I've been collecting vehicle reliability data at truedelta.com. I'm seeing moderately low repair rates for the Fusion, and even lower repair rates for the 2006 Five Hundred and Freestyle (but not for the 2005).

The previous set of results:

http://www.truedelta.com/results1206.php

Results are updated quarterly, with the next set due in a few weeks.

Too bad American companies can't get hybrid or electric vehicles out. Which is why I'm getting a Prius soon.

let's be honest

Nissan has three problems
cupholder, ashtray light, and volume knob

Ford has three problems
tires exploded, engine blew-up, and brakes quit working

... fact is domestics are screwed

Nissans have TONS of electrical & driveability issues, EVAP emissions problems, & aren't that good on gas!!

A Hybrid, not a chance! Do you have any idea how much damage to the enviornment is done in making the NiCad batteries that power those vehicles. Not to mention the governemt has no idea what they are going to do with the dead batteries when they fail at 100,000 miles. Your better off driving a pure gas vehicle than the prius. Oh and the 61 miles to a gallon is a lie, read the reports it's averaging just over 40 miles to a gallon. Gas or E85 is the only way to go for now until hydrogen fuel cells are available.

Hybrids avg 55 miles per gallon. Because you never driven one, you never know about it. The battery used is NiMH, it can be recycled.

I think it is better than 40 on the prius, however I know people with diesel VW's that get better than 40 and they did not waste all of that $$$$$$$$$$ on a prius. I think they use NiMH on hybrids, but they have the same problems as all other batteries.

I wonder what a study would say the environmemtal impact is to buy a new car over just keeping an old one running in good condition. I bet my old 79(fuel injected since 2001) puts out less equivalently than someone who buys a new car every 100,000 miles.

Domestics do make hybrids, Chevy even has a production hybrid truck, but its only real advantage is that it has 110 VAC outlets on it.

Who cares about "initial quality"? That crap is either covered by the warranty or lemon laws. You want reliability?

Look at 3-5 year reliability. The japanese dust everyone. The Prius is practically the most reliable car ever manufactured.

I own a MINI by the way

Just so you know klm i drive a '91 Infiniti/Nissan Q45 w/ 200,000 miles on it. 300hp v8, sips gas and no probs including air conditioning works like new. LOL domestics are so screwed .. cobolt for $15k hahahahahahhaha

And for you Ford lovers your 5.4 triton v8 dyno'd 202hp at the rear wheels on Trucks! hahahahahaa

Ignatius,

Isn't the Escape Hybrid a hybrid? You should probably visit the Ford web site before making your comment about unable to get a hybrid to market.

Escape Hybrid used the Toyota 's first Gen Hybrid system
( check it.. Ford paid Toyota for that)

"And for you Ford lovers your 5.4 triton v8 dyno'd 202hp at the rear wheels on Trucks!"
Yes and did you see the torque it produced? ITS A TRUCK! The same 5.4L makes over 500hp in the mustang although its forced induction.

The Prius uses NiMH batteries, which are Nickel Metal Hydride if I'm not mistaken. They are able to recycle these. Oh... and A123 Systems is currently making a lithium ion battery that is safe for use in cars (won't overheat and explode each cell... imagine a 2,000 cell lithium ion battery in a car... 2,000 explosions).

Oh, I guess I wasn't aware that Ford did indeed have a hybrid, I've never seen a single one on the road or in an advertisement, yet I live in a smaller state (Idaho) and I'm seeing Prius's every single day.

"Luckily the Super Duty wasn't included, since they had to temporarily stop making them do to a problem that caused the truck to shoot flames from its exhaust."

This is a problem? I'd call that a feature! I didn't know anyone made a vehicle with that sort of thing pre-installed.

c'mon - Just so YOU know... I'm a service Tech. at a Nissan dealer (15yrs.) I could tell you sooo many horror stories. Glad to hear your ride is a good one.

You guys are idiots. Talking crap about truck horsepower on gas engines. Yeah, the 06 and earlier Tundras are real impressive. As fast as a greased turd. You clowns need to stop whining like little girls and take the article for what it is. It would be great if this ends up being true, if it doesn't, oh well. Stop acting like 9 year olds.

wes

Folks,

Been driving for nearly 40 years. My first car was a '57 Ford Fairlane. My first "new car" was a '73 Toyota truck. I put 150K on it in the Mojave Desert, then sold it for about 40% of what I paid for it.

