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Who makes the most reliable new cars?

consumerreports.org

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Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#391

Post by talldatethrow »

deeesstoronto wrote: post #357
talldatethrow wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you had a torn cv boot, it was a 4x4. The cv doesn't actually transmit any power when you're in 2 wheel drive mode. So unless you did many miles in 4x4 after the torn cv boot, you wouldn't really ever experience a problem with it. That's very different than a FWD car with a torn boot.

A CV boot keeps dirt from getting into the CV joint and keeps grease from flying out. Dirt that gets in causes increased wear. Unless the boot is majorly damaged, very limited dirt gets in, most of the grease stays in, and lifetime of the joint isn't severely impacted.

The point is, yes his grease flew out. And dirt got in. But his CV joints aren't being used, they are just free spinning around all day not moving any torque. So yes his torn cv boot didn't give him trouble in a Toyota 4x4. It wouldn't have given him trouble in a dodge 4x4 either..

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#392

Post by 1-6 »

metadat wrote: post #351
SkyPuncher wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FWIW, the computers don’t tend to break. The things that do break are essentially the same as they were 20 years ago. The bells and whistles are mostly for creatures comfort. The mechanical components haven’t changed much. The only thing that I couldn’t fix on my own in my 2020 vs my 2006 was re-alignment of lane keep system after replacing the windshield.

The littany of sensors begin to go bad after 6-7 years in many newer cars.

I’ve had malfunctioning servos that can’t seem to keep still. It affects the recirculation and air controls but that’s about it.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#393

Post by Spooky23 »

SkyPuncher wrote: post #346
sharkweek wrote: post #213

My 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner is old enough to drink and outside of routine maintenance requires almost no thought. "It's time to get a new car" given that car safety has drastically improved and I have two younger kids in that thing a few times a week but I'm honestly having a really hard time giving it up, something so reliable and plainly functional. New cars with all their computers and smart technology only look lik…

FWIW, the computers don’t tend to break. The things that do break are essentially the same as they were 20 years ago. The bells and whistles are mostly for creatures comfort. The mechanical components haven’t changed much. The only thing that I couldn’t fix on my own in my 2020 vs my 2006 was re-alignment of lane keep system after replacing the windshield.

Lots of sensors and features on my 2016 Honda have trouble. Not as bad as a Cadillac or Mercedes, but bad nonetheless.

The worst is software problems. The dealer techs don’t have the tools, training or interest to sift through TSBs and upgrade systems.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#394

Post by _yb2s »

SkyPuncher wrote: post #346
sharkweek wrote: post #213

My 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner is old enough to drink and outside of routine maintenance requires almost no thought. "It's time to get a new car" given that car safety has drastically improved and I have two younger kids in that thing a few times a week but I'm honestly having a really hard time giving it up, something so reliable and plainly functional. New cars with all their computers and smart technology only look lik…

FWIW, the computers don’t tend to break. The things that do break are essentially the same as they were 20 years ago. The bells and whistles are mostly for creatures comfort. The mechanical components haven’t changed much. The only thing that I couldn’t fix on my own in my 2020 vs my 2006 was re-alignment of lane keep system after replacing the windshield.

As a car nerd, a popular opinion is to avoid cars with computers because they could fail anytime, and can't be macgyvered into a repair roadside.... but after ~50 years of computerized cars, it seems that simple solid state computers, ruggedized and often potted in epoxy essentially never fail. And moreover, they can both give early warnings before you're stranded, and diagnostic data that can be used to pinpoint and fix a problem in the middle of nowhere.

I especially love the mid-90s and newer VWs, which will report through VCDS software literally every part failure, or sensor output, from any system in the car.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#395

Post by sciurus »

Lazare wrote: post #376
sharkweek wrote: post #213

My 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner is old enough to drink and outside of routine maintenance requires almost no thought. "It's time to get a new car" given that car safety has drastically improved and I have two younger kids in that thing a few times a week but I'm honestly having a really hard time giving it up, something so reliable and plainly functional. New cars with all their computers and smart technology only look lik…

Interestingly the article actually calls out the 4Runner as "among the most reliable models in the survey". Apparently the newer model years are still pretty solid!

The 4Runner hasn't been redesigned in a long time. A 2024 4Runner is substantially the same as a 2010 4Runner.

Rumor has it that Toyota will finally unveil a new design for the 2025 model year.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_4Runner#Fifth_generat...

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#396

Post by bmitc »

SkyPuncher wrote: post #365
bmitc wrote: post #330

Funny how Kia ranks so highly above others. But I'm dubious because Mini is near the top. And are Porsche and BMW known to be reliable? You can't even get your oil changed except at slecialized centers. I assume they're reliable in the same way airplanes are: lots of maintenance intervals.

