Consumer reports reliability (Jeeps and Rivian)

[timhood]

A) Consumer Reports hates Jeep. They consistently rate them terribly.

Correction: Consumer Reports doesn't hate Jeep. Consumer Reports subscribers who own Jeeps report on how unreliable they are. Owners who love their vehicles are more likely to gloss over and ignore their vehicles' problems. Notwithstanding, Jeep models, particularly Wrangler, have made the Ten Worst list consistently.

For years, Jeep has lacked motivation to improve. Maybe they can climb out from the bottom of the pit with some proper competition.

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[Owl]

Here are my thoughts on CR and this 6G in regard to reliability, and this is in regard to Broncos (I've had 3 of different generations), two Wranglers (2016 & 2011), two FJ40s, and multiple Toyota cars.

CR

1) CR always puts it thumb on the scale for foreign brands. Toyota for sure in the past. I've had quite a few problems with various cars that were never reported. The FJ40s however... were great (if you discount the 12 MPG, and rough ride).

2) CR compares the reliability of "cars" to Broncos and Wranglers... without taking into account that you just might be off roading a Bronco or Jeep. In other words... a Bronco or Wrangler lead a much harder life for some folks.

3) CR compares repair costs of a 4WD with that of a 2WD. Is that fair? You buy a 4WD because (I hope) you realize it is more capable and mudt realize it has more moving parts to do that function.

The 6G Website:
1) There are complaints on this website because it is here. If you wouldn't be on this website you probably wouldn't hear about 95% of the complaints and internalize them. Half those complaints are just whining (in my estimation).

2) Why do people think putting 37s or 38s on a Bronco (or Jeep) will have zero impact on reliability... unless you just put them on for mall-crawling?

Its like having a muscle car, burning out at every stop-light, and then complaining about the poor mileage you get out of the rear tires, and the poor gas mileage.

I think some people just live in this alternate reality, and should realize that if you slap on 37s or 38s, or go on things like "The Rubicon" or "Hells Revenge" that you might have some problems along the way. Its just the way it is.

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That's not to say that the tops on the Bronco shouldn't be better, and the interior shouldn't be plastic as a lot of it is, or that the "death wobble" on the Jeep shouldn't be fixed for good. But CR -- is really for cars (in my estimation), and just one data-point at that. You have to look at actual owner reviews for an actual evaluation.

The End.

 

[timhood]

I like both vehicles and I’m not sure how consumer reports figures their stats out. There are a kazillion JLs on the road vs the far smaller number of Broncos out there. Wouldn’t the number of issues be skewed to show Jeep is worse based on number of vehicles sold?
Or does consumer reports take all that into account?

And, if wranglers really sucked that bad…would there be a kazillion of them sold and driving around the roads just fine?

Consumer Reports asks their subscribers to fill out a fairly extensive survey on their ownership experience of their vehicles. It includes information on age, number of miles, and the types of issues experienced. CR won't report on a vehicle unless a minimum number of responses has been received to avoid skewing, which can occur with small result sets. The data is typically noted in "problems per hundred" which factors out differences in the number of reports received for one vehicle versus another. So, a vehicle with 150 problems per hundred vehicles is much less reliable than one with 50 problems per hundred. There's more detail than that, but gives a good idea.

As for problematic vehicles still on the road, those two points don't correlate. If you make a million vehicles every year and 10% die every year, there'll still be far more vehicles on the road than another vehicle with only 100,000 made every year with only 2% dying. But vehicle problems that CR reports on don't mean the vehicles are no longer operable. It only means that significant repairs were done. Most customers likely have financed or leased their vehicles necessitating that the repairs be done. Eventually, some customers might get so fed up that they sell their vehicle even at a great loss, but generally owners are willing to stick it out for the majority of the warranty period. Even so, a problematic car can remain on the road until it finally dies.

 

[EasternSierra]

Just remember that CR reliability ratings are the result of their annual member survey. The ratings come directly from people who own that specific vehicle.

