Mercedes not happy with Consumer Reports

[overst33r]

CNN-News

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- There is an old saying in the newspaper business that you shouldn't pick a fight with somebody who buys ink by the gallon.

That hasn't stopped Mercedes-Benz from taking a few swipes at Consumer Reports over some very damaging reviews of Mercedes vehicles.

First some background: For the 2007 edition of its New Car Preview, Consumer Reports surveyed its six million subscribers about what serious problems they had with the cars they own. Some 1.3 million responded and the results weren't good for Mercedes-Benz.

Here's a brief blow-by-blow: In a listing of the least reliable luxury cars, based on 2006 models, three of the six cars are Mercedes: the old S-class (prior to the recent redesign), the CLS and the E-class Sedan.
Most and least reliable cars

Same thing in sport cars. Mercedes hogged three of the seven slots for least reliable: the SL, the CLK and the V6 SLK.

Among mid-sized SUVs, the M-class, a quality disaster when it first came out, still ranks as the least reliable in its grouping.

Other luxury manufacturers turn up on the least reliable list, with BMWs, Jaguars and Cadillacs sprinkled throughout.

But what is striking about Mercedes' performance is its consistency. Of the 11 models reviewed by Consumers, none are recommended. Seven are left off of the list because of poor reliability; the remaining four are considered too new to predict.

Mercedes has the worst record of any automaker with that many models. For a brand that claims to be "engineered like no other car in the world," that is fairly frightening.

"They understand the problems and they are fixing some of them, but they have a long way to come," says David Champion, director of automotive testing at Consumers.

For its part, a spokesman for Mercedes says that the data in the Consumer Reports rankings "is totally out of sync with what we're seeing in the mainstream research as well as our own customer satisfaction and warranty data." He points to the good marks Mercedes gets for ride, handling, comfort, safety and performance.

He may be whistling into a windstorm, though. "Car buyers pay a lot of attention to CR's ratings," says industry consultant George Peterson. "They perceive them as unbiased."

Research by Peterson's own firm, AutoPacific, substantiates CR's findings. Its 2006 Ideal Vehicle Awards show Mercedes not only ranking ninth out of ten among luxury brands but also lower than the top ten mainstream brands like Hyundai (Charts) and Subaru.

Quality problems have been a big issue at Mercedes for several years and the company keeps insisting It has a handle on them. But issues keep cropping up.

The JD Power Initial quality study for 2006 models, which measures defects identified by customers during the first 90 days of ownership, put Mercedes at 25th out of a field of 37 brands. That was well behind leaders like Porsche, Toyota's (Charts) Lexus, Jaguar, GM's (Charts) Cadillac and Infiniti, though still two notches ahead of BMW.

The Mercedes spokesman blames that low ranking on two major complaints: brake dust from the high performance brakes and problems with the new seven speed transmission, that he says have been repaired.

He adds: "As you're aware, the IQS included a new survey methodology by JD Power which goes well beyond the actual quality of the vehicles and into subjective measurement (an important distinction) of how customers feel about such things as the design, look and operation of features, controls and equipment."

Mercedes still makes superb automobiles - striking in design, sophisticated in engineering, exhilarating in performance. It attracts hugely loyal buyers and its cars retain value better than most.

But being a leader means being constantly under attack by those behind you. Along with BMW and Lexus, Mercedes ranks in the top tier of luxury brands.

But until it can tame the devilish complexity of its cars into more reliable transportation, its position will remain precarious. And it doesn't help to be in denial about the problems you face - or to attack the messenger who delivers the bad news.

 

[mugs]

My mother-in-law had am M-class, thing was a piece of junk. Always in the shop. But she recently replaced it with a new M-class.

 

[The Stigenator]

the older generation mercs were not reliable.. apparenlty they raised QC for the newer generation..

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
the older generation mercs were not reliable.. apparenlty they raised QC for the newer generation..

i was under the impression that it was the opposite...for example i always that that the 1986-1995 was the best generation for the E class...

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
the older generation mercs were not reliable.. apparenlty they raised QC for the newer generation..

i was under the impression that it was the opposite...for example i always that that the 1986-1995 was the best generation for the E class...

The W124 class was a good car. (87-95 E Class) We had an 87 and a 95 at the same time and I could tell the drop in quality.

The W123 were tanks on wheels (early cars with the round headlights) Had an 83' 240D, dangerously slow, but reliable. Sold it when it had 365k miles.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

MB earned it.

My dad had a 2003 E55 AMG which was so horribly built that Mercedes ended up buying it back at full sticker price. In the 18 months my dad had it, the car spent 96 days in the dealer's garage across 10 different visits. It had chronic supercharger issues, untraceable electric gremlins, and all the whiz-bang gadgetry gave out within months. But on the bright side, the car was so fast off the line that the radio would come flying out.

After that, he was still convinced the problem was confined to E55's so he got an SL600. That thing has noisy brakes (been to the dealer twice for that) but otherwise runs well... for now. Certainly not been the ideal MB ownership experience, I would think. I think if MB is unhappy with the marks they earned, they should consider the cases like my dad's.

 

[ponyo]

Mercedes earned it. I know too many people with M, E, and S class Mercedes with the problems Consumer Reports mentioned.

Lexus is now the benchmark for luxury autos for the mass consumer.

 

[drum]

do Mercedes owners read consumer reports?
i'd be inclined to say no.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
the older generation mercs were not reliable.. apparenlty they raised QC for the newer generation..

i was under the impression that it was the opposite...for example i always that that the 1986-1995 was the best generation for the E class...

:thumbsup:

Back then they were #1, these days they're near the bottom..

 

[z0mb13]

perfect luxury automobile: MB design, BMW engine and handling, Lexus reliability and interior

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
perfect luxury automobile: MB design, BMW engine and handling, Lexus reliability and interior

:thumbsup: but i want bmw design...unless it was the new CL zomg...that thing is so sexay

 

[Midlander]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
perfect luxury automobile: MB design, BMW engine and handling, Lexus reliability and interior

Since reliability and comfort are important to me, I bought a Lexus. I wanted a BMW, but didn't want to spend that much time hanging around repair shops.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: Midlander

Originally posted by: z0mb13
perfect luxury automobile: MB design, BMW engine and handling, Lexus reliability and interior

Since reliability and comfort are important to me, I bought a Lexus. I wanted a BMW, but didn't want to spend that much time hanging around repair shops.

To my knowledge BMW has never had any reliability issues, at least nothing like MB.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: Midlander

Originally posted by: z0mb13
perfect luxury automobile: MB design, BMW engine and handling, Lexus reliability and interior

Since reliability and comfort are important to me, I bought a Lexus. I wanted a BMW, but didn't want to spend that much time hanging around repair shops.

To my knowledge BMW has never had any reliability issues, at least nothing like MB.

They're ranked at the bottom along with Mercedes. Read the rankings.

 

[ajayjuneja]

BMW has electrical nuisances, as well as that pesky iDrive thing that drives me nuts (and keeps me away from them)

 

[JS80]

dangit i was gonna get an E

 

[T9D]

My brother just bought a brand new Mercedes about 6 months ago. Last week he got rid of it and bought a brand new BMW 335 i. Likes it much better.

My mom got one of the brand new convertable Mercedes. She likes it but likes BMW's better and says she doesn't think she'll keep it more than a year and go back to a BMW.

I personally like my BMW better too. Mercedes are nice but there is something about the BMW's that are more desirable and feel more classy and comfortable.