In this Knol the similarities and changes in auto reliability and durability from 1985 to 2005 are examined, with a focus on the top and bottom ends of the car quality spectrum. To examine the similarities and changes, the Reliability-Durability Grade Point Average (R-D GPA) is used. The R-D GPA is a weighted measure of Consumer Reports’ overall reliability rating and its reliability ratings of individual categories for vehicle models in the age ranges 4-to-5 years and 5-to-6 years.

For each of the model years 1975, 1980, 1985, and 2005, this knol provides (1) a histogram depicting the relative frequencies of Consumer Reports’ of five ratings – Much Worse Than Average, Worse Than Average, Average, Better Than Average, and Much Better Than Average – of the overall reliability of models of automobiles between the ages of 5 and 6 years and (2) a pie chart depicting manufacturer shares of CR’s Much-Better-Than-Average reliability rating. The overall reliability ratings of models of cars (and trucks) at age range 5-to-6 years are used in the histograms and pie charts in order (1) to provide a graphic depiction of the differences in how well cars hold up over a longer period and (2) to help identify which car manufacturers have made and currently make vehicles with greatest durability and least durability.

This knol provides a history of the product quality rank of the car companies with significant sales in the United States. Two measures of quality are employed – an infrequency of trouble-prone models and overall reliability. The history by each measure is presented using line charts.

This page provides two rankings of the car manufacturers with more significant sales in North America between late 1979 and 1984. The statistics used in the computations for rating and ranking the car makers are those found within the April 1985 issue of Consumer Reports.

This page provides two rankings of the Top 10 car brands sold in North America between late 1992 and 1999. Each ranking employs a different method of computation.

This Knol summarizes the automobile quality of most motor vehicle brands sold in North America and their manufacturers in the years 1990 and 2010. It then examines the changes in car brand and manufacturer quality with the intent to shed light on the confusing claims regarding manufacturer quality standings and improvements. It seeks to give historical perspective to a topic often dominated by the U.S. news media’s rush to print any change found by a study or survey, regardless of the significance of the reported change.

This page provides two rankings of the Top 10 car brands sold in North America between late 1984 and 1989. Each ranking employs a different method of computation.

This page provides a ranking of the Top 10 car brands sold in North America between late 1984 and 1989. The statistics used in the computations for rating and ranking the brands are those found within the April 1985 issue of Consumer Reports.

This page provides two rankings of the Top 10 car brands sold in North America between late 2004 and 2009. Each ranking employs a different method of computation.