A Historical Study of Car Reliability and Car Durability in Model Years 1975, 1980, 1985 and 2005

Histograms and Pie Charts Summarizing Car Quality in Selected Model Years

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Authors
  • Bleeker James

Abstract

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.

Introduction
 
For each of the model years 1975, 1980, 1985, and 2005, this knol provides (1) a histogram depicting the relative frequencies of Consumer Reports’ five ratings – Much Worse Than Average, Worse Than Average, Average, Better Than Average, and Much Better Than Average - for 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 the 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 have held up over a longer period and (2) to help identify which car manufacturers have made and currently make vehicles with greatest durability. The model years 1975, 1980, 1985, and 2005 are selected to give good historical perspective on these differences and to offer insight on changes over time.
 
The histograms and pie charts are grouped by model year.
 
Model Year 1975
 
Model Year 1980
 
Model Year 1985
Model Year 2005
 
Changes from Model Year 1975 to Model Year 2005
 
Likely the most evident change in the histograms is the dramatic shrinking in the share of Average cars from 1975 to 2005. And by 2005, the histogram had two vertices. This suggests that it may be even more important today to be prudent in the selection of an automobile than in earlier times.
 
Although Toyota Motor Corporation only modestly increased its share of the Much-Better-Than-Average automobiles (from 50% in 1975 to 59% in 2005), Honda Motor Company went from 0% in 1975 and 1980 to more than 20% in 2005. In the opposite direction was the share of Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz, which went from 50% in 1975 to 3% in 2005.
 
Also of interest is the increased share of Japan-based manufacturers in the Much Better Than Average, which went from 50% in 1975 to 91% in 2005.
 
Registering no change in share of the best cars were the Detroit Three, which accounted for 0% in 1975 and 0% in 2005.
 

Credits

The following helped in accessing some of the information needed for the above computations:
MnLINK Gateway
Rochester Public Library
Fergus Falls Public Library.
Additional Resources