Consumer Reports reliability scores: Ford tanks, Jeep jumps

First-year flaws in its Explorer SUV and Fiesta and Focus small cars wrecked Ford's scores in Consumer Reports magazine's latest predicted-reliability report card.

The three new Ford models "all had below-average reliability in their first year," dropping the Ford brand's overall ranking to No. 20 this year, from No. 10 a year ago. CR said that until now Ford has been "a model of American reliability, competing well against Japanese makes." But not now. It's 10-spot tumble was the biggest drop of any major brand in the report.

Particular problems included the MyFord Touch electronic control system and a dry-clutch automatic transmission in the Fiesta and Focus.

On the other hand, Chrysler Group's new designs mostly fared well, and Chrysler's Jeep brand rose seven spots, to 13th overall among 28 brands rated, making Jeep the highest-scoring Detroit brand.

Widely consulted CR announced its latest reliability scores today in Detroit. The ratings mainly are based on the magazine's database of owner-reported problems with the 2002 through 2011 model vehicles. The latest scores are chiefly based on results from the last three model years. If a vehicle has been redesigned more recently, CR will use one or two years of data. And if it's completely new, CR sometimes will make a reliability prediction based on the brand's overall reliability history, "but only if previous versions had outstanding reliability," the magazine says.

Three brands most likely to be reliable, starting with the best, according to CR:

Scion, Lexus Acura.

Three least-reliable:

Audi, Porsche, Jaguar.

"We have often found that new or revamped models have more problems in their first year than in subsequent model years. Ford's problems illustrate why we recommend to our subscribers to hold off buying a first-year model," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Automotive Test Center.

Some other examples from this year's CR reliability report:

Refreshed Chrysler Town & Country minivan "tanked," CR says.

Redesigned Honda Odyssey minivan was the only Honda below average.

Redesigned BMW 5-series was well below average.

Redesigned Porsche Cayenne SUV "had a terrible debut year," CR says.

Here are the top-ranked models by vehicle type, CR's 2012 additions to its "Recommended" and "NOT Recommended" lists and the predicted reliability chart by brand:

TOP MODELS FOR PREDICTED 2012 RELIABILITY BY TYPE

Top-scorers for predicted 2012 model reliability by vehicle type. Note: Overall, CR says, family cars, wagons and hatchbacks and small SUVs are the most reliable in the survey, and full-sized pickups, luxury SUVs, luxury cars and minivans are among the least reliable. (* indicates based on data from one model year.)

Small hatchbacks

Scion xD
Honda Fit
Scion xB

Small cars

Mazda3 sedan
Toyota Corolla
Suzuki SX4

Fuel-efficient hatchbacks

Lexus CT 200h*
Toyota Prius
Chevrolet Volt*

Family cars

Ford Fusion Hybrid
Chrysler 200 sedan*
Subaru Legacy (4-cyl.)

Upscale cars

Lexus ES
Acura TL (FWD)
Lexus IS sedan (AWD)

Luxury cars

Lexus LS
Volvo S80 (6-cyl.)
BMW 7 Series*

Sporty cars

Honda CR-Z*
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Dodge Challenger

Coupes/convertibles

Infiniti G coupe
Honda Accord coupe(4-cyl.)
Volvo C70*

Wagons

Toyota Venza (4-cyl.)
Toyota Venza (V6)
Subaru Outback (4-cyl.)

Minivans

Toyota Sienna (FWD)*

Van

Ford Transit Connect*

Small SUVs

Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl.)
Subaru Forester (non-turbo)
Ford Escape hybrid

Upscale compact SUVs

Acura RDX
BMW X3*
Infiniti EX

Mid-sized SUVs

Toyota Highlander (4-cyl.)
Toyota Highlander (V6)
Toyota 4Runner (V6)

Large SUVs

Dodge Durango*
Chevrolet Traverse (FWD)
Ford Expedition

Luxury SUVs

Infiniti QX56*
Lexus LX*
Acura MDX

Compact pickups

Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tacoma (4-cyl., 4WD)
Toyota Tacoma (4-cyl., 2WD)

Full-size pickups

Nissan Titan*
Toyota Tundra (V8, 2WD)
Ford F-150 (V8, 2WD)

MODELS NEWLY "RECOMMENDED" -- AND NOT
Reliability predictions play a key role in CR's decision to recommend a model or not, along with road tests and independent crash tests. Models that newly gained recommended status thanks to the new reliability survey, and those that fell off the recommended list. (* indicates data based on one model year):

NEWLY RECOMMENDED
Models with improved reliability

Audi A3
BMW X5 35d
Cadillac CTS (V6, RWD)
GMC Terrain
Lexus IS Convertible*
Mercedes-Benz GLK
Mini Cooper Convertible

Now have sufficient data:

Audi A5
BMW X3*
Chevrolet Volt*
Dodge Durango*
Ford F-150 (EcoBoost)*
Hyundai Sonata (turbo)*
Infiniti G Convertible
Infiniti M*
Infiniti QX56*
Jeep Grand Cherokee*
Kia Optima*
Kia Sportage*
Lexus CT 200h*
Mini Countryman*
Nissan Juke*
Volvo S60*

NOT RECOMMENDED
Now have sufficient data but are below average

Buick Regal*
BMW 5 Series*
Chevrolet Cruze*
Chrysler Town & Country*
Dodge Grand Caravan*
Ford Explorer*
Ford Fiesta*
Ford Focus*
Honda Odyssey*
Jaguar XJ*
Porsche Cayenne*
Toyota Sienna (AWD)*
Volkswagen Jetta TDI* Sedan

Models with declining reliability

Buick Enclave (AWD)
Buick LaCrosse (FWD)
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (V8, 4WD)
Dodge Ram 1500 (4WD)
Ford Flex (EcoBoost)
GMC Sierra 1500 (V8, 4WD)
Hyundai Santa Fe (V6)
Kia Sorento (V6)*
Lincoln MKT*
Mercedes-Benz S-Class*
Volkswagen CC

Note from CR: "Predictions based on only a single year's data are somewhat tentative ... That reinforces our advice to not buy a new or redesigned model in its first year.
Note from CR: New or redesigned 2011 or early 2012 models with insufficient data yet to make the recommended list include the Audi A8, Chrysler 300, Dodge Avenger and Charger, Fiat 500,Hyundai Equus, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Mazda2, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Nissan Leaf, Nissan Quest, Scion tC, and Volkswagen Touareg.