Filed under: Car Buying, Maintenance, Recalls/TSBs, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz miffed at performance in Consumer Reports Reliability Survey
In the recently released 2006 Annual Car Reliability Survey by Consumer Reports, seven models from Mercedes-Benz were rated as Least Reliable. The last generation S-Class, CLS, E-Class, SL, CLK, V6 SLK and the M-Class SUV were all ranked least reliable based on the Consumer Reports survey comprised of responses from 1.3 million of the magazine's subscribers. A Mercedes spokesperson blames the brand's poor performance on a couple of issues that include brake dust on high performance stoppers (that's part of the charm!) and problems with the company's new 7-speed transmission that have reportedly been fixed. Mercedes-Benz has certainly had quality issues the past several years that can't be denied, which may in part be blamed on its insistence of imbuing its lineup with the latest whiz-bang gadgetry that ups the complication factor exponentially. Still, many fault Consumer Reports for using an outdated and flawed survey method that doesn't accurately report the reliability of the vehicles that appear on and off its lists. Michael Karesh, a vocal Autoblog commenter and purveyor of a Consumer Reports alternative site called True Delta, has written several articles that address the most serious problems with the way Consumer Reports conducts its surveys. Despite one's opinion on the validity of what Consumer Reports reports, there's no denying the fact that the periodical holds serious sway with consumers. It's no wonder Mercedes is so miffed at the rankings it received at the hands of Consumer Reports subscribers, though the German automaker needs to recognize the part its own vehicles played in these standings.
[Source: Money.cnn.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ryan 6:20PM (11/20/2006)
"Still, many fault Consumer Reports for using an outdated and flawed survey method that doesn't accurately report the reliability of the vehicles that appear on and off its lists"
-Look even if things got changed around, how much would Benz even improve. Is it possible it could be even worse?
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spdracerut 6:27PM (11/20/2006)
Based on the experiences my friends have had with their MBs, I am not surprised at all with the results from CR. One of my friends was so fed up with her MB (2002 by the way) because of all the electrical problems that she got rid of it.
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perpetual-test-driver 6:28PM (11/20/2006)
I know annecdotes don't mean much, but here is my mbz-quality annecdote.
Last year at the local "Taste of Lexus" driving event, I had the chance to compare an E500 to a bmw 530i and a lexus GS-something. The benz had a sweet engine and tranny - torque monster - but it felt like it was falling apart. The trim on the door rattled when I closed it. The brakes felt like the rotors were warped and the steering shimmed. Now you might say lexus maybe beat the sh*t out of the competition to make it seem bad, but the bmw was tight and perfect, as was the GS. The benz felt like it would not last long at all.
I had the impression mbz quality was improving, but not after driving that E500. Real shame this marque is exhibiting such shoddy quality. Their cars look nice, have nice mills in them, but I would pick bmw or acura or lexus over mbz any day, mostly because of poor or perceived poor quality.
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Peter 6:33PM (11/20/2006)
Consumer reports will always be tilted to favor "transportation appliances" and disfavor true enthusiast vehicles. Good example: one "serious problem" reported with Mercedes vehicles was an excess of dust buildup on wheels and brakes. Come on. This is why real drivers get their info elsewhere!
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ruggels 6:34PM (11/20/2006)
let's see, Mercedes indicates these WERE problems (when the survey was taken) but now have been fixed... so those who responded to the survey were correct. GREAT. Nothing needs to change. congratulations ot mercedes for fixing the bigger issues today, they still affected their customer's impressions of their cars yesterday, as we see in this survey.
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Peter 6:35PM (11/20/2006)
I bought an M class late in the first model year for that vehicle. Worst. Car. Evar. Sold it back to the dealer after three months. It will be quite a while before I consider another DC product...
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LakeVeret 6:41PM (11/20/2006)
Never trust Consumer Reports........Never Never.
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Calguy 6:48PM (11/20/2006)
I've had about 8 cars since I started looking at CR for its ratings. Never once have their reports been off. The Toyota: bulletproff, VW was crap. Volvo.. ok, Honda perfect, newer Volvo, ok, Saab better than the rest but not Honda levels, MINI: totally unreliable the year I had it, Only our BMW 325it experience has deviated from CR's reviews (and has been totally reliable). Their testing is the from real-life experiences. If you don't like the results, chances are you're erring towards passion over proof.
I actually chose another car instead of the MB E350 wagon, based on appalling reliability reports.. and in further defense of CR, I recall that the Mercedes Benz E320 was their highest ranked sedan ever.. a few years ago, yet they still couldn't recommend it due to Fiat-type quality. -Just mentioning it to challenge those that think CR only favors transport-appliances.
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JON C 7:26PM (11/20/2006)
I have a year 2000 E-320.Superb and mechanically flawless at 88k mi.She's held up beautifully.The quality of the materials in the cabin are 1st rate and show no wear.Hunkers down at 80 mph smooth,solid and like she's riding on rails.Must be the new ones.I heard the ratings are problems per vehicle.So a single complex problem could concievably be counted as a dozen or so,Throwing it's ranking off considerably.
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Todd 7:31PM (11/20/2006)
[4. Consumer reports will always be tilted to favor "transportation appliances" and disfavor true enthusiast vehicles. Good example: one "serious problem" reported with Mercedes vehicles was an excess of dust buildup on wheels and brakes. Come on. This is why real drivers get their info elsewhere!]