Since then, I've owned Nissan, Toyota, Isuzu, and Ford (Mazda) trucks and Nissan, Chrysler (1st wife HAD to have one), and Mercury sedans. Current vehicle is a 2007 Toyota RAV4.

My experience has been excellent with everything EXCEPT the Chrysler....it was a piece of ABSOLUTE junk. All others, I've put 100-150K on every one and had few, if any maintenance problems.

Now, I do not abuse cars, do all the maintenance schedules, and take reasonable care of the interior and paint.

My overall feeling and experience is that Toyota is the best, followed very closely by Nissan and the Ford/Mazda/Mercury family. The gap is very slight. It goes off the cliff with Isuzu and Chrysler.

My wife has a 2007 Mercury Milan and it's been outstanding so far. She got rid of a $$$-sucking BMW 325i...it was always broke...and is far happier with the Merc.

FWIW...........

This is a pathetic ploy on Ford's part to deceive the masses. Anyone with a brain can look at reliability ratings in Consumer Reports April issue and see that Ford cars and trucks long-term overall reliability is poor compared to Honda or Toyota. These are from survey's sent in by readers who own Ford cars and trucks.

It's rare that any new car is going to have major problems in the first year. It's five years down the road that defines the reliability of a car.

fury,

He said American auto makers were unable to get a hybrid to market. The how is not relevant. The fact is Ford has a hybrid on the market. His complaint is in error.

Ford licensed the *patents* to hybrid technology to avoid any legal problems. This does not mean Ford is using a Toyota engine. This is not a strange notion. Look up the history of the intermittent wiper. Auto makers paid Robert Kearns for his patent, but that does mean Robert Kearns designed every car's wiper system.

lol, it seems that video game systems aren't the only thing on the web that has fan-boys...

Anyway, since all vehicles are made differently all have different problems. I had an '85 Honda Accord that lasted a long time but had to replace the clutch 3 times in it, had an Acura Integra that was a complete piece of shit, a VW Sirocco that... nevermind the memories are too bad, and now I've got a Ford F-150 (yes, triton 5.4) that's been doing me well. ALL OF THESE CARS HAVE PROBLEMS, some more than others, some more severe than others.

BUT, I will say that Fords, Chevys and other domestics are MUCH easier to find parts for and to fix, and they are usually much cheaper to fix as well.

I would also like to add that the 5.4L tirton on trucks that got 202hp to the rearwheels was through 35 inch tires. Dino your 300hp q45 with 35 inch tires and see what kind of hp it puts out.

but that aside I agree with xtrm, every car company has problems and if this were the 80's honda/toyota vs. chevy ford might be a valid argument. Too many variable's to consider nowadays.

What really matters is real-world examples. Speaking of anecdotes, I see more domestics on the road dead with blinkers blinking and some guy looking under the hood than I do foreign. I can't even remember the last time I saw a toyota on the side of the road with an orange (broken) sticker on it.

Tom that is the dumbest thing you can write. There are by far more domestic cars then foreign on the road today. Even if you wish different, it isn't even close. Plus the more you people buy foreign cars in America the more you hurt thousands and thousands of jobs. You might think your saving soooo much money getting an import, but over-all your dreaming if you think you are.

Hope you foreign lovers are happy at all the jobs you are costing thousands of people.

I currently am driving a 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis with over 205K on it. It is just starting on it's third set pf platinum spark plugs. I also follow the maintenance schedule very closely (oil/filter every 3K) and the only problems I hacve encountered have been with lower ball joints (they were not lubricatable from the factory and still went over 200K before having to be replaced). I also have a 1991 F-150 super cab with over 208K on it. It's major problem was the alternator failure at about 180K. The rebuilt alternators have been a continuing problem since then. Theis truck still has the factory rear shocks on it! And yes, I use it to haul very heavy loads and pull trailers weiging over 6,000 pounds. It got a new clutch at 200K, so I guess it's not perfect. Japanese quality is extremely overrated. Period.

