Car Reliability Stats Updated, Passat Problems Pinpointed

Whenever we post about a Volkswagen, comments about reliability (or, more specifically, the lack of it) inevitably follow. So few will be surprised that, with the latest update to TrueDelta's car reliability stats, the 2012 Passat again received subpar marks. Though the big sedan's score is better than earlier, it remains considerably worse than most other 2012s. Digging through the repair reports, a common cause emerges. Ignition coils aren't failing. Nor are window regulators. Instead, the most common problem for these cars happens to be rattles. VAG certainly knows how to engineer a car without bits that squeak and jiggle. The far more complex new A6 and A7 have had hardly any problems of any sort so far, rattles or otherwise. So what happened with the new Passat? Don't quickly blame the new Chattanooga plant: the "hecho en Mexico" 2012 Jetta is also prone to rattle. These updated reliability stats cover owner experiences through the end of June 2012 (scores elsewhere are about 14 months behind). Among recently redesigned cars, the Passat is the exception rather than the rule. In addition to the A6 and A7, the FIAT 500, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, and Subaru Impreza are all doing well so far. Initial data for the 2013 Mazda CX-5 suggest it will be joining them. The Ford Focus isn't among the best, but "about average" is an improvement over Fords redesigned a year or two earlier (Taurus, Fiesta, Explorer). TrueDelta will update its car reliability stats again in November. The more people participate, the more models we can cover and the more precise these stats will be. To view the updated repair trips per year stats: Car Reliability Survey results Michael Karesh operates truedelta.com, a provider of car reliability and pricing information. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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