I didn't know Mercedes were "true enthusiast vehicles". What are Mercedes buyere enthusiastic about, other than status?
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Lee Gibson 7:38PM (11/20/2006)
Chrysler quality for Mercedes prices. That's how you do a merger, kids!
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Jeff Banks 7:41PM (11/20/2006)
"Michael Karesh, a vocal Autoblog commenter and purveyor of a Consumer Reports alternative site called True Delta, has written several articles that address the most serious problems..."
Why the hell would you reference this guy? He's the local spammer that pictches his shady internet marketing website.
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Frank 8:08PM (11/20/2006)
Have you been to Karesh's site Jeff? The guys got a PhD. He wrote a thesis about GM. He's written articles for other auto web sites. And you call him a "spammer"? What have you done? What degrees do you have other than a "B.S." from cattle country?
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Michael Karesh 8:24PM (11/20/2006)
I don't believe CR's methods are to blame for Mercedes' poor showing. That said, if Mercedes does improve the reliability of its products, this will take a while to show up in CR's results because they only update once a year, base their predictions on up to the three most recent model years, and do not publish absolute stats.
Conversely, any change will show up much more quickly with my process. I'll be updating results quarterly, with a minimal lag time from the end of data collection until results are released.
Now for Mr. Banks,
I suspect that the reason Autoblog would refer to my work is because, like over 6,500 other people so far, they realize that the project is a worthy, one, the site is in no way shady, and that the comments I leave here are helpful.
For every Autoblog visitor who has been critical, without basis, of what I'm doing, I've had at least 100 other visitors sign up to help out. I think the ratio speaks for itself.
No need to drag this thread down. If you think you have any basis to your criticism, and aren't just showing off for the virtual crowd, you can contact me directly:
http://www.truedelta.com/contact.php
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Danny 8:52PM (11/20/2006)
Consumer Reports is written to appeal to their readers, who overwhelmingly drive Japanese cars. Thus the findings, to instill that sense of rightousness in their readers, and keep them subscribing. That's the beginning and end of their efforts.
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BOB 9:13PM (11/20/2006)
A -- 47 years ago, my Mom nicknamed me "Consumer Reports" because I was so interested in product information. I was reading the mag in grammar school.
B-- Interpreting the ratings: I used to have a 1989 Mustang GT convertible. Mustangs always got, before the 1994 revised model, a black circle for body integrity. Reason (as I saw it): all the convertibles were converted coupes, and CU's white middle class base bought mainly convertibles, as that generation fastback was very blue collar.
C-- Mercedes owners are entitled to be unhappy about filthy wheels and things that don't work, or fall off. If a company runs snotty ads about how great they are, it helps when the product lives up to it.
D-- I remember very well a short article in which CU, maybe 18 yrs ago, drove a an E class, and wrote something like, "It is very nice, but only a memeber of the decadent bourgeousie would buy such an expensive car, when a Honda suffices." __LOL__
CU has come a long way toward understanding cars, but still has that Westchester mentality.
NOW THEY GET THAT A CONSUMER IS ENTITLED TO WANT WHAT HE WANTS -- THIS IS A CHANGE.
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ruggels 9:21PM (11/20/2006)
tee he he, someone with a phd mentioning people 'without bias'. I wasn't aware any university perpetrated the fox mentality of a population 'without bias' - i guess you learn something new every day.
that said, truedelta's a great site.
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Michael Karesh 9:36PM (11/20/2006)
Thanks, ruggels.
But do I have the phrase "without bias" somewhere? It's an ideal to aspire to. Claiming to have achieved it, though, would be foolish or worse.
I do have the phrase "without basis" in an earlier comment. Maybe that's what you read?
Back to the topic...
The way CR collects and reports results might result in problem rates being under-reported for some cars, as for various reasons people might decide that the problem they had doesn't qualify as "serious."
I don't see, though, how it could result in problem rates being over-reported. People don't make problems up. So Mercedes is in a bit of a bind.
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Howard 9:46PM (11/20/2006)
Mercedes. I have a 1972 S series. 200,000+ miles and it is bullet proof. More bolts than welds. Can't build them like that anymore and that I understand.
It took Mercedes 50 years to build their reputation and only about 10 to tear it down. It started with the M and C series (which removed the prestige factor) and somehow they let the quality slip on the E and S cars.
In todays world I don't think you have that many years to get your reputation rebuilt. At $60,000+ per car they have to get it right and stand behind it.
I would suggest they go the Hyundai route and start offering complete 7 year 100K warrentees for the E and S series.
I also recently drove both 5 series BMWs and E series MBZs. Incredible advantage to BMW for fit and finish and bank vault like construction.
I still think that MBZ will not have any trouble selling every car they build but it will be to a different class of customer than in the past.
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KC 10:06PM (11/20/2006)
I know someone who was, until a few years ago, a mechanic for Mercedes but will only buy Honda and Toyota products. He tells me that brand new MBs would often come back to the dealership shortly after purchase to repair various drivetrain leaks. A premium car practically off the showroom floor leaking like a 1982 Chevy Caprice!
Not to mention MBs faulty electrical equipment.
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