Ford has benn selling a Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner HYBRID for several years now. And the technology was not from Toyota. A separate company developed the technology that Toyota uses. Toyota pays for the right to use that technology. Ford is also paying that company to use the technology.

Just like ALL new cars have a lead acid battery in them. That doesn't mean one or the other is using each others technology. They are purchasing the batteries or license to manufacture them from an outside company. Same with tires.

And just so everyone knows. ALL new cars available in the USA today will last 200,000 miles IF TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY.

I agree with Shane who posted above. Nobody wants THEIR job to go over seas. But they only care about themselves and continue to buy over seas products. But little do they know it is hurting them and their children or future children. When someone buys an imported product then that is less money earned in the USA. And that means less product purchased from the company that you are employed at. That is what the trickle down effect is. NOBODY is Patriotic anymore. If you don't like the country you are in then go somewhere else instead of trying to ruin the one you live in. The USA has made the best in everything for centuries. Where do mechanics get their hand tools from?????????? Not overseas. And as far as cars. YES we HAD fit and finish issues. But not reliability problems. But there are still old late 60s and early 70s cars MADE IN THE USA with 200,000 miles on them that are still driving the roads as we speak. I am not anti import. I do think I am Patriotic and I do believe that people from every part of the world imaginable come to the USA for a better life and are fully capable of producing quality products. Otherwise why are some foreign auto companies starting to manufacture cars here in the good old USA. And actually have been for quite a while. Just as the Honda Gold Wing motorcycle is the #1 touring bike and is manufactured in the USA.

I hope this has helped a few of you.

I've owned 2 chryslers, 1 mazda, and 2 toyota/lexus.

First chrysler was a K-car which developed a tendency to stall at intersections despite its low mileage. I believe they used material slightly flimsier than cardboard for the sheet metal to save money. Sold it.

Second chrysler is a Caravan with about 20,000 miles on it. It had a tendency to stall at intersections and required 2 fuel pump replacements. I still have it and use it on weekends only since it has almost no resale value.

Mazda was a GLC hatchback which ran reliably for several years and many miles until I sold it for a larger vehicle. It had a few minor problems with the wiper motors.

First Corolla I drove daily for 16 years. I kept telling myself to sell it because it was so old and dated, but it kept running and running without problems.

I finally replaced the Corolla with a used Lexus because Toyota had won me over as a loyal customer. It's been my daily driver for 3 years now, and again, no problems.

By the way, many foreign cars are now manufactured here with North American labor. Go ahead and buy a Chrysler if you feel you have to support all the overpaid American autoworkers and auto repair techs. I'd rather support the North American economy by buying goodies with all the money I save on auto repairs. America will get stronger with an incentive for innovation and quality, not through charity.

Guys,
I own Ford Taurus for past 4 years. I had not any kind of problems except wear-up tires (my fault). It was top model (ses) of Taurus in 2002. Price tag was 23500$, I have paid 18500$. Toyota Camry (top model) was 27500$ and dealer put down price for 500$. I decide to go with Ford because I do little calculating. For Toyota I was supposed to pay 8500$ more at start. After, let's say, 5 years (after warranty expired) I will have in pocket around 10000$ (after added interest) for EVENTUALY repairs. I have in plan to keep this car for 10 years. I know about reliability but I don't think that there is such big deference to cover up initial cost of Toyota.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I know that I'm satisfied with my Ford.
G

What happens when Priuses die: http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/news/images/02envrep-6.pdf (Like all large durable products they are recycled this includes the batteries, in fact Toyota has a program just for the so called "toxic batteries".) I bet if you took all the hybrid and electric cars made in the past and in existance today and compaired how much of them was actually "trashed" and left in dumps it would not even come close to the amount of toxic garbage generated by the consumer electronics people just throw out

Hybrid gas milage: You don't build a hybrid system to get the "best efficency" you go hybrid to get better efficency without having the low power of a "econo box" IC engine or the short range and recharge issues of a pure electric systems. And like all vehicles your driving habbits have a significant impact on overall efficieny. I drove from Florida to Illinois and averaged between 52-55 MPG per tank in my Prius at normal to above normal highway speeds and thats with two large adults and a full cargo area. Where as my break and gas pedal happy wife is quite capible of maintaining 40 MPG tank averages by herself in city driving. On the non-hybrid front I used to drive the old 50 MPG Civic CRX HF and I can tell you I never saw 50 MPG in that gutless wonder for the entire 10 years I drove it. So I know for us we may never get a full return on our hybrid investment in gas savings but for us it is a fun gadget car that just so happens to save a little gas. (Oh and by the way you can't compare true energy efficency of E85 or Desiel MPG to straight gasoline as E85 has lower energy per gallon and Desiel has higher.

