The Quality of New Cars Today

[Shel_B]

What's the quality of new cars like these days? Sure, there are supply problems, inflation and increased/excessive pricing, and a lack of choices available, but that's not what I'm getting at. Have all the problems we're having caused the quality of the new cars we can buy these days to diminish? Are new cars less reliable, less well-put-together, less dependable, than those we bought a few years ago, pre-pandemic?

 

[Leo99]

Time will tell.

 

[CKN]

There are still quality issues with vehicles-and some issues shouldn't even occur. However- vehicles today are more reliable than they have ever been. As a child I remember going to my Grandma's house during the summer and seeing cars over heated on the side on the road. That's almost unheard of today. I see very, very few vehicles broke down on the side of the road these days, and when I do it's almost always tire related. Tires are something owners really push these days due to the almost $1,000.00 replacement cost for many vehicles.

 

[buster]

I would expect some decline, but it's really hard to say. The only thing I read that was a bit concerning was some of the line/shift changes during Covid. Whether that translates to lower quality is unknown.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Comparatively I'm seeing a reduction in content which I would think would allow for comparatively better reliability but at a much steeper price.

 

[Rmay635703]

Ford puts half the paint on nowadays

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/a-detailers-maverick-experience-thin-paint-ceramic-coating-etc.14921/

And lots of horror stories about big trouble under a hundred miles from the lot and dealers not fixing

So I would say anything in the last 2 could be total garbage with stupid things like door handles falling off and failed clear coat

It’s 1977 in more ways than one but the “good examples “ should stay that way a long time

 

[vw7674]

Re: Paint Thinness: It may be Ford's attempt to boost fuel mileage by carrying less paint/product on the body metal/plastic.
Very clever of them.

 

[vavavroom]

Re: Paint Thinness: It may be Ford's attempt to boost fuel mileage by carrying less paint/product on the body metal/plastic.
Very clever of them.

I'd actually buy a vehicle made with an unpainted stainless steel body. You can take a Brillo pad to a Delorean.

 

[SeaJay]

There are still quality issues with vehicles-and some issues shouldn't even occur. However- vehicles today are more reliable than they have ever been. As a child I remember going to my Grandma's house during the summer and seeing cars over heated on the side on the road. That's almost unheard of today. I see very, very few vehicles broke down on the side of the road these days, and when I do it's almost always tire related. Tires are something owners really push these days due to the almost $1,000.00 replacement cost for many vehicles.

Back when A/C was first installed, it kept many cars cooled up to when the outside air temp hit the mid-80's, maybe the high 80's. Once the outside air temp got into the 90's, overheating was common.

 

[Oillover]

Re: Paint Thinness: It may be Ford's attempt to boost fuel mileage by carrying less paint/product on the body metal/plastic.
Very clever of them.

+1
Honda has been doing that for years with the same result.

 

[carviewsonic]

As an individual, it's hard to gauge the reliability of today's cars vs. cars manufactured 10 or 20 years ago. If you bought a reliable car then the industry is doing a good job. If bought a new car that has issues, then reliability has gone down the drain from your perspective. For a specific model you're considering, searching owners' forums would be a good place to start.

 

[Schandyman]

No better or worse some cars just more problematic then others.

 

[Eddie]

Significantly better than 10 to 15 years ago. Ed

 

[Imp4]

Well if the average age of cars is an indicator, cars are more durable than they've ever been.

While this may not be a direct correlation to the quality of new cars, the fact that people willing to hold on to a vehicle for longer than ever before would imply a base standard of quality that is quite high.

It was a practically a miracle for a car to turn 100k+ miles before the mid to late 1980s.
I'll take today's quality levels over any other previous generation.

 

[skyactiv]

Remember this from 7 years ago?

Toyota Recalls 1993 Camry Due To Fact That Owners Really Should Have Bought Something New By Now

TOKYO—Saying it was simply time for drivers to move on, Toyota Motor Corp. issued a recall of its entire 1993 Camry model line Wednesday due to the fact that its owners really should have bought something new by now. “We understand that the 1993 Camry was tremendously dependable, but, honestly...

www.theonion.com

 

[edyvw]

They are BY FAR safer!
Rest is more complicated to explain. Some companies are at forefront of innovation, therefore they will have more issues. Performance vehicles are by default less reliable bcs. numerous valid reasons. Time is moving as is innovation. Materials are better regardless that they might seem “thinner” etc.
But yes, some cars are less reliable. Things change. Companies change.

 

[ghost31711]

+1
Honda has been doing that for years with the same result.

Honda/Acura's infamous peeling pearl white...

 

[AZjeff]

The 2021 GMC Sierra HD 6.6 gas that we ordered and picked up end of May 21 has had zero issues coming up on a year. 5500 miles on it with over 3000 towing a travel trailer.

Edit: forgot the steering wheel was clocked about 1 inch off, easy fix.

 

[Pew]

Honda/Acura's infamous peeling pearl white...

Their red have got to be worse than the white.

 

[ghost31711]

Their red have got to be worse than the white.

I've noticed several of these on the road... all of them white. But then again I don't remember the last time I saw a red Honda.