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The Updated 2010 Reliability Grade Point Averages and Grades for Lines/Brands of Automobiles
Sold in North America: The Complete Table
and the Top 10 Automobile Brands and the Bottom 10 Automobile
Brands
by James Bleeker
Photograph of a 2000 Toyota
Echo Coupe on 30 August 2010
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The Toyota Echo has a 2010 Auto Reliability
GPA of a perfect 4.00 over its 6-year data history and
has helped the Toyota line place second among all
automobile lines. See the
table and bar graph below. |
The Complete Table
This page provides detailed 2010 auto brand reliability
ratings and auto brand reliability rankings in a reorderable table. It
expresses the auto brand reliability ratings and auto brand reliability
rankings, and makes available brand reliability comparisons and brand
reliability contrasts, using the Auto Reliability Grade Point Average, or
Auto Reliability GPA. This auto reliability index is valuable as it is an
easy-to-understand, but detailed, auto reliability measure, and is familiar
to many having attended secondary school and nearly all who have received
some post-secondary education. The page also employs Auto Reliability Grades
as a reliability index. This measure of auto reliability differences,
although less detailed, is valuable as it is familiar to all persons having
attended primary school. The updated Auto Reliability GPA is an automobile
reliability statistic that is obtained from Consumer Reports' auto
reliability survey data summarized in the reliability tables of (1) Consumer Reports: New Car Buying Guide: 2010,
(2) Consumer Reports: Used Car Buying Guide: 2010, and
(3) the April 2010 issue of the Consumer Reports magazine. Column
reordering on this page is Ajax
enabled to make for a convenient and easy-to-use reordering option.
The Average
GPA for each car brand is the average of the
Average GPAs of its models. The Average
Minimum GPA for each car brand is the average of the
Minimum GPAs of its models. The Reliable
Two, Toyota Motor Corporation and Honda Motor Company, appear first in the
table, because of their rather singular stature; the remaining manufacturers
are listed alphabetically.
Letter grades corresponding to Average GPAs and Average Minimum GPAs are determined thusly: A if the GPA is 3.50 to
4.00, B if the GPA is 2.50 to 3.49, C if the GPA is 1.50 to 2.49, D if
the GPA is 0.50 to 1.49, and F if the GPA < 0.50.
GPAs for 4 age ranges are given so that the visitor may
examine more thoroughly the age range that is of greater interest to
him/her, if such there be.
To arrange any column in ascending order
(smallest value on top), click the header of the column.
Arranging a reliability GPA or Grade column in ascending order
will place the lowest reliability values and least reliable
auto brands at the top (after those with empty cells) and the highest
reliability values and most reliable auto brands at the bottom of the
table. This automobile brand ranking will permit the visitor to
better visualize auto brand differences. The reliability ranking feature is
Ajax enabled for ease of use.
To
rearrange any column in descending order
(largest value on top), click the header one more time.
Arranging a reliability GPA or Grade column in descending order
will place the highest reliability values and most reliable
auto brands at the top. Lists below the table give (1) the 10 most reliable auto
brands and (2) the 10 least reliable auto brands.
