WESTLAKE VILLAGE, California — Consumers told J.D. Power and Associates that they are avoiding domestic brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Hummer, Pontiac and Saturn over concerns about "their future viability," according to a new study. The report is a rare look at the new reasons why consumers are shunning some brands.
"Concern over the future of the brand is the fourth most frequently mentioned reason for avoiding a particular model," said J.D. Power and Associates in a statement on Tuesday. "Included in the study for the first time, this reason was mentioned by 18 percent of avoiders."
The study noted that "Ford, Lincoln and Mercury had much lower levels of avoidance because of concerns over the brands' futures." It said this "could be largely attributable to the fact that Ford did not enter bankruptcy proceedings or receive government assistance during the auto industry bailout."
The study, now in its seventh year, found that the top three reasons for avoidance — styling, price and perceived reliability — remain unchanged from 2008 to 2009.
"New vehicle buyers want to know that if anything goes wrong with their vehicle in a year or two that the manufacturer will be there to back up their product," said Kerri Wise, director of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates.
Inside Line says: More fallout for some key domestic brands in the wake of the collapse of the domestic auto industry earlier this year. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
mazdaa says:
01:34 AM, 10/09/2010
I have a had a dodge caravan for 1 year it's a
HORRIBLE CAR!!!
-i got 12 MPG average on the highway!!
-The interior quality is crap
-The resale value dropped from when i bought it 12000$ to 4200$ even tough i had it for only one year!!
-Too much maintenance
I will never buy an american brand ever again! Japanese cars are just built better
moparmtn says:
09:02 AM, 01/23/2010
to icecubefosho ...... you eveidently don't know your engines as most Chrysler engines are among the best in the world .... you are probably basing your info on the 2.7 which has had many failures.... but the 3.3, 3.5 and other are just about bullit proof.... remember the 318 and the slant six .... 2 of the best engine ever made..... get your self a BMW repair manual and read where they built their six based on the Chrysler slant six... it is in print in the first part of tier book... but getting back to the point....Chrysler is not the only one that has ever made a bad engine....
moparmtn says:
08:36 AM, 01/23/2010
I have been driving American cars for 46 years now... mostly Dodge brand. I have had a few others. I have over 2,000,000 miles of very few problems driving Chrysler and Dodge. I have for years always felt the media always picked on Chrysler products. But in my circles they are on average doing better then the competition and all my Mopars have a whole lot less squeaks and rattles after a 100,000 miles then any of my families cars that I have ridden in... You all think Japanese cars are so good becaue the media has you brainwashed... but take my word they have their problems too.... and many are rust buckets.... But you proud to be Americans... here is a letter I put out on TN Senator Bob Corker about the US Auto industry....
This is my response to Bob Corkers article in the Greeneville Sun on the idling of the Spring Hill Saturn Plant....
Well Mr. Corker what do you expect? We have no import quota's, a government that is so corrupt that only does what it wants at the hands of big business and lobbyist's, citizens brainwashed by the Republican and Democratic Parties, the media and Americans not proud of their own products. Now I am not attacking you personally because this has been going on for years before you even got into office, but I don't see you getting off your keister to do anything about it either.
Why does Japan only allow 2% (source ALLPAR) of its gross auto sales to be imported yet they can sell any amount of autos here. WHY Mr Corker? Why are their no or few quota's on other imports? This corrupt Federal gov't and big business has sold us off, ruined the country, taken our jobs all for the greed of $$$. I am sick and tired of going into every store and 90% of everything you pick up says made in China, India, etc and in most cases of sub-standard materials. Bob, why does a company like Fleetwood campers move out of the US to Mexico... the result is... I bought a new camper in 2006 for $4050 made in Somerset PA. This same camper in 2008 cost over $7000 now being made in Mexico by workers making probably 1/3 the US worker and now the American consumer has to eat the shipping cost while Fleetwood makes more profit. Isn't something wrong here?
