J.D Powers rates Yaris as Toyota's least reliable car

[Astroman]

Honestly im not the easiest on my yaris, and it's given me zero issues in over 62k miles. The ONLY issues I've had were due to the dealership doing a crap job putting my interior back together when it had fireworks thrown in it. Not the cars fault, and I turned plenty away from that dealership.

[Bob Dog]

J.D. Powers suggested the gen two Neon was the best car in its classs.

[highwaypass]

i don't know much about them,but once i saw in my dealer,here in my country,JD Power named toyota as the most reliable brand.

[IsLNdbOi]

JD and CR will give anything a good rating if you pay them.

[SilverBack]

Once again, the review is total

JD, CR, and similar groups don't represent anything or anyone, therefore they can't be trusted. Word of mouth only through people who own or have owned a Yaris can tell you the real story (as already proven in this thread by so many). We're talking up to 3 years (up to 10 for 1st gen. owners) of Yaris ownership compared to a sponsored 2-hour test drive. So who are you more likely to believe?

Oh yeah, I've had mine for a year as of yesterday. I'm almost at 20K miles, driving hard and fast at times, keeping up with maintenance and still no problems. There's your review

[tuckevalastin]

I hate to tell you guys but as die hard Yaris owners and fans your reviews of the Yaris are not any less biased...

Also many of you still don't understand that saying something is Toyota's least reliable car is not the same as saying something is unreliable.

[SilverBack]

It's not so much a question of reliability as it as about long-term experiences of owning the car.

JD and CR are jumping to conclusions based on quick drives and reviews. Actual ownership in reality is the best way to determine and report the ups and downs of the car, IMO

I would be more likely to believe someone working for JD or CR if he or she actually owned a Yaris for a while, not just taking it for a spin

[Dave]

Originally Posted by k r a y z e e . j o j o

Actual ownership in reality is the best way to determine and report the ups and downs of the car, IMO

Agreed. When I was shopping for a car last year, I spent more time looking at Edmunds' forums and specific vehicle forums (like this one) than I did reading formal reviews/reports.

Take a look at the ratings and reviews on the Edmunds' site to see what owners think of the Yaris; 9.3/10, based on almost 350 reviews (taken from '07 model year). Pretty good, I'd say. And it got a Recommended/Best Buy/whatever from the 2009 Lemon-Aid guide as well, which is largely based on owner feedback.

It's been said before, and I'll say it again, I think critics like to rag on the Yaris because it isn't the rolling living room they've become accustomed to.

[Thirty-Nine]

One thing to keep in mind with J.D. Power is that with a lot of their surveys, they don't qualify the "problem" with the car. That means a broken cup holder gets the same weight as a blown engine. At least that's the way it is with the initial quality studies if I remember correctly. A problem is a problem to their surveys.

Plus, keep in mind: How unreliable is the least reliable Toyota?

Is the least reliable Toyota still better than the mid-level Chevrolet? Just something to fuel the fire.

[MUSKOKA800]

How does J.D. Power make money? Who commissions their surveys?
Surely whomever pays the bills get a favourable rating. Toyota's cheque must have been lost in the airmail.

Consumers Reports does independant testing and monitors subscribers feedback all funded by expensive subcriptions and news stand sales without selling advertising which could bias their opinions (eg. Motor Trend "car/joke of the year").

IMO CR holds much more credibility than J.D. Power.

[frownonfun]

Originally Posted by tuckevalastin

I hate to tell you guys but as die hard Yaris owners and fans your reviews of the Yaris are not any less biased...

Also many of you still don't understand that saying something is Toyota's least reliable car is not the same as saying something is unreliable.

im with you on this one... every company has to have a least reliable...makes sense that toyota's least expensive would be their least reliable. i mean cmon do you want them to say, "every car at toyota is equally reliable and will never fail you in any way, ever."

[supmet]

Look out your window - that's the only survey you need, and the only one that isn't bought out. I see tons of old toyotas, hondas, subarus, mercedes. I see FAR fewer old hyundais, kias, and american cars.

dodge neon being reliable.. that's funny.

[voodoo22]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

Just a thought, I wonder how buyer demographics affect car reliability? I'd expect a small economy car more likely to be owned by students, younger and lower income adults might receive less attention to maintenance and general "pampering" than a more upscale car more likely to be owned by older, more affluent people. I'd expect the less powerful little car to get driven harder relative to its maximum capabilities on average, as well.

While your point is valid the Yaris owner whom I know who treats his car the worst makes over 200k a year. One time I checked his PSI because his tire was unbelievable low and he was running at just over 20psi. I pumped him up to 35 and wow, he got better FE. He also quite often goes twice the recommended interval between oil changes, because he doesn't care and if the car dies he'll just get another one. So far he as over 70k on it with no issues except some rust because he never washes it summer or winter.

[JBougie]

This is the most reliable unreliable car I've ever owned.

43k now and 0 issues to date; taken it cross country 4 times and to and from Mt Rushmore - no problems at all.

Who cares what they say .... there has to be a "most reliable" and a "most unreliable" out of every class ... everyone just needs to remember "unreliable" in Toyota language is COMPLETELY different than "unreliable" in GM language lol

[tuckevalastin]

Originally Posted by supmet

Look out your window - that's the only survey you need, and the only one that isn't bought out. I see tons of old toyotas, hondas, subarus, mercedes. I see FAR fewer old hyundais, kias, and american cars.

dodge neon being reliable.. that's funny.

I dunno where you live but that is nothing like what I see out my window. Unless by old you mean less than ten years old

[talnlnky]

28k - 1 problem, leaking axel seal.... tho i'm pretty sure I know when it happen, and if so, can't blame it for failing... was doing some stuff I shouldn't have.... gravel/dirt logging roads - camping trip thing... yeah.. nuff said.

Still even running stock tires... expect to get another 15-20K miles out of them too. front tires are good, backs are starting to get worn (just rotated)