Worst on Consumer Reports

[redriderjf87]

Yup…if you know anything about a Jeep….this is the truth.

The perennial CR slams on Jeep: rough ride, road noise, gas mileage….three things that most Jeep owners could give not one additional shit over.

+1, that pretty much sums it up.

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[Tuggernuts]

I like my motorcycles like I like my Jeeps. Ugly but purpose built.

 

[OHJeeper]

I'm old enough to remember when CR got smacked for writing a report about how CJs flip over that was total shenanigans...

 

[dcmdon]

I'm old enough to remember when CR got smacked for writing a report about how CJs flip over that was total shenanigans...

I think you are mistaken. It was the Suzuki samurai.

 

[Glad_he_ate]

I like my motorcycles like I like my Jeeps. Ugly but purpose built.

Just like my woman!! I’ve had 10s and 2s I’ll keep my 5. Good mother good cook good job great bjs and yea could use some body work ?

 

[Glad_he_ate]

Ah fuck that might get me In trouble

 

[Hootbro]

Once. 30 years ago. (Suzuki Samurai)

More than once. They screwed over testing the Isuzu Trooper in the 1990's also.

CR really had a chub against body on frame SUV's. CR could tell me the sky is blue and water is wet but I will still get a second opinion on that.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think you are mistaken. It was the Suzuki samurai.

There were bumper stickers for those: If you can read this, turn me over" or something like that.

I don't use any one source for reviews of anything. I search, and search, and search again, and spend a lot of time reading and comparing. Doesn't matter what blog or magazine or web site or whatever it is, every single person has prejudices about things and products that they just can't overcome. I've observed enough judging of contests of various types to see that.
Even when it's supposed to be done by scores, by numbers, there's still the human factor.
That's why I used multiple resources and CR just isn't it for cars/trucks for me.
Maybe some other things....... but even then if there's something they don't like, they knock the product even if it's going to last 100 years and never cause any problems within that time. I've seen reviews knock because of a finish on something that was obviously just something they didn't like.

 

[Klutch]

The bias is against Consumer Reports. Here are a few facts:

- Consumer Reports ratings are based mostly on actual owner experiences. Every year they send a survey to subscribers about the vehicles they own. I was a subscriber for many years and every year I received a survey, completed it and sent it back.

- When Consumer Reports rates reliability as low, it's based on what people who actually own the vehicles told them.

- Sure, I love my Gladiator. But consider many owners have experienced problems with steering, problems with the automatic start battery, problems with the engine, problems with the climate controls, problems with the audio system, etc. My Gladiator has been fine, but I sometimes feel like it's a Unicorn. Consumer Reports tabulates all that data. Are they supposed to ignore it because Jeeps are cool?

- The Suzuki Samurai issue is greatly misunderstood. They tested the Samurai and found it was prone to rolling over. Suzuki sued Consumer Reports and took them to court. A jury found the test method had flaws, but Consumer Reports didn't intentionally fake the results. (NBC literally used pyrotechnics to make a GM truck catch on fire. That's faking results.) The Isuzu story was very similar.

- For decades Consumers Reports gave low reliability ratings to American vehicles because American vehicles sucked. It was a simple fact that people who owned Japanese cars had far fewer problems than people who owned American cars. A Toyota Camry would go over 200,000 miles if it was regularly serviced while a Ford Tempo couldn't go 40,000 miles without the transmission going out. Unions didn't like this so they told everyone Consumer Reports was simply biased against American cars. But again, they were simply reporting what owners of the vehicles told them. So, are the owners biased against their own cars?

And yeah, lousy Jeep dealers don't give owners a reason to report a positive experience on a Consumer Reports survey.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My parents subscribed to CR for years and never got a survey.
On the other hand, relying only on subscribers for such information is prejudiced in itself if anyone understands human psychology.......... it's like taking an internet poll seriously as only certain types will participate in such things. You narrow your sample to specific types.

If they wanted to be fair, they'd reach out way beyond their own subscriber list.
They could use public records for vehicle registrations.

 

[Klutch]

My parents subscribed to CR for years and never got a survey.
On the other hand, relying only on subscribers for such information is prejudiced in itself if anyone understands human psychology.......... it's like taking an internet poll seriously as only certain types will participate in such things. You narrow your sample to specific types.

If they wanted to be fair, they'd reach out way beyond their own subscriber list.
They could use public records for vehicle registrations.

It's very strange that your parents never got an auto survey.

Sure, human psychology would play a role for a question like, "Would you buy this vehicle again?". But most of the survey is simply checking a box for problems with engine, transmission, electrical system, steering, etc. If thousands of Ford Tempo owners report the transmission on their Ford Tempo went out before 40,000 miles, it's a pretty sure bet that Ford Tempo transmissions don't last very long. (Not coincidentally, whenever I went to a junk yard in the 90s, I saw a LOT of late model Ford Tempos there.) That's how the survey works.

I certainly agree we should seek multiple sources for information.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

But most of the survey is simply checking a box for problems with engine, transmission, electrical system, steering, etc.

You over-estimate human ability to differentiate real problems from perceived. Just look at some of the posts here complaining about things that are simply feel or preference.
Steering sucks on Jeeps - when they really mean it's not as cushy and quick as their rack and pinion sports car.
You know the drill.........
Obviously the fuel door is a real issue on these.
First time Jeep buyers will see these as a total disaster.

 

[ezekio3160]

I’m satisfied 100 percent!

 

[Chopperace]

So it went from best to worst?
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/consumer-reports-recommends-jeep-model/

 

[salvino]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/auto/consumer-reports-best-worst-car-brands.amp

Well they can take their consumer opinion and shove it! Ha! I love my Willy’s!

I‘ve dealt with them. They extort companies into using them and their opinions are worthless. I had one and it was great.

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