hiwayman17
11-23-2002, 05:58 PM
Automotive Digest reports the following from Consumer Reports http://www.automotivedigest.com/view_art.asp?articlesID=7726
1. Quality of recently-redesigned 2002 Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Subaru Impreza models has fallen
2. Chrysler minivans and Jaguar S-type models removed from recommended list because of quality lapses
3. For Chrysler, minivan inventor, such a failure could put a damper on sales of its core product
4. 13 GM models did well, including Chevrolet Avalanche, GMC Sierra, Pontiac Vibe and Buick LeSabre
5. GM's exception was 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, having poor reliability in its 1st year of production
6. Hyundai Santa Fe and Sonata mark 1st time a South Korean automaker has placed vehicles on CR's recommended list
"[GM has] improved reliability in trucks over the last 3 years. They're now clawing their way back to average reliability." -- David Champion, head of automotive testing operations, Consumer Reports
"Our belief has always been that our efforts to improve initial quality would lead to improvements in long term reliability. These welcomed recommendations from Consumer Reports are the 1st demonstration of those efforts." -- Gary Cowger, President, GM N America
"It's not good when you get bad press from Consumer Reports, but it's a different company too. [Chrysler is] doing as much as they can to decouple themselves from being so dependent on minivans." -- Jim Hall, VP, AutoPacific
"[Hyundai's] reliability was particularly poor. In 1993, they were way at the bottom but now they're starting to produce very competitive cars." -- Champion
And from Detroit News http://www.detnews.com/2002/autosinsider/0211/08/b01-5145.htm
Vehicle quality gains mixed
GM, Volvo and Hyundai win praises in magazine
By Ed Garsten / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp., Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co., and Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo unit continue to post solid gains in reliability, while the quality of recently redesigned models such as the 2002 Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima has fallen, an influential buying guide said Thursday.
In its latest quality survey, Consumer Reports magazine found the reliability of full-size light truck models offered by GM, the Hyundai Sonata and Sante Fe, and the Volvo S60, V70 and Cross Country has climbed to average or above average.
Because of the latest findings, the magazine now includes the models on its coveted "recommended list."
Minivans built by DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group and the Jaguar S-type have been removed from the recommended list because of quality lapses.
The latest study includes the reliability of 2002 models and is based on 480,000 responses from owners of vehicles spanning eight model years beginning with 1995.
Reliability ratings fell for redesigned versions of the Camry, Altima and Subaru Impreza, with consumers complaining about squeaks, rattles and interior trim parts that are prone to fall off. All three vehicles were substantially redesigned for 2002.
"This does mirror some reports we got and we addressed them," said Toyota Motor Co. spokeswoman Holly Ferris.
The magazine said 13 truck and passenger car models built by GM performed well in the magazine's annual reliability study.
They include the Chevrolet Avalanche, GMC Sierra, Pontiac Vibe and Buick LeSabre.
The exception was the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which was found to have poor reliability in its first year of production. However, the magazine expects it has been improved for 2003. The Pontiac Bonneville is also no longer recommended.
"They have improved reliability in trucks over the last three years. They're now clawing their way back to average reliability," said David Champion, who heads Consumer Reports' automotive testing operation.
"Our belief has always been that our efforts to improve initial quality would lead to improvements in long term reliability. These welcomed recommendations from Consumer Reports are the first demonstration of those efforts," GM North America President Gary Cowger said in a statement.
The magazine's latest findings produced mixed results for Ford Motor Co., with its F-150 pickup trucks and Taurus passenger cars both showing above average reliability, but the popular Explorer and Escape sport-utility vehicles were rated poor to average.
Along with the Jaguar S-type, the Jaguar X-type was judged among the least reliable.
Making the list for the first time were three cars from Ford's Volvo unit: S60, S70 and Cross Country.
One surprise, Champion said, was the subpar performance by several European brands.
The Volkswagen Golf and Jetta were dropped from the "recommended" list as their reliability dropped to "below average."
No Mercedes-Benz vehicle scored high enough to be recommended.
For Chrysler, which invented the minivan, the failure to win the widely read magazine's recommendation could put a damper on sales of a core product.
"It's not good when you get bad press from Consumer Reports, but it's a different company too. They're doing as much as they can to decouple themselves from being so dependent on minivans," said Jim Hall, vice president of market research firm AutoPacific in Southfield.
Most of the complaints from Chrysler minivan respondents cited problems with power equipment, electrical systems, air conditioning, body integrity and brakes, according to Champion.
"We're not familiar with all the details of the study, but based on our own internal measurements using warranty costs, quality is as good as it's ever been," said Chrysler spokesman Max Gates.
The appearance by the Hyundai Santa Fe and Sonata mark the first time the South Korean automaker has placed vehicles on the magazine's recommended list.
"Their reliability was particularly poor," said Champion. "In 1993, they were way at the bottom but now they're starting to produce very competitive cars."
The annual survey culls responses from questionnaires sent to consumers.
