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DETROIT -- Consumer Reports revealed Thursday the results of the 2008 Auto Reliability Survey to the Automotive Press Association luncheon at the Detroit Athletic Club. The data includes an investigation of the reliability of vehicles up to 10 years old -- and predicting that how next year's models will hold up. The information is based on the response from more than a million vehicles that have either been owned or leased by those who also either subscribed to the publication or its website. The annual questionnaire was mailed this past spring, and it has become the largest U.S. survey of its kind.

David Champion, the senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test center, was the speaker, in which he told the APA how they have been doing over the past year. At Consumer Reports, he said, reliability is one of the most important factors, especially where the economy is concerned due to people's overeliability on cars.

The agenda of the APA included that fuel-efficient cars are becoming very reliable overall, while European cars are getting better, and on average, Ford still makes the most reliable cars in the United States. According to the accurate information from Consumer Reports, there are a total of nine hybrid models that is rated as above average in predicted reliability. Ford's main trio - its namesake, Lincoln, and Mercury - are at the top in domestic automakers. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are still outstanding, as nearly all Fords are rated as average or above. Ford isn't a flash in the pan, stated Champion, but gets better and better due to a systematic structure change.

Toyota is on the rebound, in which all models have average or better reliability; Japanese continues to be the most reliable, with Honda, Toyota, and Suburu leading the way.

However, the domestic results are getting mixed results, in which Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan are having a poor freshman year. The Sebring Convertible is predicted to be the worst reliable in 2009.

The reliability report will appear in the December issue of Consumer Reports, on sale November 4, and in the new Consumer Reports Cars -- featuring the Best & Worst for '09, which also includes predicted-reliability ratings for more than 350 models.

The ratings are available online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The 2009 Toyota Camry at the North American International Auto Show last January.