Mr. Corker and Mr. Alexander (he is our senator, silent as you hardly ever hear of him), Congressman Phil Roe how many steel mills are still open in this country? War is coming and our factories are closing while Asian factories are going full blast. In the event of a national emergency HOW long do you think it will take to reopen these factories and retrain the people to run them? You Proud to be Americans, well that's what you have across your Honda's trunk, keep buying these foreign cars? WHY? can't you support your own country? Every time you buy a foreign car you are sending approx 1/3 the total purchase overseas which supports the Asian country's people not the USA. Remember Dodge, Ford and GM, Willy's built the trucks, tanks, plane and ship engines and other parts that won WWII and is the reason you don't speak German or Japanese... Who is going to build the products we need to defend ourselves? Do you really think Toyota is going to build your tanks when war breaks out?
Many of you think these cars are made here but very few are. They are assembled here of parts made overseas. Personally I will only buy a car with the serial / vin number starting with a 1, 2 or 4 as these are mainly made in the USA or Canada, which by the way has been our manufacturing partner for close to a hundred years.. I believe that all foreign item's be charged at least a 10% additional sales, import or un-employment tax and this could be done immediately as the Country Of Origin is in the upc bar code.
I saw a Toyota van running around Greeneville with a TN State tag on it. If this is what is happening to my tax dollars then I should have the right to refuse to pay my taxes as I don't want to support Asia. I also believe that anyone that receives a government paycheck be required to purchase an Amercan vehicle. I have been buying American cars (mostly Dodge) for 45 years now and have over 2,000,000 miles of very few problems. I know of just as many people who have problems with foreign cars.
I gave 4 years of my prime life to this country back in the 60's for our peace and freedom but feel I have been kicked in the keister by our federal government and big business. It hurts even more when our citizens can't support the products that we make and then you wonder why you don't have a job.
Let me close with you politicians will have to make a decision: Support the American people or corruption of Washington and its lobbyists.... funny.... but Admiral Yamamoto once said of America after the attack on Pearl Harbor "I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant" ..... I think our people are waking up... and what our Federal Government is doing to us is far more devastating then what Japan did to us at Pearl.
Ronald Fields
Limestone, TN
eyebuyamerican says:
04:36 PM, 01/11/2010
Someone out there please tell me that Chrysler cars are junk? My wife is currently driving a 2007 Grand Caravan, it now has 40,000 miles on it and we have had no problems. Its our 7th minivan and it fits our needs. I currently drive a 2004 Chrysler 300m that has 122,000 miles. I got it with 100K from the original ower who traded it for a 2009 Chrysler 300C. I love my 2004 300, it runs great. My son has a 2001 Dodge stratus witrh 132,000 miles and it runs great. Every car I have is maintained by the dealer and runs new. I've found most people get bored with their cars after the miles higher, they don't pay to maintain them and of course they break down.
I guarantee you if you stop maintaining your Toyota, it'll break down too.
Oh, by the way my friend drives a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4x4 and it has 200,000 miles plus. I'll put a Jeep up head to head with any 4Runner out there.
Its time we all get off the Import bandwagon, and invest back in our own country. Chrysler Dodge and Jeeps are great vehicles, and the people who own them, won't buy anything else. Do whats right, Buy American!
jeannot23 says:
05:46 PM, 01/01/2010
I recently bought a 2004 Sebring Limited Convertible and love it. It has 74,000 miles, about 1K of which I've put on. It's a roomy, comfortable convertible and fun to drive with the top down.
We also own a 1996 Jeep Cherokee with 154,000 miles. It looks and drives like new.
Why list Chrysler along with Pontiac and Saturn? Pontiac and Saturn (alas) are going out of business. Chrysler isn't.
plguitar says:
03:54 PM, 12/23/2009
As I mentioned in a previous post, I own a 2009 Pontiac G8 GT, and it's the best car I've ever owned.
