Auto Reliability Data - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

james t kirk · 04-24-2007, 05:29 PM

Everyone always says how Japanese vehicles are more reliable and better quality than North American, etc. (I'm not disputing this)

What I am looking for is a site that posts HARD DATA.

Not J.D. Power - they are just a marketing firm. Hardly scientific.

What I am wondering is if there is an organisation that tracks breakdowns / repairs of automobiles, or somehow quantifies quality.

If that is even possible.

laconic1 · 04-24-2007, 06:04 PM

I don't know of any companies that do that for public knowledge. However I imagine most extended warranty companies that write contracts for all brands of vehicles can track numbers for reliability based on loss ratios (basically money in divided by money out) by brand and use that information when determining pricing for service contracts. It isn't 100 percent accurate as since there are many variables, such as labor rates in different markets, costs of individual parts being higher on one car than another, etc. but it is a good estimator of reliability. Of course that information is proprietary so you wouldn't be able to get that from them but I'm sure it is done.

The_Jazz · 04-25-2007, 04:40 AM

I know that Consumer Reports tracks reliability, and if I remember the site right, they detail how they quantify it. I don't remember how they did it, though, but that was one of the first things we did when we were car shopping a couple of weeks ago.

BadNick · 04-25-2007, 05:27 AM

I'm guessing it's out there someplace, but I have yet to find any auto reliability data bank that doesn't seem tainted by some marketing scheme.

...other than the very famous "BadNick Auto Reliability Study" commonly known as "BARS" where the results are:
- we have an 18yo Acura Legend that still works great so we bought a new TSX
- we have a 12yo Toyota that I drive the crap out of, it has over 600hp, and nothing ever goes wrong with it, so we just ordered a new Toyota (RAV4 LTD/V6/4WD)

04-24-2007, 05:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	Auto Reliability Data Everyone always says how Japanese vehicles are more reliable and better quality than North American, etc. (I'm not disputing this) What I am looking for is a site that posts HARD DATA. Not J.D. Power - they are just a marketing firm. Hardly scientific. What I am wondering is if there is an organisation that tracks breakdowns / repairs of automobiles, or somehow quantifies quality. If that is even possible.

04-25-2007, 04:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	I know that Consumer Reports tracks reliability, and if I remember the site right, they detail how they quantify it. I don't remember how they did it, though, but that was one of the first things we did when we were car shopping a couple of weeks ago. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

04-24-2007, 06:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
laconic1 Junkie	I don't know of any companies that do that for public knowledge. However I imagine most extended warranty companies that write contracts for all brands of vehicles can track numbers for reliability based on loss ratios (basically money in divided by money out) by brand and use that information when determining pricing for service contracts. It isn't 100 percent accurate as since there are many variables, such as labor rates in different markets, costs of individual parts being higher on one car than another, etc. but it is a good estimator of reliability. Of course that information is proprietary so you wouldn't be able to get that from them but I'm sure it is done.

04-25-2007, 05:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	I'm guessing it's out there someplace, but I have yet to find any auto reliability data bank that doesn't seem tainted by some marketing scheme. ...other than the very famous "BadNick Auto Reliability Study" commonly known as "BARS" where the results are: - we have an 18yo Acura Legend that still works great so we bought a new TSX - we have a 12yo Toyota that I drive the crap out of, it has over 600hp, and nothing ever goes wrong with it, so we just ordered a new Toyota (RAV4 LTD/V6/4WD)