Further reason to discredit most of what comsumer reports "reports".
"Heavy-duty, three-quarter-ton pickups are among the most problematic vehicles. With the exception of the turbodiesel Ford F-250, they all scored below average."
2009 Komfort 256TS
2001 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 4x4 Cummins DRW
2005 Dodge Durango Limited AWD HEMI
2001 Sebring Convertible
1995 Miata M-Edition
2005 DRZ400
1 Wife 2 Boys UW & Bellevue College
1 Trixie (Bichon Frise)
Only 23 years to retirement!!!!
"In recent years, Ford has been a model of American reliability. The brand ranked 10th in our predicted-reliability ranking last year and competed well with Japanese makes. This year, however, the Ford brand has slipped 10 spots, to 20th out of 28 makes. That was the biggest drop for any major nameplate, according to Consumer Reports' 2011 Annual Auto Survey, which is based on subscribers' experiences with 1.3 million vehicles.
Other highlights from the survey:
• As Ford's star has fallen, Chrysler's has risen. Jeep has moved up seven spots to become the most reliable domestic brand, and all its models for which we have sufficient data scored average in predicted reliability. Chrysler and Dodge moved up 12 and three spots in ranking, respectively."
2010 Cougar 322QBS 5er
2007 Dodge 3500 SRW Megacab, 4x4, 5.9L Cummins, 3.73, 48RE auto HYPERTECH MAX ENERGY or DIABLO PREDATOR tuning MBRP 4" Turbo back Scangauge2 for Boost, Coolant temp, Rail press & Trans Temp
Torklift Stable Loads
While this may be an anecdotal opinion, our local Ford dealership, which has a separate Ford Truck service facility, finally got one of the new 6.7 diesels in for an engine repair - failed piston. Since the 6.7 had been out for over 13 months before they got one in for repair, it's a pretty good start for a new issue engine.
Bill J., Lexington, KY
2006 Starcraft 2500RKS 25' Travel Trailer
2000 Excursion Ltd. 7.3 PSD
2000 Ford E350 7.3 PSD
Used to subscribe, but found most of their recommendations polar opposite to my
tastes and findings. Okay for small appliances, but anything bigger
than a stove or refrigerator, they are fish out of water...at best.
Like one year they listed the Matador as the best vehicle, it's first year out
and the very next year...their survey said one of the worst (full black dot)
Or that they recommended a Toyota to then make a public retraction admitting that
they based their recommendation on 'historical' track record of Toyota in reference
to other badges and did NOT test that vehicle.
Or their in-famous engine oil survey/test. Okay if you drive a taxi in NY, as
that is what they based their recommendations on. But I don't drive like a NY
taxi, as I do turn it off at least once every 24 hours. Where as a NY Taxi might
not turn it off for a couple days...even leave it running during
refueling. Their recommendation was to use the cheapest jug oil and
filter.
Or their in-famous tip over testing of a SUV...first image showed over 500 lbs
of steel out rigger on *TOP* of the roof...increasing the CG. Then driving it like
a sports car and use old timer off roaders know that these high CG trucks are
NOT sports cars and drive accordingly. Most glove box manuals says
to not load more than 200lbs on the OEM roof rack and that is to keep
the CG low and reduce tip over tendencies.
Finally, their survey is feed back from subscribers who take the time to fill
out the form. Since I'm not a member, don't even get a chance to fill
one out. So I'd think their survey's only apply to their narrow subscriber
base who takes the time to fill out the surveys
No credibility for me...in my book...
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
I would think ford was the most suprised since they paid a ton of money on warrenty claims. Never believed what a magazine has said for years.
chevman
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy
easyrider/reese airhitch
trailair center point suspension
JT Strong Arm Stabilizers
KSH 55 inbed fuel tank
Garmin 2720
scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
TST tire monitors
My mom bought an '86 Honda Accord based on Consumer Reports and the latest craze. She had as much trouble with it as any other and the same kinds of trouble. A/C, window regulators, alternators, and a cracked head within 80k miles. All services were performed at the Honda temple. She's now back in a Chrysler Sebring that's so far treating her well.
My Dodge and Ford 3/4 ton trucks have been very reliable. Maybe there are a lot of complaints that they ride like trucks or shift firm or something that's normal characteristics of trucks. Although I've never had the desire for an IH/Navistar diesel when the Cummins is available, the Ford, Chrysler and Cummins parts have been fine.
'10 F250 XLT CC SB 5.4L 5spdTS 3.73
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
'07 KZ Jag 28JFSS.
Offline
2 Boys UW & Bellevue College