Re: Shane & Bob

First of all, I am not anti-USA--far from it. But, I am always going to buy higher quality products, regardless of who makes it.

Counterpoint#1: Do you think your Ford has parts all made or even assembled in the USA? Better do your research before you go on tiraids about the loss of jobs in America.

Next, Foreign auto companies employ thousands of Americans. The more Toyotas you buy, the more jobs in the USA Toyota plants will be created.

Lastly, without customers like me (who buy Toyotas), Ford, GM, and Chrysler would still be manufacturing like they did in the 80's, which is to say horribly. Innovative ideas spread like wildfire. It's just business, it's not personal. If you or your dad got laid off because of foreign auto companies, I'm sorry for you, but that doesn't change reality. If you want to be mad at something, be mad at the machines and equipment that replaced more jobs than competition ever did. Watch the history channel if you want to learn more about that aspect.

Tom
I know there is a lot of fact & logic in what you say. But ALL cars sold in the USA will last at least 200,000 miles if maintained properly. My brothers 1995 Jeep Cherokee has almost 180,000 miles on it now and is not maintained as much as it should be. But it has has 2 sets of tires a water pump, starter, battery and alternater. Not bad for 12 years of daily driving. OH ya I replaced a heater control water valve for him a few months ago. Not world class quality & reliability but close. My friend dave has 212,000 miles on a 1995 Jeep Wrangler. Just regular maintainance. But he is a self admitted red neck off road freak. Which = severe service. He had one rear wheel bearing go out and his alternator is starting to make noise. Not bad.

Devil's advocate...

Could the quality of Toyota and Nissan have gone down?

There is no mention of their previous performance records. I just wonder as some of their models are built here in the US.

Most of these surveys are for INITIAL quality. Japanese cars leave American cars in the dust once the odometer hits 60K. My 94 Camry has just hit 180,000 miles and still runs like new. The mechanic says to just keep changing the oil and you'll get 280,000.

Yes, "American" cars use foreign parts, and many "foreign" cars are built in America. However, the Honda's, Toyota's, etc. that are made here, as an overall percentage, usually have a lot higher foreign content than the American cars.

And foreign manufacturers have some advantages that US companies don't have, like most other countries have nationalized healthcare, so they don't have to spend on healthcare plans for employees.

And, yes, I'm a "protectionist", I believe that we should protect America and American jobs. In 1970, the US was the world's largest importer of raw materials, and world's largest exporter of manufactured goods. Today, it is exactly reversed, all of our raw materials are being exported out, and we get most everything made and shipped here. We are "selling our soul" to have cheap goods at Walmart.

Hydrogen powered vehicles are a pipe dream. The electricity neccessary to separate hydrogen molecules from whatever they're bound to, plus the energy needed to compress it (Honda's prototype has a hydrogen fuel tank pressurized to 6000 psi) means that the energy efficiency (how much energy ends up actually moving the vehicle) of hydrogen is less than 7%. If America converted its entire passenger vehicle line to hydrogen, it would need to double its electrical generating capacity to provide the energy to separate and pressurize the necessary fuel. And where will that electricity come from? If it's coal, then the environment is worse off (gasoline burns much cleaner than coal does). Good luck with that...

One thing is for sure.It's not hip or trendy to buy domestics,no matter what they do. However for those of us who have owned Asian cars should all agree they run forever but rust out in under ten years and not a little; floors trunks,strut towers the list goes on and on. If you could take a toyota drive train and put it my ten year old ranger that would be the ultimate truck.And as for English German and French cars are known for being badly built death traps. Also find me a Jap or Euro car for under 20K anyway.

