The top American brand in Consumer Reports' 2018 Auto Reliability Survey was Ford, and it finished 18th out of 29 marques in what was not a good showing for the domestics.
Cars and trucks from the Detroit 3 typically don't dominate the list — that honor usually goes to Lexus and Toyota — but the 2018 installment was especially bad for General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru and Kia were the top five brands.
A graph of the results is below as well as where the brands ranked last year.
Consumer Reports derives its predicted new-vehicle reliability ratings from an annual questionnaire sent to subscribers. It said it got responses on more than 500,000 vehicles in its latest survey, spanning the 2000 to 2018 model years and covering 300 models. The nonprofit then assigns a predicted new-vehicle reliability score to various nameplates.
The Ford brand fell three spots from last year to land at No. 18 on the list, apparently pulled down by the Mustang and Explorer, which got "worse than average" ratings. The soon-to-be-gone Taurus got a high "much better than average" mark.
Buick had a decent showing in the 2017 survey but tumbled 11 spots in the latest report to land at No. 19. The redesigned Enclave large crossover was deemed "much worse than average," with its new, nine-speed automatic transmission cited as causing owners some problems.
Cadillac finished at No. 28, for a second consecutive year as the worst-performing GM brand. Consumer Reports said the only Cadillac model to have "better than average" reliability was the XTS.
FCA continued to dwell near the bottom of the ranking, but with some bright spots. Dodge improved three positions to No. 21, boosted in part by a "better than average" score for the Charger. Jeep had mixed results, finishing at No. 22; Chrysler fell seven spots to No. 24; and Ram fared the poorest of the FCA brands, at No. 26.
Not all bad
It was not all grim for Detroit automakers, however. Consumer Reports' list of vehicles that it would "recommend" includes several domestic models: the Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Suburban, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Lincoln Continental. But Consumer Reports said it no longer recommends the Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Fusion or Lincoln MKZ.
Tesla dropped six spots to No. 27, with the Model S getting a "below average" mark, thanks in part to reported suspension issues and problems with the extending door handles. The Model X was again called "much worse than average," with its falcon-wing doors a continued source of reliability woes for some owners. The Model 3 received an "average" grade.
Toyota Motor on top
Meanwhile, Lexus and Toyota topped the predicted new-vehicle reliability ranking for the sixth year in a row. Mazda jumped nine spots to finish third — making it the most improved brand this year — while Subaru, Kia, Infiniti, Audi, BMW, Mini and Hyundai rounded out the top 10.
The struggle for the domestic brands is tied to a slew of newer products with largely untested technologies, Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports' director of auto testing, said at an Automotive Press Association event in Detroit on Wednesday.
Often, when new models are released, so too are several enhancements that have not been ironed out. “The more the automakers put in that surprises and delights, and all that excitement, the more chances they’re taking in terms of reliability,” he said. Tesla, for example, made air suspension and all-wheel drive standard on the 2017 Model S, and the resulting trouble reported by owners has caused Consumer Reports to no longer recommend the electric sedan.
The nonprofit also highlighted the trend of automakers turbocharging smaller engines to give vehicles both pep and fuel economy — with mixed results. Lexus has the most reliable turbo powertrain, followed by Honda and Porsche, while Hyundai and Mini have the most problematic ones, Consumer Reports said.
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