that at least in the case of Ford, the bulk of the negative results are tied to the MyTouch system and have absolutely nothing to do with the vehicles mechanicals. The only mechanical complaint against Ford is the transmission in the Fiesta and Focus, which again isn't a failure issue, just a complaint issue over the way it operates.
If anything these studies are generally biased towards companies that keep virtually the same mechanicals for a long time, produce a good quality interior and don't package anything that is leading edge in terms of electronics. Companies also take big lumps whenever they release new products as people always complain about something.
I really wish they would rate categories differently in all of the surveys. Someone complaining about the tactile feel of the HVAC controls is weighted just as heavily as someone reporting a blown engine. They do track things this way, the only problem is the data is only sold to the manufacturers themselves. When the latest JD Power hit, there were quite a few articles discussing how Ford plummeted in the rankings basically do to MyTouch, though if you just looked at it on face value you would assume Ford had a massive quality fall off.
Ford lost ground in this "study" and they also lost a lot of ground in the JD Powers one as well. The thing that bothers me with these is that at least in the case of Ford, the bulk of the negative results are tied to the MyTouch system and have absolutely nothing to do with the vehicles mechanicals. The only mechanical complaint against Ford is the transmission in the Fiesta and Focus, which again isn't a failure issue, just a complaint issue over the way it operates.
If anything these studies are generally biased towards companies that keep virtually the same mechanicals for a long time, produce a good quality interior and don't package anything that is leading edge in terms of electronics. Companies also take big lumps whenever they release new products as people always complain about something.
I really wish they would rate categories differently in all of the surveys. Someone complaining about the tactile feel of the HVAC controls is weighted just as heavily as someone reporting a blown engine. They do track things this way, the only problem is the data is only sold to the manufacturers themselves. When the latest JD Power hit, there were quite a few articles discussing how Ford plummeted in the rankings basically do to MyTouch, though if you just looked at it on face value you would assume Ford had a massive quality fall off.
I agree. The media is just as stupid as the average person. People don't investigate the reasoning behind the drop. They see drop and instantly think oh they're junk now.
And I'm not even a Ford fan but I have a lot of heartburn when it comes to polls, stats, ratings and how they're interpreted.
I immediately thought "My Ford Touch" is probably a big reason for the drop, read the article and had it confirmed. All the auto reviews I have read about the system have ranged from overly complicated to "buggy". Same thing with the manu-matic trans in the Focus, not very pleasant to drive.
And the CR results are based on survey of actual owners and separate problems based on different components, like engine, drivetrain etc. Based on cars I have owned, and friends have owned, their data is pretty accurate at reflecting real life ownership.
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