Consumer Reports LOL

[WilldWilly]

My wife and I were at a family gathering yesterday when someone made the comment that Jeep was the worst brand according to Consumer Reports. Of course, I said " What do they rate at the top?" My wife's aunt responded with "Toyota!" I said what is the name of the Toyota that helped win WW2, has a removable roof and doors currently sold in the US? She looked at me dumbfounded, and said she was just telling me what she read in Consumer Reports. I asked her what Toyota technicians did for a living? You don't really think they make their money on oil changes? Seems like a smart financial move for a Toyota tech is to go to work for Jeep. If I wanted to buy a boring car with no style aimed towards boring people who just see cars as transportation only, I would have purchased a Toyota. If you want me to drive Toyota, then provide me with one, and a hammer to hit myself in the head when I get so bored I fall asleep. I told her I do not give a rat's ass what consumer reports thinks. I am sure employees of consumer reports drive Toyotas and watch re-runs of Friends. Besides, I would rather use my warranty and drive what I enjoy, then to go without issue in something that makes me want to fall asleep at the wheel.
Funny thing is Jeep Gladiator is #5 most US made vehicle behind Tesla. Moreso than the Wrangler probably because of the optional Turbo 4 available in the Wrangler is not built in the US I guess.
As a person who has owned a couple Toyotas, I can and will say they are a great car. As a person who has owned several Jeeps, they are a great vehicle too. Consumer Reports can kiss my ass.

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[Sweetums]

If Toyota built a Jeep competitor, I’d buy it. If Nissan still made the solid axle Patrol and had it for sale in the USDM I’d buy it.

CR has always gotten a stiffy for Toyota, even when it isn’t warranted - but you have to admit that our vehicles are not built well and aren’t reliable when compared to others in the class. Jeep loves to play up nationalism and nostalgia, but today jeeps have nothing in common with the MB - not even the company building them.

 

[RougeShot12er]

If Toyota built a Jeep competitor, I’d buy it. If Nissan still made the solid axle Patrol and had it for sale in the USDM I’d buy it.

CR has always gotten a stiffy for Toyota, even when it isn’t warranted - but you have to admit that our vehicles are not built well and aren’t reliable when compared to others in the class. Jeep loves to play up nationalism and nostalgia, but today jeeps have nothing in common with the MB - not even the company building them.

If Toyota made a 4.7l GX470, 4Runner, or Tacoma with locked Dana 44s that could easily fit 37s I would run to trade in my Gladiator.
Or if Jeep would put in a reasonable price V8 in the Gladiator, I would trade in immediately.
The Gladiator is perfect for me except the 3.6l. I trust the 3.6l reliability less than a fart after taco Tuesday. I have seen so many 3.6ls die it isn’t even funny.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

Those CR statements are backing on the OLD Toyota reputation they have been consistently losing since 2020. The Tundra's STILL have engine failures, even after they said they fixed it, but now customers aren't qualified as the "real failures" were for the TSB. The Tacos are having similar issues now with the turbo 4 cylinder and they won't admit they're screwing up, meanwhile the Toyota nerds are screaming THEYRE STILL RELIABLE!!!

Look, I've owned 2 Toyota's: a 96 Taco with 470k miles and a cracked frame worth $7k 15 years later...and '08 Scion tC (2 door/hatchback camry basically) which I put on 100k miles in 3.5 years. Neither of them had major issues, or any really when stock (I modded the Scion for a turbo build before it was totaled in FL). They didn't have nannies I couldn't disable either. After 2010, they started making big brand changes, new engine designs to meet current emissions, more tech (but still not enough compared to other brands at the time), and more nannies that overtime became more intrusive. Let's not forget how they lock out all their ECMs for "safety" including all their sport models they KNOW people will modify.
-I stopped trusting Toyota when they started designing their engines to "be allowed to consume all oil during an oil change period" (5qts in 5000 miles).

At this point Toyota and Jeep have similar reliability. Some models are worse than others, but generally they're about the same build quality in terms of powertrain. Just a fact when the vehicles being made are all made from recycled materials.

 

[ChrisNLA]

If I wanted to buy a boring car with no style aimed towards boring people who just see cars as transportation only, I would have purchased a Toyota. If you want me to drive Toyota, then provide me with one, and a hammer to hit myself in the head when I get so bored I fall asleep.

The overwhelming majority of drivers see their vehicles as exactly this- and that's at least one of the reasons why you won't see a Jeep (at least not a a Wrangler / Gladiator) at the top of the list.

Now, I won't argue that I too like having something special / cool to drive. I suppose that was a selling point for the Gladiator for me. Though just as important was class leading back seat space and great payload/towing numbers.

But I don't read consumer reports and I can speak to much about Toyotas.

And sometimes I do like a boring car.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

This is a very weird thing to do after a family member tries to engage you in conversation based on something they probably thought you'd be interested in.

Anyone who spends 2 minutes on this forum should be able to hear the phrase "Consumer Reports lists Jeep as one of the worst brands for quality/etc." and be like "yep, I can see that"

 

[antihero23]

This is a very weird thing to do after a family member tries to engage you in conversation based on something they probably thought you'd be interested in.

That's what I thought too.

Jeez, lighten up with the rah rah cheerleading brand loyalty. So weird. Who gets this upset over consumer reports?

And can we stop going all the way back to WWII as a defense for Jeeps? Your modern Jeep is more like a Toyota Prius than the original WWII model.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

If Toyota made a 4.7l GX470, 4Runner, or Tacoma with locked Dana 44s that could easily fit 37s I would run to trade in my Gladiator.
Or if Jeep would put in a reasonable price V8 in the Gladiator, I would trade in immediately.
The Gladiator is perfect for me except the 3.6l. I trust the 3.6l reliability less than a fart after taco Tuesday. I have seen so many 3.6ls die it isn’t even funny.