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The Updated 2010 Reliability Grade Point Averages (GPAs) for
Brands of Motor Vehicles
with Reliability GPAs for Four 4-Year Age Ranges and an
Overall Average Reliability GPA
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Click GPA or Grade
Column Header Twice for Auto Brand Reliability Ranking
from Best to Worst |
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ID | Auto Manufacturer | Line | Line GPA for 0-to-4 Year Old Vehicles | Line GPA for 2-to-6 Year Old Vehicles | Line GPA for 4-to-8 Year Old Vehicles | Line GPA for 6-to-10 Year Old Vehicles | Average of Reliability GPAs | Grade Based on Average Reliability GPA | Average Minimum GPA | Grade Based on Average Minimum | Average Number of Model Years of Data |
13 | Toyota | Lexus | 3.12 | 3.27 | 3.81 | 3.83 | 3.32 | B | 3.08 | B | 6.83 |
38 | Toyota | Toyota | 3.38 | 3.63 | 3.72 | 3.67 | 3.54 | A | 3.28 | B | 6.83 |
43 | Toyota | Scion | 3.44 | 3.63 | 3.69 | | 3.57 | A | 3.31 | B | 6.41 |
52 | Honda | Acura | 3.38 | 3.51 | 3.28 | 3.30 | 3.36 | B | 3.05 | B | 6.14 |
68 | Honda | Honda | 3.56 | 3.65 | 3.49 | 3.31 | 3.39 | B | 3.20 | B | 6.53 |
79 | BMW | BMW | 1.52 | 2.04 | 2.21 | 1.78 | 1.64 | C | 1.28 | D | 5.67 |
83 | BMW | Mini Cooper | 1.00 | 0.75 | 1.38 | 1.00 | 1.14 | D | 0.92 | D | 5.33 |
93 | Chrysler | Jeep | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.25 | 1.50 | 1.13 | D | 0.68 | D | 5.50 |
101 | Chrysler | Chrysler | 1.08 | 1.06 | 1.10 | 1.27 | 1.20 | D | 1.02 | D | 6.29 |
118 | Chrysler | Dodge | 0.96 | 0.98 | 1.10 | 1.21 | 1.00 | D | 0.69 | D | 5.13 |
132 | Daimler | Mercedes-Benz | 1.66 | 1.44 | 1.94 | 2.39 | 1.72 | C | 1.49 | D | 5.25 |
134 | Daimler | Smart ForTwo | 1.00 | | | | 1.00 | D | 1.00 | D | 2.00 |
160 | Ford | Ford | 2.21 | 2.02 | 2.01 | 2.10 | 2.15 | C | 1.84 | C | 6.29 |
167 | Ford | Lincoln | 2.03 | 2.12 | 1.78 | 1.97 | 1.81 | C | 1.58 | C | 5.17 |
175 | Ford | Mercury | 2.35 | 2.36 | 1.95 | 2.08 | 2.32 | C | 2.08 | C | 5.50 |
186 | Ford | Volvo | 2.20 | 2.06 | 1.81 | 1.77 | 1.95 | C | 1.63 | C | 5.00 |
195 | General Motors | Buick | 1.79 | 2.17 | 1.83 | | 1.81 | C | 1.57 | C | 4.00 |
202 | General Motors | Cadillac | 0.88 | 1.32 | 1.43 | 1.17 | 1.19 | D | 0.74 | D | 5.50 |
228 | General Motors | Chevrolet | 1.27 | 1.06 | 1.41 | 1.54 | 1.37 | D | 1.02 | D | 6.04 |
238 | General Motors | GMC | 0.98 | 1.06 | 1.50 | 1.69 | 1.20 | D | 0.68 | D | 7.22 |
240 | General Motors | Hummer | 0.67 | 1.00 | | | 0.83 | D | 0.67 | D | 3.00 |
244 | General Motors | Oldsmobile | | 2.00 | 1.44 | 0.75 | 1.34 | D | 0.75 | D | 4.00 |
256 | General Motors | Pontiac | 1.12 | 1.29 | 1.59 | 1.25 | 1.27 | D | 1.05 | D | 3.64 |
259 | General Motors | Saab | 1.83 | 1.13 | 0.63 | 1.13 | 1.18 | D | 0.63 | D | 8.50 |
267 | General Motors | Saturn | 1.40 | 1.25 | 1.33 | 1.00 | 1.30 | D | 0.90 | D | 4.00 |
281 | Hyundai | Hyundai | 2.55 | 2.14 | 2.19 | 1.63 | 2.07 | C | 1.78 | C | 4.92 |
284 | Isuzu | Isuzu | | | 1.00 | 0.67 | 0.83 | D | 0.67 | D | 3.00 |
291 | Jaguar | Jaguar | 0.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 1.75 | 1.42 | D | 1.33 | D | 2.40 |
300 | Kia | Kia | 2.39 | 1.96 | 1.13 | 1.00 | 1.94 | C | 1.52 | C | 4.50 |
305 | Land Rover | Land Rover | 0.33 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.13 | F | 0.00 | F | 1.67 |
319 | Mazda | Mazda | 2.47 | 2.30 | 2.48 | 2.68 | 2.30 | C | 1.97 | C | 5.67 |
327 | Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi | 3.00 | 2.88 | 2.67 | 2.25 | 2.60 | B | 2.33 | C | 3.83 |
338 | Nissan | Infiniti | 3.04 | 3.21 | 3.17 | 3.30 | 3.15 | B | 3.00 | B | 4.11 |
