[mkaresh]

I wanted more up-to-date auto reliability information that included actual repair rates. So in late 2005 I started conducting reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute repair rates that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

We've had good participation by minivan owners, and decent participation by Pacifica owners. But more participants remain needed.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, participants receive full access to all results, not just those for the minivans and Pacifica, free of charge.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

TrueDelta recently released updated Car Reliability Survey results. Repair rates are in terms of the number of successful repair trips per 100 vehicles per year.

For the minivans:

2000: 167, average, but close to "worse than average"; marginal sample size

2001: 195, worse than average

2002: 86, average; marginal sample size

2003: 94, average

2005: 105, worse than average

2006: 60, average

2007: 88, average; very small sample size

2008: 100, worse than average, but better than last time

For the Pacifica:

2004: 105, about average, but close to "worse than average"; very small sample size

2005: 47, better than average; very small sample size

2007: 109, worse than average, largely thanks to the new transmission; small sample size

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November. Additional participants needed, especially for the 2009--let's find out how much Chrysler improved for the second model year.

We now have a separate results page for each model that includes the results for competitors. The page for the Chrysler Town & Country, which includes data for both the Chrysler and the Dodge:

Chrysler Town & Country reliability comparisons

And for the Pacifica:

Chrysler Pacifica reliability comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

In just a week or two we'll start previewing the next set of results to participants. More always helpful, for all model years from 1995 on. Especially need 2009 minivans, to see how they compare to the 2008s.

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

So far 670 minivan owners and 167 Pacifica owners signed up to participate. Very good start, but more remain needed to cover all model years from 1995 on.

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

TrueDelta recently released updated Car Reliability Survey results for the Chrysler minivans. Repair rates are in terms of the number of successful repair trips per 100 vehicles per year.

2001: 214, worse than average

2002: 125, average; marginal sample size

2003: 117, average

2005: 109, worse than average

2006: 71, average

2007: 77, average; small sample size

2008: 89, still worse than average, but a large improvement from earlier

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. Additional participants needed so we can properly cover all model years.

Chrysler Town & Country reliability comparisons

Dodge Grand Caravan reliability comparisons

Same results on both pages.

 

[chuzz]

I just signed up with my 2008 Dodge Caliber.

 

[mkaresh]

I just signed up with my 2008 Dodge Caliber.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Updated results next month. Over 48,000 cars signed up so far, but many more needed.

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

We have updated results to include owner experiences through June 2009.

For the minivans, in terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008: 98, worse than average

2007 43, about average, but small sample size

2006: 103, worse than average

2005: 96, about average

2003: 119, about average

2002: 128, about average

2001: 205, worse than average

2000: 158, about average, marginal sample size

1999: 97, better than average, but very small sample size and quite possibly not accurate

Chrysler Town & Country reliability comparisons

Dodge Grand Caravan reliability comparisons

Same results on both pages.

And the Pacifica, again in terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2007: 93, worse than average, largely thanks to the new transmission

2006: 107, worse than average

2005: 85, about average

2004: 139, worse than average.

Sample sizes were small, even very small, for all four years.

Chrysler Pacifica reliability comparisons

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Chrysler Pacifica reliability comparisons

 

[mkaresh]

We'll have updated results again next month. So far 787 owners have signed up to participate for the minivans, and another 186 for the Pacifica. A great start, but more remain needed to fully cover all model years from 1995 on.

For the details, and to sign up to help:

Car reliability research

 

[Many Mopars]

I just signed up with my 2009 Caliber, so along with chuzz there are now at least two Calibers!

Hopefully, enough will join so that a reliability survey will exist for Calibers.

 

[mkaresh]

I just signed up with my 2009 Caliber, so along with chuzz there are now at least two Calibers!

Hopefully, enough will join so that a reliability survey will exist for Calibers.

Actually, there are 106 Calibers signed up, but 79 of them are 2007s. Only 7 2009s so far.

Updated results soon.

We're going to start providing new stats for the odds of requiring no repairs and the odds of getting a lemon. These require larger sample sizes, so additional participants would be helpful.

For the details, and to sign up if you haven't already:

Car reliability research

 

[Dave Z]

Spread the word - the more people partiicpate here, the better his chances of unseating the heavily-biased folk at that other place.

 

[mkaresh]

Thanks for putting a word in, Dave.

We have updated results to include owner experiences through September 30, 2009.

For the minivans, in terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 57, about average, but small sample size

2008: 78, improved to about average, first model year of redesign

2007: 22, better than average, but small sample size

2006: 88, about average

2005: 94, about average

2004: 133, worse than average, very small sample size

2003: 145, worse than average, small sample size

2002: 96, about average

2001: 177, worse than average, first model year of redesign

2000: 147, about average, small sample size

1999: 126, better than average, but very small sample size

1997: 109, better than average, but very small sample size

Chrysler Town & Country reliability comparisons

Dodge Grand Caravan reliability comparisons

Same results on both pages.

We've also introduced two new statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

The percentage with no repairs is about 59 for the 2008 and 40 for the 2005, and the percentage of lemons is about 3 for the 2008 and 9 for the 2005. These stats require more data, so we don't yet have them for other model years.

Nada-odds and Lemon-odds car reliability stats

Results for the Pacifica now posted in that forum, since they've been separated here.

 

[mkaresh]

862 Chrysler minivan owners now signed up. An excellent start, but more are needed to provide precise results for all model years.

Not yet signed up? Details here:

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

We have updated Car Reliability Survey results to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. For the Town & Country and Grand Caravan, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 52, about average

2008: 87, worse than average

2007: 33, better than average

2006: 91, about average

2005: 100, about average

2004: 114, about average, very small sample size

2003: 135, worse than average

2002: 106, about average

2001: 144, worse than average

2000: 140, about average

1999: 107, about average, small sample size

1998: 51, better than average, but very small sample size and probably not accurate

1997: 142, about average, very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

The percentage with no repairs is about 48 for the 2008 and 36 for the 2005, and the percentage of lemons is about 5 for the 2008 and 8 for the 2005. These stats require more data, so we don't yet have them for other model years.

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

Chrysler Town & Country reliability comparisons

Dodge Grand Caravan reliability comparisons

Same results on both pages.

 

[mkaresh]

Just enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record.

As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants in mid-April.

Car reliability research

 

[mkaresh]

Updated stats in a week or two. As always, additional participants would be helpful.

 

[Dave Z]

Thanks for the stats

 

[mkaresh]

We have updated Car Reliability Survey results to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. For the Town & Country and Grand Caravan, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009: 64, about average

2008: 91, worse than average

2007: 25, better than average

2006: 89, about average

2005: 95, about average

2004: 105, about average, very small sample size

2003: 109, about average

2002: 80, about average

2001: 135, about average

2000: 131, about average

1999: 128, about average, small sample size

1998: 75, better than average, but very small sample size and probably not accurate

1997: 182, worse than average, very small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

The percentage with no repairs is about 44 for the 2008 and 29 for the 2005, and the percentage of lemons is about 5 for the 2008 and 3 for the 2005. These stats require more data, so we don't yet have them for other model years.

A big thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help make this information possible:

Chrysler Town & Country reliability comparisons

Dodge Grand Caravan reliability comparisons

Same results on both pages.

 

[mkaresh]

Updated stats next month.

To help get your year fully included:

Car reliability research