More Proof Cars Last Longer

"Another study shows vehicles are growing even more dependable.

Consumer Reports compared the percentage of problem-free, three-year-old models from its 2002 and 2011 Annual Auto surveys for 13 automakers based on their product output for which owners did not report any serious problems with their cars during the 12 months covered by each survey.

The analysis of 2011 survey data revealed an overall improvement in used-car reliability from almost all automakers with Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler showing the most notable gains (a minimum of 10 percentage points) compared to Consumer Reports' 2002 results. BMW landed at the bottom of the 2011 list with only about 70 percent of its used cars being trouble-free, which is better than the 2002 survey average of 68 percent.

Consumer Reports chose three-year-old vehicles most of which are coming off warranty and when owners begin to assume the cost of ongoing repairs. By age three, most models also have the steepest part of depreciation behind them, so used-car buyers will find it a good age on which to focus. In its analysis of used cars, Consumer Reports also tracked extremes from 2007 models five models that started out with few problems and stayed reliable as they turned five years old and five models that started out with a few more problems and got much worse over time." [Read more]