We have a Hyundai (Kia’s sibling). It’s hands down the best car we’ve ever owned. Absolutely no issues 4 years in.

Yea, I think Kia and Hyundai are awesome. And my head swivels every time I see a Genesis on the road.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#397

Post by seltzered_ »

giobox wrote: post #350
Syonyk wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A standard hybrid (of the sort that a range of companies make, handwavingly a parallel hybrid with creep capability, which a PHEV is just a supersized version of) eliminates a huge swath of things that go wrong with ICEs. First and foremost, the transmission replaces the rather staggering pile of complexity of a modern automatic transmission, typically, with "a few motor/generators, some planetary gears, maybe a band…

> "First and foremost, the transmission replaces the rather staggering pile of complexity of a modern automatic transmission, typically, with "a few motor/generators, some planetary gears, maybe a band that only engages when a motor is already stopped, and some power electronics." Compared to the 9+ speed automatics, this is dramatically simpler. Quite a few hybrids don't even have a mechanical reverse gear, it's jus…

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV uses a GKN 'multi-mode dedicated hybrid' transmission with some notable differences than a standard auto gearbox.

Some Lexus & Toyota hybrids and PHEVs use the eCVT transmission, which uses 2-3 electric motors inside to adjust torque rather than a belt.

The Subaru Crosstrek PHEV (internationally also called the e-boxer platform for the Forester hybrid) uses a Toyota eCVT variant that also still facilitates symmetrical AWD instead of a separate electrical motor driving the rear axle.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#398

Post by carabiner »

jandrese wrote: post #390

Edit: While I'm still dubious about these metrics I was ranting about an entirely different company here. Sorry. A very similar report has been making the rounds recently from JD Power, probably part of a marketing campaign of some sort. The JD Power list is even more hilarious because it is book-ended by two brands: Dodge and Chrysler. Also it suggests Alfa Romeo for reliability. https://www.cars.com/articles/2023-j…

This is Consumer Reports, not JD Power, and they said they surveyed for issues in the first 12 months. It's about "new" cars after all so you can't go further back than that. They also weigh issues for their severity. Where are you seeing that their methodology is the same as JD Power?

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-s...

> Every year CR asks its members about problems they’ve had with their vehicles in the previous 12 months. This year we gathered data on over 330,000 vehicles, from the 2000 to 2023 model years, with a few early-introduced 2024 model years.

> We study 20 trouble areas, from nuisances—such as squeaky brakes and broken interior trim—to major bummers, such as potentially expensive out-of-warranty engine, transmission, EV battery, and EV charging problems. We use that information to give reliability ratings for every major mainstream model.

> We weigh the severity of each type of problem to create a predicted reliability score for each vehicle, from 1 to 100. We use that information to give reliability ratings for every major mainstream vehicle. (The reliability rating is then combined with data collected from our track testing, as well as our owner satisfaction survey results and safety data, to calculate each test vehicle’s Overall Score.)

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#399

Post by supportengineer »

denvaar wrote: post #343
sharkweek wrote: post #213

My 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner is old enough to drink and outside of routine maintenance requires almost no thought. "It's time to get a new car" given that car safety has drastically improved and I have two younger kids in that thing a few times a week but I'm honestly having a really hard time giving it up, something so reliable and plainly functional. New cars with all their computers and smart technology only look lik…

> extremely mechanical 4Runner Same sentiment for my washer/dryer. Bought an older (used) set for $300, They have lasted 7 years so far, which is in addition to however long they were in use before: I would guess at least 7 more. Seems like lots of people lament how things like cars, refrigerators, washers, etc. are becoming less mechanical and more electronic. Maybe there's a market for "bespoke" mechanical items.

My base level Kenmore washer and dryer are over 20 years old. When it's time to replace them I would only consider Speed Queen.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#400

Post by ChumpGPT »

sharkweek wrote: post #213

My 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner is old enough to drink and outside of routine maintenance requires almost no thought. "It's time to get a new car" given that car safety has drastically improved and I have two younger kids in that thing a few times a week but I'm honestly having a really hard time giving it up, something so reliable and plainly functional. New cars with all their computers and smart technology only look lik…

2000 4Runner 2x4 (I think last year made in Japan) 320k miles. Still original alternator, starter and every other major component (transmission, rear end, etc). I am not sure but may have replaced water pump about 10 years ago but I could be wrong and it still might be original. Just tires, brakes, battery and religiously change oil every 3k. Has a little hail damage but other than that looks new and feels dependable and drives well. It is my first Toyota...
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