The down side of the survey is that a minor problem, for example an interior plastic piece that fell off, is counted exactly the same as a severe problem like, say, a failed transmission.

So if 10% of Jeeps have an HVAC knob that fell off, then they are "worse" than a vehicle that has 8% transmission failures.

CR breaks down problems into categories. There's an overall rating and also breakdowns into major and minor categories. The images below are from their site with the paywalled ratings (which would be off to the right) removed.

For the 2022 Bronco, CR noted that the biggest problem areas are "powertrain" and "engine major". It's not mainly plastic pieces falling off or similar stuff to that.

 

[Quicklime]

FWIW, and not to sound like a broken record AGAIN, but I've racked up a lot of miles very quickly. 24,000 in one year exactly. It hasn't been back to dealer except to pick up oil and air filters. I can't recommend this vehicle enough. It's my fourth new Ford in a row(I get plan D), and none of them have needed any repairs, or warranty work...

 

[Headsong]

I can't believe the misinformation on this thread...

 

[msujay2012]

FWIW, and not to sound like a broken record AGAIN, but I've racked up a lot of miles very quickly. 24,000 in one year exactly. It hasn't been back to dealer except to pick up oil and air filters. I can't recommend this vehicle enough. It's my fourth new Ford in a row(I get plan D), and none of them have needed any repairs, or warranty work...

I just scheduled your car to start at 3:00am.

 

[Quicklime]

I just scheduled your car to start at 3:00am.

Thanks, I get up before three AM.

 

[2023bronco]

Hysterical that Bronco fanboys will trust their individual ownership experience or what they read on forums rather than actual surveys by CR.

Even more hysterical that people think CR "hates" etc. this brand or that brand. Why would CR give a flying fuck? Do they think that CR is getting paid off by one brand or another? ROFLMAO.

 

[Snacktime]

Only reason Ford didn't make the list is they don't warranty shit.

 

[timhood]

Hysterical that Bronco fanboys will trust their individual ownership experience or what they read on forums rather than actual surveys by CR.

Even more hysterical that people think CR "hates" etc. this brand or that brand. Why would CR give a flying fuck? Do they think that CR is getting paid off by one brand or another? ROFLMAO.

That would be J.D. Power, the originator of whoring out awards to the highest bidder.

 

[Headsong]

That would be J.D. Power, the originator of whoring out awards to the highest bidder.

That's entirely different since the dealers ask you to rate the top as you leave....CR actually compiles actual data.

 

[Gypsy]

We have a Jeep 2016 Sahara, sold a 2012 2dr Rubicon, for a 2023 Bronco Badlands, Sasquatch. We have owned 2 Grand Cherokees, 1988 Cherokee that had over 190,000 miles on it. Problems were few.

Can't help it we love our Jeeps the Rubicon was so much fun to drive. We kept the Sahara because it's a 4dr my husband is a fly fisherman and needs it for all his gear. The Sahara is nice heated leather seats, I love the interior
It's the last year before they changed the model. I don't care for the new ones. We put a soft top on it and we live in Florida.

As for the Bronco, we have the soft top, it seems noisier than the Jeep, the seats aren't as comfortable as the leather seats in the Jeep, I do like the console we did get the high package so that is a upgrade, they ride about the same. Offroading we haven't done in the Bronco yet, but the Jeep was great went this summer to Michigan it was fun. More overlanding not rock climbing, but trails, mud, sand, climbing. Both have a lot of room. We plan on touring the National Parks out west next fall with a tailgate tent. Between the two we love both, they each have things we like and don't like.

 

[timhood]

I have a friend whose entire business is fixing Jeeps. It's literally in the name of his business. He's expanded twice and can't keep up with demand. That says plenty.

 

[Imaginary Friend]

Apparently I've gotten lucky. My six Jeep vehicles (five Wranglers, including my current JL) I've owned to date were among my most reliable.

My '19 F150 holds my current personal record for most times in the shop within the first 20K miles...

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