Im trying to convince my wife she’s needs D44 on her 4Runner for 35” tires. With the 4Runner wheel base she’d be able to keep up with the Gladiatot easily on 38”. We’ll wait until it’s paid off.

 

[White Eagle]

Many companies don’t upchannel or report problems which skews the Consumer reports.

Land Rover is the worst in this regard. I’ve owned Range Rover down to LR4, and never went on a trip without a breakdown of some sort. I had a LR3 with the Ford six Cylinder which was the best it got.

I had a Tacoma 2022 V6 and I finally had enough. Even with OTT tune EVERY waking mile to my ranch was a struggle finding power to get through the hills of the route. I drove in sport mode most of the time Making constant adjustments. Worst vehicle ever In many regards especially seat comfort.

At least with the Gladiator as well as my other trucks, I can drink coffee and daydream again.

 

[biodiesel]

Here's the truth.

 

[GeekJT]

My wife and I were at a family gathering yesterday when someone made the comment that Jeep was the worst brand according to Consumer Reports. Of course, I said " What do they rate at the top?" My wife's aunt responded with "Toyota!" I said what is the name of the Toyota that helped win WW2, has a removable roof and doors currently sold in the US? She looked at me dumbfounded, and said she was just telling me what she read in Consumer Reports. I asked her what Toyota technicians did for a living? You don't really think they make their money on oil changes? Seems like a smart financial move for a Toyota tech is to go to work for Jeep. If I wanted to buy a boring car with no style aimed towards boring people who just see cars as transportation only, I would have purchased a Toyota. If you want me to drive Toyota, then provide me with one, and a hammer to hit myself in the head when I get so bored I fall asleep. I told her I do not give a rat's ass what consumer reports thinks. I am sure employees of consumer reports drive Toyotas and watch re-runs of Friends. Besides, I would rather use my warranty and drive what I enjoy, then to go without issue in something that makes me want to fall asleep at the wheel.
Funny thing is Jeep Gladiator is #5 most US made vehicle behind Tesla. Moreso than the Wrangler probably because of the optional Turbo 4 available in the Wrangler is not built in the US I guess.
As a person who has owned a couple Toyotas, I can and will say they are a great car. As a person who has owned several Jeeps, they are a great vehicle too. Consumer Reports can kiss my ass.

I bought a dishwasher CR claimed was the most reliable made. Died the same year.


Maybe they were good before, but i think they have lost it for the past 10 years or so.

 

[biodiesel]

Maybe they were good before, but i think they have lost it for the past 10 years or so.

Consumer Reports has been flawed for a long time. I remember when they scored the Jeep Patriot low because they said it had a lot of interior plastic, too much interior noise, and a few other things. They failed to mention that the Jeep Patriot had a starting MSRP of $14,958, which was the lowest cost SUV on the market at that time.

It's sad because a lot of uneducated buyers run to Consumer Reports to make their next buying decision rather than using critical thinking. I don't buy a vehicle due to preconceived notions.

 

[SummertimeCarl]

I wouldn't have gotten that worked up about it but I agree with the principle. I do get frustrated when people compare apples to oranges. A Camry is quieter, more fuel efficient, and more reliable I'm sure. But it ain't a truck and it's not something I'd look back at after parking.

I bought my Gladiator while looking for a mid-sized truck, not necessarily looking for a "Jeep." Expected to buy a Frontier but the interior space wasn't sufficient. Tacoma space was worse. Gladiator makes much better use of interior space than any mid size truck, has better towing capacity, and you can take the doors/roof off. Plus it looks cool.

When friends ask, I say I love my Gladiator but I usually recommend a Frontier if they're under 6' tall with a smaller sized family.

Side Note: When people share reliability horror-stories I always assume that 90% of the time they bought used.

 

[NC_Overland]

Consumer Reports has been flawed for a long time. I remember when they scored the Jeep Patriot low because they said it had a lot of interior plastic, too much interior noise, and a few other things. They failed to mention that the Jeep Patriot had a starting MSRP of $14,958, which was the lowest cost SUV on the market at that time.

It's sad because a lot of uneducated buyers run to Consumer Reports to make their next buying decision rather than using critical thinking. I don't buy a vehicle due to preconceived notions.

That’s one way of looking at it, but they weren’t wrong. The fully loaded Patriots still had the same problems at a much higher price point. What was the price as tested? I guarantee you they didn’t send a base model to them in the press fleet. They were a little better after the interior refresh and after they ditched the CVT for the Hyundai 6 speed auto, but they were still inferior to other vehicles their class.

 

[NC_Overland]

I wouldn't have gotten that worked up about it but I agree with the principle. I do get frustrated when people compare apples to oranges. A Camry is quieter, more fuel efficient, and more reliable I'm sure. But it ain't a truck and it's not something I'd look back at after parking.

I bought my Gladiator while looking for a mid-sized truck, not necessarily looking for a "Jeep." Expected to buy a Frontier but the interior space wasn't sufficient. Tacoma space was worse. Gladiator makes much better use of interior space than any mid size truck, has better towing capacity, and you can take the doors/roof off. Plus it looks cool.

When friends ask, I say I love my Gladiator but I usually recommend a Frontier if they're under 6' tall with a smaller sized family.

Side Note: When people share reliability horror-stories I always assume that 90% of the time they bought used.

The gladiator has more rear seat room than my Colorado, but the front seating position is better in the Colorado. I had to buy seat slammers because the seat is too high up and my head almost hits the roll bar. If you’re over 6’, I’d argue that the stock gladiator front seating position is sub par. I shouldn’t have had to modify it like that.

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