Of over 4 million questionnaires sent this year, the magazine received responses regarding about 480,000 vehicles, Champion said. The full results will be published next April.
1. Quality of recently-redesigned 2002 Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Subaru Impreza models has fallen
2. Chrysler minivans and Jaguar S-type models removed from recommended list because of quality lapses
3. For Chrysler, minivan inventor, such a failure could put a damper on sales of its core product
4. 13 GM models did well, including Chevrolet Avalanche, GMC Sierra, Pontiac Vibe and Buick LeSabre
5. GM's exception was 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, having poor reliability in its 1st year of production
6. Hyundai Santa Fe and Sonata mark 1st time a South Korean automaker has placed vehicles on CR's recommended list
"[GM has] improved reliability in trucks over the last 3 years. They're now clawing their way back to average reliability." -- David Champion, head of automotive testing operations, Consumer Reports
"Our belief has always been that our efforts to improve initial quality would lead to improvements in long term reliability. These welcomed recommendations from Consumer Reports are the 1st demonstration of those efforts." -- Gary Cowger, President, GM N America
"It's not good when you get bad press from Consumer Reports, but it's a different company too. [Chrysler is] doing as much as they can to decouple themselves from being so dependent on minivans." -- Jim Hall, VP, AutoPacific
"[Hyundai's] reliability was particularly poor. In 1993, they were way at the bottom but now they're starting to produce very competitive cars." -- Champion
And from Detroit News http://www.detnews.com/2002/autosinsider/0211/08/b01-5145.htm
Vehicle quality gains mixed
GM, Volvo and Hyundai win praises in magazine
By Ed Garsten / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp., Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co., and Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo unit continue to post solid gains in reliability, while the quality of recently redesigned models such as the 2002 Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima has fallen, an influential buying guide said Thursday.
In its latest quality survey, Consumer Reports magazine found the reliability of full-size light truck models offered by GM, the Hyundai Sonata and Sante Fe, and the Volvo S60, V70 and Cross Country has climbed to average or above average.
Because of the latest findings, the magazine now includes the models on its coveted "recommended list."
Minivans built by DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group and the Jaguar S-type have been removed from the recommended list because of quality lapses.
The latest study includes the reliability of 2002 models and is based on 480,000 responses from owners of vehicles spanning eight model years beginning with 1995.
Reliability ratings fell for redesigned versions of the Camry, Altima and Subaru Impreza, with consumers complaining about squeaks, rattles and interior trim parts that are prone to fall off. All three vehicles were substantially redesigned for 2002.
"This does mirror some reports we got and we addressed them," said Toyota Motor Co. spokeswoman Holly Ferris.
The magazine said 13 truck and passenger car models built by GM performed well in the magazine's annual reliability study.
They include the Chevrolet Avalanche, GMC Sierra, Pontiac Vibe and Buick LeSabre.
The exception was the 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which was found to have poor reliability in its first year of production. However, the magazine expects it has been improved for 2003. The Pontiac Bonneville is also no longer recommended.
"They have improved reliability in trucks over the last three years. They're now clawing their way back to average reliability," said David Champion, who heads Consumer Reports' automotive testing operation.
"Our belief has always been that our efforts to improve initial quality would lead to improvements in long term reliability. These welcomed recommendations from Consumer Reports are the first demonstration of those efforts," GM North America President Gary Cowger said in a statement.
The magazine's latest findings produced mixed results for Ford Motor Co., with its F-150 pickup trucks and Taurus passenger cars both showing above average reliability, but the popular Explorer and Escape sport-utility vehicles were rated poor to average.
Along with the Jaguar S-type, the Jaguar X-type was judged among the least reliable.
Making the list for the first time were three cars from Ford's Volvo unit: S60, S70 and Cross Country.
One surprise, Champion said, was the subpar performance by several European brands.
The Volkswagen Golf and Jetta were dropped from the "recommended" list as their reliability dropped to "below average."
No Mercedes-Benz vehicle scored high enough to be recommended.
For Chrysler, which invented the minivan, the failure to win the widely read magazine's recommendation could put a damper on sales of a core product.
"It's not good when you get bad press from Consumer Reports, but it's a different company too. They're doing as much as they can to decouple themselves from being so dependent on minivans," said Jim Hall, vice president of market research firm AutoPacific in Southfield.
Most of the complaints from Chrysler minivan respondents cited problems with power equipment, electrical systems, air conditioning, body integrity and brakes, according to Champion.
"We're not familiar with all the details of the study, but based on our own internal measurements using warranty costs, quality is as good as it's ever been," said Chrysler spokesman Max Gates.
The appearance by the Hyundai Santa Fe and Sonata mark the first time the South Korean automaker has placed vehicles on the magazine's recommended list.
"Their reliability was particularly poor," said Champion. "In 1993, they were way at the bottom but now they're starting to produce very competitive cars."
The annual survey culls responses from questionnaires sent to consumers.
Of over 4 million questionnaires sent this year, the magazine received responses regarding about 480,000 vehicles, Champion said. The full results will be published next April.