Problems with infotainment systems continue to plague the automotive industry in Consumer Reports’ latest Auto Reliability Survey, but trouble with transmissions has emerged as the latest major problem for automakers looking to build more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. But vehicles have lengthy development and production cycles, which means that auto tech often lags behind the rapid-fire release of smartphones and apps.
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CR suggests these relatively new transmission technologies-most of which were conceived as fuel-savers-may not be worth the hassle; it points to Mazda, whose traditional, six-speed SkyActiv automatic has proven durable and efficient, contributing to the brand’s fourth-place ranking. General Motors Co.’s Buick brand was the only brand from the Detroit three to make the “most reliable” category, while most domestic brands fell in the “least reliable” category. “Whether it’s a complex system such as a dual-clutch gearbox, a continuously variable transmission, or one with eight or nine speeds”.
Jake Fisher, the magazine’s director of automotive testing, said he was surprised by the numerous examples of drivers who said they were stranded because an engine stopped or a transmission was stuck in one gear. But other automakers have seen sharp movement upward.
In a statement to Consumer Reports, a Tesla spokesperson said, “Close communication with our customers enables Tesla to receive input, proactively address issues, and quickly fix problems”. Note that new-car predicted-reliability scores are separate from our road-test scores, which are based on the performance, comfort, and road manners of the cars we buy. But it was the only strong Japanese luxury brand.
The leading cause of complaints are infotainment systems (partly responsible for Infiniti (InTouch) and Cadillac’s (CUE) poor ratings), and transmissions. The sister brands finished sixth and Ninth, respectively.
While the long-running Chrysler and Dodge minivans scraped up an average reliability score for the first time in many years, all of Fiat-Chrysler brands (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Fiat) finished at or near the bottom again.
The complete reliability results for all 2016 are available at www.ConnsumerReportss.org, today, and in the December Issue of Consumer Reports, on newsstands November 1. The blue bars illustrate a brand’s consistency by showing the reliability range between its top and bottom model. To be included in this list, a brand needed too have sufficient responses from our survey for us to rate at least two models. That led us to exclude Jaguar, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Scion, Smart t, and Tesla.
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