TrueDelta Updates Car Reliability Survey

Michael Karesh
by Michael Karesh

TrueDelta has once again updated the results of its Car Reliability Survey. Based on over 15,000 responses for the first time, the new results cover owner experiences through December 31, 2009. Elsewhere, results continue to be based on an April 2009 survey. Thanks to these prompt quarterly updates, TrueDelta can provide reliability stats on new or redesigned models sooner, and then closely track cars as they age.

Among the highlights: the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain have required 94 repair trips per 100 cars per year—similar to the Lambda large crossovers and VUE compact crossover at this point and worse than average. Owners have reported a variety of minor problems. The new Chevrolet Camaro has fared better: with 41 repair trips per 100 cars it’s about average, and the most common repair has involved loose bolts for the rear spoiler. The redesigned 2010 Ford Fusion is also about average, at 42 per 100, a step back from the first generation. The most common problem, hard starting fixed with a grounding wire, should only affect early cars. The Kia Soul, with 39 per 100, would be better than average except for common problems with the speakers’ “mood lights.” The Genesis Coupe, with 71 repair trips per 100 cars, is “about average” but close to “worse than average.” Common problem areas include panel fits and rattles. The new Audi Q5, Honda Insight, Mazda3, Nissan cube, Subaru Legacy / Outback, and Toyota Prius are all clearly better than average, even in their first model year. Toyotas continue to score well in general, despite all of the talk about declining quality. The least reliable cars in the survey continue to be older European models.

TrueDelta also updated the “nada-odds” and “lemon-odds” stats, which report the percentage of cars with no repairs and those with three or more repair trips during in the past year. No one else provides stats like these. The best models continue to have nada-odds over 90, and most have lemon-odds less than one. TrueDelta doesn’t have enough data on many older cars yet. One for which just enough owners responded: the 2001 BMW 3-Series, only eight percent of which required no repairs in the past year—the lowest in these results. The 2004 Volvo S60 / V70 had the highest reported lemon-odds, with 14 percent requiring three or more repair trips in the past year.

TrueDelta will have further updates in May and August. As more car owners join and participate, the quantity and quality of these results will continue to improve.

Car Reliability Survey Results

Lemon-odds Results

Michael Karesh owns and operates TrueDelta, an online provider of auto pricing and reliability data

Michael Karesh
Michael Karesh

Michael Karesh lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan, with his wife and three children. In 2003 he received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. While in Chicago he worked at the National Opinion Research Center, a leader in the field of survey research. For his doctoral thesis, he spent a year-and-a-half inside an automaker studying how and how well it understood consumers when developing new products. While pursuing the degree he taught consumer behavior and product development at Oakland University. Since 1999, he has contributed auto reviews to Epinions, where he is currently one of two people in charge of the autos section. Since earning the degree he has continued to care for his children (school, gymnastics, tae-kwan-do...) and write reviews for Epinions and, more recently, The Truth About Cars while developing TrueDelta, a vehicle reliability and price comparison site.

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  • BklynPete BklynPete on Feb 22, 2010

    Fusion's record is still way better than your precious GMs, Z71. Do you have to be such an obvious troll?

    • Z71_Silvy Z71_Silvy on Feb 23, 2010

      You should do some research before making such an absurd statement. 2010 Fusion - 42 trips per 100 cars. 2009 Malibu - 22 trips per 100 cars. Ford...where quality is still a myth.

  • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Feb 22, 2010
    Toyotas continue to score well in general, despite all of the talk about declining quality. Thank you for bringing this up. I've been yammering on about objetive quality versus blogosphere chatter and it's nice to get a little professional vindication.
    • See 8 previous
    • Michael Karesh Michael Karesh on Feb 22, 2010

      This is one of many things that would be interesting to measure. But it's a relatively rare event, so we need more people involved first. As we gain participants, we'll be providing additional stats. Started with the stat with the smallest required sample size.

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