Bryan Wall: Product test journalist on the research into the worst cars to own

Consumer NZ says ongoing mechanical problems put Fords to the top of its list of the worst cars to own.

The US brand produced the two least reliable cars - in its survey of almost 6,000 owners.

The Focus and Escape Models won the top spots.

Product test journalist, Bryan Wall, says out of all cars, they had the most major faults reported.

"Their cars were off-road for, probably, an extended period of time, because the engine wasn't working or the gearbox had failed or there's an electrical problem."

Volkswagen's Tiguan and BMW three series make up the top four. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our thoughts and prayers obviously to Forward Escape owners, because
they are the most unreliable cars according to a list
put out by Consumer New Zealand. Brian wall As, a
product test journalist at Consumer who wrote this list and
is with us. Hi Brian, Hi, there, what's the problem
with the forward Escape Why they break down so often?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Oh? That would be down to engine, transmission and electrical
issues from what we've found in our survey. Yeah, okay,
so transition repairs.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
What does that mean Brian.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, it means that the cars were off road for
probably an extended period of time because the engine wasn't working,
or the gearbox has failed, or there's an electrical problem.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
And does this would because I mean, this kind of
stuff happens to cars eventually, right they get old and
I'm assuming the transmission breaks down at some point. Is
this happening when the cars are still relatively new and
you wouldn't expect it?

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Well, the survey looks at a range of vehicles over
you know, ten to fifteen years, so it's difficult to
say that a new car is going to be less
reliable than an old or vice versa. But generally refining
with the Ford escapes. They're going to end up with
major issues eventually, which are going to cost a lot
of money to repair.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
VW T one. What's the problem there.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
Let me just check my results here. We've I think
we found like half of Tiguan owners experience a fault
during their ownership and a quarter experienced a major fault.
I mean that's that's a fault, like we say, where
the vehicle's got to be off road. And part of
the issue with the European car is generally the parts
are more expensive, so you know, it's people aren't as

(01:35):
satisfied with their vehicles because it's not it's a much
more expensive car to repair.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Have you put out a list of the most reliable cars?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
We do have a list of reliable as well.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yes, what's the top of that list then, Brian.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, the top are some Toyotas. We've got the CHR
and the Rev four. So the vehicles we see a
lot of on the roads and people are very very
happy with them and they seem to be very reliable.
So yeah, go for a Toyota.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Okay, can I like I know that this is I'm
going to sound snobby and bearing in mind, I know
nothing about cars. It's all esthetic for me. So have
you got anything on your list of most reliable cars
that's actually quite cool?

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Oh? I think that's beauty is in the eye of
the holder, isn't it really? I mean, because we can.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Take the REV four off the list of cool cars, though,
can't we write?

Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah? I'd probably agree with you on that. I don't
even like the look of the CHR. Do you like
the Corolla? Because the Corolla is up there. You know,
it's good looking little car. But can you do any
better if you want to go for an EV We've
got the MG fours up there. At the moment. We're
having quite high reliabilities. It's quite a stylish looking vehicle

(02:41):
and relatively cheap compared to a lot of other evs
at the moment. But it's early days with evs as
to whether they're going to remain reliable in the long term,
because you know, quite a lot of these manufacturers haven't
actually been on the market for for that many years.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Good point that you make, Brian. It's wonderful to talk
to you. Thank you for that MG four Brian Wall
consuming News Island Report author for more from Hither Duplessy
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