Hey Brian, FYI there is a VW commercial that claims 3 vw's for under $17,000. And they are telling the truth. You can buy a Jetta base model for about $18,000- 18,500 which includes all fees, taxes and whatnot. About rust, I would say it depends on many factors. I know a guy who has a 89 Accord with 200k plus miles and no rust at all. In fact, I didn't believe him so I checked his car myself and he was telling the truth. He lives in Los Angeles so no salt on roads. That might be the reason. About the Ford 5.4L engine, I think it's a very nice engine for its purpose. After all, Ford has a great heritage of monstrous HP where necessary. Think abt GT or shelby mustangs.

Re: Paul

I don't know where you get your statistics. USA is ranked #2 in the world for exported merchandise, closely behind Germany. China is a distant 3rd place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade#International_trade

Again, it comes down to business. If companies can save money by outsourcing jobs, they will. Sure, buying American cars will keep some jobs here, but it won't solve the problem. The problem is that some people prefer to have a higher quality product, especially when they're going to be spending tens of thousands of dollars on it. You can't expect people to buy a product out of sheer sympathy. That's a bit naive.

Maybe you guys should check the facts. You might find that
Domestic: Toyota, Honda
Foreign: Ford, Chrysler, GM

Where do those Toyota Camry's and Honda Accord's come from? Yes, good ol' USA built in American plants, with tons of American built parts with American workers.

Where does your Ford Fusion come from? From Ford's Hermosillo plant in MEXICO. (Nope, sorry, Mexico is not part of USA yet). Built outside of USA, by non-Americans. Hmmm....

Ram trucks and PT Cruisers? Yup, Mexico. Heck, Chrysler isn't even American owned anymore!
Chevy Suburban and Avalanche? Mexico.

You want your money to go to American salaries or not?

There's many sources, you can start your read here:

You might want to look to where the profits go and where the majority of the parts are made in. Not the good ol' USA....people almost seem brainwashed that nothing made by American car companies is reliable anymore, even after all the countless recalls by Toyota and Honda recently. Heck I just read one that had 165,000 recalled Honda's because of engine problems and Toyota had 600,000 recalls last year.

Dam so much fighting. I say this. It does not matter what car you own if you do not take care of it, it will not last. And no a honda is no different.

I knew one guy who didn't like Ford because his dad owned a F-250 and never changed the transmision fluid in it and the tranny blew at 200k miles. He thought you didn't have to change the tranny fluid ever..

And in terms of truck quality Ford trucks are more reliable and dependable. There are more Ford trucks with 150k+ miles on the road than any other truck. And so far no matter how hard the foreign auto makers try, they can't outsell the F-150.

And its is not a pre decided poll. Hell look at what readers digest did. Sent 500 people and invitation to test the Fusion, Canry and Accord and most chose the Fusion.

My family has owned fords for most of our existance and we never had any problems with them. My grandfater has owned anywhere from a A-10 to a Ranger and loves Fords. I own a 99 Contour SE sport and its at 80k miles. Only major, which isnt where I live(Tucson, AZ), was my air intake gaskets dried up and had to be replaced. And thats expected of most cars in 110+ degree weather.

I myself will only buy Fords. I know how to take care of my cars unlike most idiots on the road who drive it too fast and never change the fluids when it is needed. Plus I would rather support a American car company than some Japanese company that doesn't in the end contribute to the jobs here.

Also I drove a rental car once. Funny thing too. It was a 2006 Toyota Corolla. Had 6k miles on it. I was on the highway doing 75 and the engine just blew. The mechanic for the rental place tried to tell me there was too much oil in the engine but when there is it doesn't lose power and barley make it over 20MPH and 2kRPM.

And Billy my Ford is made in the good ol USA. Built in Kansas city, Kansas by hard working americans. My parts aren't from Mexico either. They are Bendix, most probably don't know of that, Fords European Motorcraft equvalent. Then again the Contour is a Euro Ford aka Mondeo. You can try to fight me but I can prove it easily. Look at the 99 Mondeo and compare it to the 99 Contour. Same goes for the Fusion. But the Euro Fusion is a SUV/Croosover. The Focus and a few others that aren't produced anymore.

And just another tidbit on the trucks. No other car company will be able to beat the new F-450 Superduty. If toyota thinks they are changing it all they are wrong. This one will tear that Tundra up to pieces. Check the site. Its a freakin awesome truck.