354 | Nissan | Nissan | 2.19 | 2.05 | 1.86 | 2.22 | 2.13 | C | 1.84 | C | 6.47 |
360 | Porsche | Porsche | 2.58 | 2.38 | 1.67 | 2.38 | 2.39 | C | 2.13 | C | 5.75 |
370 | Subaru | Subaru | 2.92 | 2.89 | 2.46 | 2.10 | 2.61 | B | 2.05 | C | 7.13 |
375 | Suzuki | Suzuki | 2.17 | 2.00 | | 2.00 | 2.17 | C | 2.00 | C | 2.00 |
384 | Volkswagen | Audi | 1.80 | 1.05 | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.29 | D | 0.68 | D | 4.29 |
395 | Volkswagen | Volkswagen | 1.88 | 1.42 | 0.82 | 1.10 | 1.58 | C | 1.15 | D | 5.30 |
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The following bar graph depicts the 2010 Auto Reliability GPAs
of the above brands.

There are several important points to be noted from the above
bar graph. The first is that Ford Motor Company's Mercury brand
is now among the ten most reliable brands and that the Ford
brand is not far away. The second is that the 2010 Auto Reliability
GPA of the Ford brand exceeds that of the Nissan brand, but only
by a very small margin (0.02). The third is that the 2010 Auto
Reliability GPAs of the Hyundai and Kia brands exceed the
Reliability GPAs of all of the brands of Chrysler LLC and all of
the present and past brands of the General Motors Corporation.
Also note that only GM's Buick brand has a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade
above a D. The fourth is that the only European brand to have a
2010 Auto
Reliability GPA exceeding 2.00 is the Porsche brand. The fifth
is that many more of the brands have a 2010 Auto Reliability GPA
below 2.00 than above 2.00; this reflects the very high
concentration of quality in a small number of brands.
The 2010 Top 10 Automobile Brands
Next, we list the 10 most reliable automobile brands. The 2010 Top Ten
brands are:
Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion brand, with
an overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of 3.57,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Toyota brand, with an
overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 3.54,
Honda Motor Company's Honda brand, with an overall 2010 Auto Reliability
GPA of 3.39,
Honda Motor Company's Acura brand, with an overall 2010 Auto Reliability
GPA of 3.36,
Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus brand, with an
overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 3.32,
Nissan Motor Company's Infiniti brand, with an
overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 3.15,
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Subaru brand, with an
overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 2.61,
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's Mitsubishi brand, with
an overall 2010
Auto Reliability GPA of 2.60,
Porsche AG's Porsche brand, with an overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of
2.39,
Ford Motor Company's Mercury brand, with an overall 2010 Auto Reliability
GPA of 2.32.
Note that Toyota Motor Corporation's three brands and Honda
Motor Company two brands constitute the five best brands. Also
note that the difference between the 2010 Auto Reliability GPA
of Toyota's Lexus brand, fifth most reliable, and the 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of
Nissan's Infiniti brand, sixth most reliable, is very small, although the
1990s'
Reliability Percentrank Average
differences were rather sizable. Also note that the difference
(0.54) between the 2010 Auto Reliability GPAs of the 7th most
reliable brand (Subaru) and the 6th most reliable (Infiniti)
brand is quite sizable, very sizable relative to the difference
(0.04) between the 2010 Auto Reliability GPAs of the 6th most
reliable brand (Lexus) and the 5th most reliable brand (Acura).
