(SNN Detroit) Consumer Reports sent surveys last spring to its 6 million subscribers. The surveys asked questions about 1998 to 2005 model year vehicles. The annual Consumer Reports reliability survey, Japanese cars have recently taken major hits in quality and reliability.

Just a few years ago, buying an Asian car was a complete no-brainer

Japanese cars have fallen so far in quality that only 29 Japanese vehicles fall into the group of 31 vehicles to earn the highest reliability ratings. One of Toyotas vehicles, the Avalon, only rated average. Irv Miller, a Toyota spokesman, says the automaker is actively addressing complaints from consumers about the Avalon. He predicts the car's rating will increase next year.

But the problems of Asian makers don’t stop there. Three percent of owners of Toyota’s Prius Hybrid were unhappy with their purchase. Many Nissan vehicles have rated as poor, due to Nissan locating its new plant in Mississippi.

Three percent of owners of Toyota’s Prius Hybrid were unhappy with their purchase.

Hyundai, who makes vehicles priced somewhere between a motorized skateboard and a Vespa, also had vehicles that rated only poor to avarage. The Hyundai commitment to quality is reflected in its summer of 2005 ad campaign, “What do you expect? It’s a fucking Hyundai.” This replaced their Spring campaign, “Slightly better than a kick in the nuts.”

"One time you would consider buying a Japanese car because you'd get excellent reliability, but now you're starting to see some nicks in the armor," says David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test center. Yes, while just a few years ago, buying an Asian car was a complete no-brainer, now you may have to do some comparison shopping in order to determine just which Asian car to buy.

posted by NewsBlog 5000  # Thursday, October 27, 2005