Oh and by the way in the 80's Ford bailed Honda out because they were failing. If that never happened there never would have been Hondas or Toyotas since most would have stuck with American cars. Sad thing is there would be more jobs here since those companies would not be losing money.

i with JJ

I currently own a 2000 ford expidition that has about 200K miles on it. It used to be for my mom to drive my family of 6 around to differnt practices and been on many different vacations. I have not had a single problem with the truck in my life. The only thing that had to be replace that was considered big was the alternator twice (the second was on warranty cause the one that was put in had a crap load of factory problems with it.) I mean i did have to replace the bumper because i hit a ditch goin of road too hard. But i drive it hard and take very good care of it and it still runs. Oh, and by the way fords F series and overall trucks and its vans are extremely reliable (both father and grandfather have a fleet of over 50 vans ) And my friends dad who used to work for Oldsmobile (created and designed the 442) said that ford F series has been the most reliable and most sold trucks in the USA.

I have 300,500 miles on my '96 Sentra. I had to replace the suspension and CV joints at 200k, but have never had to make any major engine repairs. That's durability!

Look, everyone stop being such fanboys. The automotive market is so complex these days, with seemingly every car using so many parts from so many countries. A lot of this "long-term" reliability is highly dependent upon the motorists competency to maintain the car.

I could drive a Kia, maintain it will and it would last tons longer than my F150 (which is my hauler for my dad's ranch, and runs very well... 123k) if I didn't maintain it like I did.

These sort of "experiments" should document cars donated by the car companies, and maintain them as directed by the manufacturer. I wonder how many "problems" would be detected then...

My daily driver is a 1992 Mazda Protege LX, which I bought brand new. It just humped 200k, without any major mechanical problems. My mother drives a 2002 Ford Focus Wagon with 102k, with just a timing belt replacement.

Same with my father, who lives by his Toyota Tundra (which I don't like at all, I prefer the F150, but to each his own), and it runs like a champ.

Of course, my whole family takes car of their cars, and they will last because of that. These days, automakers are highly aware of quality-issues carried on through the years by consumers, and they know a second-hand quality car will burn in the mind of the consumer for their whole life.

Any new car these days, if maintained properly, will last a lifetime. Use the factory service manual to your advantage, and your car won't be a three year old piece of garbage.

well i have a 98 mustang with 200k plus and never had a problem.

i am not knowledgable enough to comment but i think what goes around comes around and if we don't buy american more americans are going to be unemployed.
i don't buy the fact they are made here cause the japanese cars are just assembled here and the guts is made somewhere else.

go to the uaw website and buy an american car

well i have a 98 mustang with 200k plus and never had a problem.

i am not knowledgable enough to comment but i think what goes around comes around and if we don't buy american more americans are going to be unemployed.
i don't buy the fact they are made here cause the japanese cars are just assembled here and the guts is made somewhere else.

go to the uaw website and buy an american car

well i have a 98 mustang with 200k plus and never had a problem.

i am not knowledgable enough to comment but i think what goes around comes around and if we don't buy american more americans are going to be unemployed.
i don't buy the fact they are made here cause the japanese cars are just assembled here and the guts is made somewhere else.

go to the uaw website and buy an american car

for those of you who say that "foreign lovers" are costing America jobs!!!

Tell that to Ford, GM, and Chrysler who are producing their "American" cars in Canada, Mexico, China, Europe, and Brazil.
And you should also tell that to the "foreign companies" who are builing their cars in Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina, California, and Alabama.

P.S. it's the God-forsaken UAW driving the jobs to other countries

So I guess then at 60,000 miles the automatic transmissions in the F-series trucks won't puke the transmission fluid out, and waste the transmission? Hey, when is Ford going to start using American folks to build their trucks? I mean, they have been building their trucks in Mexico for years now. I laugh everytime I see those Ford truck commercials being the best built truck in America...they should say, best American owned company that no longer employs American people truck.

Ooops! Forgot to mention the poor quality of Ford. Quality sucks! Try reading a Consumer Reports April Auto Issue, and see what the owners of Ford trucks report of how unreliable Ford products are, including the F-series.