The 2010 Bottom 10 Automobile Brands
Next, we list the 10 least reliable automobile brands. The 2010 Bottom Ten
(11 by tie) brands are:
Land Rover's
Land Rover brand, with
an overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of 0.13,
Isuzu Motors Ltd.'s Isuzu brand, with
an overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 0.83,
General Motors Corporation's
Hummer brand, with an overall 2010 Auto Reliability
GPA of 0.83,
Daimler AG's Smart ForTwo brand, with
an overall 2010 Auto Reliability
GPA of 1.00,
Chrysler LLC's Dodge brand, with
an overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 1.00,
Chrysler LLC's Jeep brand, with
an overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 1.13,
BMW AG's Mini Cooper brand, with
an overall 2010 Auto
Reliability GPA of 1.14,
General Motors Corporation's Saab brand, with
an overall 2010
Auto Reliability GPA of 1.18,
General Motors Corporation's Cadillac brand, with
an overall 2010
Auto Reliability GPA of 1.19,
Chrysler LLC's Chrysler
brand, with an overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of 1.20,
General Motors Corporation's GMC brand, with
an overall 2010
Auto Reliability GPA of 1.20.
Note that all of Chrysler LLC's brands are in the bottom ten,
although GM has more brands with the worst Reliability GPAs, two
of which General Motors plans to continue to market to the North
American consumer.
By comparing the 2010 auto reliability rankings, GPAs, and
grades on this page, which incorporate the updates from Consumer Reports:
Used Car Buying Guide: 2010, with the 2010 auto reliability
rankings, GPAs, and grades on the
earlier page, where the reliability ratings are based
only on Consumer Reports: New Car Buying Guide: 2010
and the April 2010 issue of Consumer Reports magazine, the visitor may see that the
reliability differences are
rather minor.
Caution
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When the average number of model
years of data (appearing in the far right column) for a
line is small, the reliability GPAs of that line may be
less reflective of the line's quality. For example,
General Motors Corporation changes model names rather often;
consequently, there is more limited information in the higher age
ranges. |
Note
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General Motors'
efforts to dump the Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn
lines appear to have been well justified. However, the above
reliability values suggest that
an attempt to dump the Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC
lines may be equally well justified. |
Disclosure
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Site manager is currently a
very small shareholder of Ford Motor Company (2010-07-23). I am not,
and have not been, a
shareholder of any other motor vehicle manufacturer. |
A
PDF version
of the above table of 2010 Reliability GPAs and Grades is available for downloading and/or printing. As
the quality standing of each auto manufacturer changes slowly
over time, the PDF file may be useful for one or two generations to come.
Also available are PDF files of (1) the
graph of the 2010
Auto Reliability GPAs of the major brands and (2) the
lists of the ten most reliable automobile brands and the ten
least reliable automobile brands.
Note
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Although this site was created using software by Microsoft,
you may encounter difficulty in downloading a PDF file from this
page using
Internet Explorer. However, with Mozilla Firefox, there should
be no difficulty, and the download should be speedy. Also,
with the Mozilla Firefox browser you will avoid IE's occasional distortion of
visual elements. |
The method of computation of the GPAs is probably familiar to nearly
every college, technical school, and high school student. A Grade Point of 4.00 (that is, an A) is given to a Consumer Reports
"Much Better Than Average" auto reliability rating, a GP of 3.00 (that is, a B) is given to a
CR "Better Than Average" auto reliability rating, a GP of 2.00 (that is, a C) to an "Average"
auto reliability rating, a GP of 1.00 (that is, a D) to a "Worse Than Average"
auto reliability rating, and a
GP of 0.00 (that is, an F) to a "Much Worse Than Average"
auto reliability rating. A Grade
Point Average (GPA) is an average of the Grade Points and is computed using
Microsoft's Average(a:b,[c:d],...) function.
The table is an immediate import from Microsoft's Access and a more
distant import from Microsoft's Excel. The integration of the Access
database into Microsoft's Web Expression software makes the reordering of
the columns a rather simple task. For Ajax's partial post back, the
ScriptManager and UpdatePanel controls were inserted by dragging; <ContentTemplate>
was manually inserted into the code immediately after the ScriptManager and
Update controls.
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