"Consumers" are funny - but, we are not consumers. We are reading InsideLine.
I'll be enjoying my G8 GT for years, and everyone else can bey like cows and follow some lame herd to the Toyota dealership (or fill in ______ milqutoast brand here).
I've seen the light, and I'm proud of Holden, GM, the CTS, and what is on the horizon. Just wish the G8 would be coming back....but it a way, it makes it that more special to me.
lightninmcqeen says:
11:05 PM, 12/21/2009
I own two 2007 Dodge vehicles and they have been excellent! For all you haters out there, here's a little something to chew on...
Edmunds Award The Charger Most Wanted Sedan. Consumer Reports survey has given the "Most Satisfying" award to the Dodge Challenger sports coupe. The RAM recently won Truck of the Year!
The 300 rated Car and Driver magazine's Top 10 best cars for 2006, Consumer Guide also awarded the 2006 Chrysler 300 as its choice for Best Buy for 2006, Edmunds.com recognized the Chrysler 300's vibrant and high performance characteristics so much so that it decided to award the sedan as the most significant new vehicle for 2005. The same company also included the vehicle in its Top 10 Hippest for 2005 list. The highest government front crash test rating, which is five stars, was also given to the Chrysler 300. Aside from those mentioned, the Chrysler 300 has also bagged in the following awards: Smart Money's Best Full Size Sedan (June 2004), Money Magazine's Best Large Car (2005), Maxim Magazine's Car of the Year (2005), African Americans on Wheels' Urban Wheel Awards Car of the Year, Chief Executive's Top 10 Cars for CEOs, Automotive Rhythms' Urban Elite Car of the Year, Automotive Fleet's Fleet Car of the Year (2005), Road and Travel magazine's 2005 International Car of the Year, Advertising Age's 10 Hottest Cars (2004), Detroit Free Press' Car of the Year (2005) and the Detroit News' Car of the Year (2005).
I could go on but I don't care anymore.
jeepsrt says:
10:13 AM, 12/17/2009
I have owned 2 Dodge Rams a '95 and an '03 Hemi when they first came out and currently own an '06 Grand cherokee and they have been for the most part trouble free. I also had an '03 Tundra that every time I took it to the Dealer they found something wrong with it, does that mean all Toyota's are unreliable? To say all Chryslers are crap is the cool thing to do lately, Edmunds has 2 in their long term fleet and they are trouble free as well, and as for wikiwiki I would'nt brag that you have a Vibe.
69johnny says:
08:58 AM, 12/17/2009
When the Challenger first came out I was shocked and disgusted by the outrageous PRICE GOUGING *cough*(market adjustment) performed shamelessly by greedy Dodge dealers.
I know several people who cancelled their orders because of this and swore to never buy Chrysler again.
Those dealers earned their place in the unemployment lines and helped put Chrysler in the
S-can along with some real butt-ugly designs (caliber?) and notorious unreliability issues (tie-rods, transmissions going out at 30k)
However I will not automatically run to foreign brands for salvation. After getting an 05 Mustang and recovering from decades of a toyota/honda/"practical" car hangover I am finally truly enjoying a car for the first time in my life. Bailout free, Go Ford.
wrinklebump says:
07:44 AM, 12/17/2009
I drove two Chryslers as a youth ('88 LeBaron, '97 Cirrus) and found them both quite reliable despite receiving considerable abuse. The LeBaron logged over 230k before the tranny called it quits and the Cirrus still runs with 190k on the odo. I also own an ancient Wrangler that runs. Sometimes. Have a friend with Grand Cherokee that has a lot miles on it too.
I'd buy a Magnum, Ram, Challenger, or 300 if I found a good deal on one. I'd also like a Rubicon Wrangler but don't have that kind of money to spend on toys.
Also Alan you must be a pretty terrible capitalist because capitalists want their investments to succeed. I certainly wouldn't have a problem if Chrysler recovered one of these days.