I was in the book store and picked up the lates consumer reports. It has a black full oval for total reliability on the 2004 f-150.
On all of the individual categories it has a full or partial red oval.

There is a clause that says that the reliability rating of horrible is given because of reported problems with the drivetrain.

That is not good for ford.

 

which is the vibe issue.

 

J-150...could you restate your questiom?

 

Doesn't Consumer Reports base their data off what people have told them? Isn't it more likely for someone to take the time to complain than to take the time to compliment?

 

All I can say is that Consumer reports are full of crap! I think there against american cars and trucks. If you look through all the cars that are american, they give them bad marks, but once it comes to non-american cars, they give them nothing but high marks! Thats bull crap! Anyone in there right minds will see that consumer reports is biest these days. I'm sorry, but the number one selling truck for the last 28 years is at the very top of the list in my opinion and it shows! Why on earth would so many people buy these trucks if there were in fact a (pos) which they aren't at all! Consumer reports can stick all there information up there ***, there so dumb over there!

 

Of all the members on this board you for one should take to heart what is in the Consumers Report. I can see why you are mad at them, but don’t shoot the messenger.
A brief search of your posts indicates that you have had many problems with your truck, everything from engine knocks to rear end shudder. You almost “beat up your dealer”.
My friend has the Toyota truck. Last night on the phone he reminded me that his 2002 Toyota with 56,000 miles has never been back to the dealership. My truck is there now.
My Lincoln Towncar has been to the dealer 22 times in 75,000 miles. My mothers Lexus ES300 has never been back to the dealer at 88,000 miles, not even brakes.

There is NO intuitional bias at Consumers Reports

By the way, I used to be exactly like you. But I now feel like I must face the facts. Honda, Toyota, and yes Nissan have higher quality vehicles. Even though, I drive Fords and Chevrolets. The Chevrolet has had the worst reliability of any car I have ever owned

 

I agree that there is very little bias in consumer reports. Japanese cars just hold up better, hence the ridiculous resale values of everything japanese branded. my 96 toyota was bought used in 98 when i was in highschool with 40k mi on it. I still have my toyota and its still running strong at 170k mi. I only had one major problem with it, the window switch died around 80k mi, and i bought the switch and fixed it myself.

I have had my ford truck for a little over a year and no problems at all...except for odd creaking noises...I hope it will be as problem free as the toyota...keehee but somehow im not going to bet money on it.

 

If you read the Consumer Reports rating carefully (at least the online version) it is EXPECTED RELIABILITY.

The * says its based upon prior model years performance.

You can't forecast long term reliability for a truck that had been out less than a year (when they did their 2004 rating) so its based on 2001-2003 F150's and Expeditions.

I have a subscription to CR and take everything they say like I do any article in a magazine - with a grain of salt.

 

Sorry guys, but I have to dissagree with you all so far. Consumer reports are a joke! If you really believe consumer reports, then in no way we should all be driving these f150's since Consumer reports pretty much tells you (pos) on it that rates it as the worst u can buy.
If you think Jap cars and truck are so much better, why on earth did you buy the F150?? Myself and I'm sure a lot of other guys on this bourd will agree with me that Consumer reports are a joke! (just for the record, I would never own a jap car or truck ever)

 

The saying goes like this....if someone likes a product they will tell 10 people. If they hate it they will tell 100 people. All Consumer Reports takes into account are the complaints.

We know that the vibe problems on these trucks is the exception rather then the rule. Unfortunatly for Ford this will be enough to sway some people away from what is really an excellent truck.

 

Consumer Reports are not a joke as some here like to call them.


Jap Cars are way better than American cars. I dont own one but i can admit the fact that they are.

I love my Ford 04 and i would not buy a Jap Truck simply because i do not like them.


I know that a Toyato Tacoma will outlast a F1 50 though.

Do i care ? NO i do not because i chose to buy FORD.

Ford makes jobs for Americans and i simply like their trucks better.

I have owned Hondas and i never had problem 1 out of them. That is more than i can ever say for the American Rides i have owned.

 

I'm somewhat skeptical about trusting any publication to rate a vehicle; especially the one that also rates cell phones, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners. These are the same people that made top heavy short wheelbase SUVs flip by driving them through a slalom at speeds that no one has any business driving an SUV through. Gee, wonder how that happened.

I rank Consumer Reports in the same league as JD Power and Associates, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and just about every other automotive publication out there, i.e, good birdcage liner material. If I want an opinion on a vehicle I'm interested in, I'll go out and drive it myself. I don't need an overpaid desk jockey pencil pusher who writes whatever will sell magazines to tell me about a car or truck.

All of our Fords have been perfectly reliable.

 

I really tend to agree with you Quintin....

I've read oodles of these magazines and actually still get Motor Trend (for free somehow)... they always seem to have an agenda when they're testing. I don't know if I'm reading something into their research or what but, starting from the first paragraph you can tell of a certain tone or demeanor that suggests 'agenda' to me...

It's a personal opinon and I'm sure not every article in every publication about vehicles is like that but, it's hard to ignore sometimes... in fact, often times, it's blatent.

RP

 

4 Fords at my house all in good shape.
oldest one ids a 89 Van with 460,000+ miles and i think normal belts and normal oil ect stuff.

But could be just luck!

But when i look out on the streets it is just me or are there like a million F"n ford still driving around from back in the day?

 

That's not exactly how it works. Subscribers are sent a questionaire. It has sections for everything from autos to washing machines.
For the autos, they ask a series of questions such as has how many times in for service in the last 12 months? What was the reason? Was it fixed?
They are all multiple choice questions.
No place for rantings.
If there are not enough subcribers to obtain data for that model, they so state.