Least reliable cars 1997 - 2012

**ChrisPackit** · 22 November 2012, 12:47

Haha, I have owned 2 of the cars off that list and plan on buying a third one off the list next year. How nuts must I be

That list doesn't surprise me at all...

**OwlHoot** · 22 November 2012, 13:03

Curiously, there's no Jaguar on that list.

I must say mine has always been reliable, but they used to have a terrible reputation.

**Mich the Tester** · 22 November 2012, 13:08

Originally posted by OwlHoot View Post

Curiously, there's no Jaguar on that list.

I must say mine has always been reliable, but they used to have a terrible reputation.

I hope you're right; I bought one two weeks ago.

**lilelvis2000** · 22 November 2012, 13:11

Apparently, German cars are tulipe. Which is okay with me because i only buy either vintage british or Japanese.

**fullyautomatix** · 22 November 2012, 13:32

In a reliability index what matters is the production levels. If Ferrari produce 100 cars a year they can make sure that they have 100% reliability. If Toyota mass produce millions a year they will have more difficulty in quality control.

Contrary to what Dim said about Toyota being driven once a week by a pensioner, Japanese cars normally pass through a stringent quality control regime to make sure each and every car has a level of reliability about them. Honda claim to have no engine failures in a million.

Difference between japanese production and others is that japanese do not tolerate faults in manufacturing and tend to discard defected parts whereas other profit minded companies tend to ignore defects realised in quality control and hence they have a higher number of faulty vehicles.

**Lockhouse** · 22 November 2012, 13:39

Currently saving for a Conti....

**TykeMerc** · 22 November 2012, 13:57

Originally posted by OwlHoot View Post

Curiously, there's no Jaguar on that list.

I must say mine has always been reliable, but they used to have a terrible reputation.

I believe that Jag cleaned up their reliability issues in the late '90's. I know a couple of people with high mileage Jags and apart from expensive servicing (probably not much different from BMW or Merc though) they haven't moaned about bits falling off or going twang.

**VectraMan** · 22 November 2012, 14:04

Originally posted by fullyautomatix View Post

In a reliability index what matters is the production levels. If Ferrari produce 100 cars a year they can make sure that they have 100% reliability. If Toyota mass produce millions a year they will have more difficulty in quality control.

I think the opposite is true. Mass production means everything produced identically, with identical high standards, otherwise it just wouldn't work.

And Ferrari owners probably have their cars serviced more often than they drive them, whereas old Toyotas get used and abused.

Honda claim to have no engine failures in a million.

I'd love to know who came up with that myth. There's some nonsense you often hear repeated about "no VTEC engine has ever failed", and what they actually meant was no failures for the VTEC system itself, and then they were only talking about under warranty. I've personally had one Honda VTEC engine failure out of two, and I know someone who's had four out of five. And you certainly don't want to buy an 09 S2000.

**fullyautomatix** · 22 November 2012, 14:13

Originally posted by VectraMan View Post

I think the opposite is true. Mass production means everything produced identically, with identical high standards, otherwise it just wouldn't work.

No, the opposite is not true in the case of manufacturing. No two items are identical when it comes to producing items like Engines etc. The manufacturing process is identical but the materials, environment conditions etc differ and they all result in faults. I know because I have been in a manufacturing industry as apprentice and seen first hand how no two items were the same.

Least reliable cars 1997 - 2012