However, I’m not entirely sure whether or not to trust Consumer Reports wholeheartedly either, as they have also shown blatant bias in their issues as well. For instance, in the 1995 issue, they refused to test or even report on pickup trucks because they considered them a waste of time and money. Around 1990, they also wouldn’t test SUVs for the same reason. They limited themselves to cars and minivans (they still don’t test fullsize vans). Apparently, they received enough angry letters from pickup owners or those looking for pickups, because the 1996 issue features small and midsize trucks, along with loud protests from Consumer Reports’ staff about having to test them because they flatout hated them. They also refused to recommend a single pickup, giving them all poor ratings (even the Mazda, Nissan, and Toyota), despite some with excellent reliability and features. The reason - instead of grading the trucks on load capacity, off-road ability, power, towing capability, and other reasons people buy trucks, they rated them on ride, handling, performance, gas mileage, luxury, and interior space, which the trucks pretty much failed left and right.

Another example would be Consumer Reports’ issues with rollovers. They wanted more rollover protection, so what did they do? They faked an issue citing rollover problems with several SUVs, most notably the Isuzu Trooper. They weighted the vehicle so it would tip up on two wheels, then took photos of it and called it unsafe. Isuzu sued, but the case was a draw. The Supreme Court declared that Consumer Reports had indeed faked evidence in favor of a rollover, but Isuzu wasn’t entitled to reimbursement or face-saving thanks to the “Freedom of the Press” amendment. Subsequently, Isuzu lost several million dollars in sales of the Trooper and its’ other SUVs, and went from being the number three SUV seller in the United States (behind Chevrolet and Ford), to now being absent from the American market just ten years later (Isuzu sold its’ last models, the Ascender and I-Series, in 2007 and packed up to head back to Japan, though it still makes Duramax Diesel engines for Chevrolet and GMC).

Consumer Reports tried to do it again, with the Mitsubishi Montero, which sent that company reeling, but Mitsubishi’s making a comeback with it’s sporty compacts, the Eclipse and Lancer. Hopefully, Mitsubishi won’t become an Isuzu repeat thanks to Consumer Reports’ blatant bias against certain vehicles.

So, it’s all up to you who you trust. Unfortunately, Consumer Reports is the only company to report extensively on reliability, whereas most car magazines just report on new models. The only other place you could try is JD Power and Associates, and see if they have done similar research.

I hope this has answered your question. If you have any more, please feel free to ask.

The fact that people bought their cars for that period of time did not make them produce better vehicles.

I have seen many nutty things in their ratings over the years, but at the same time many things that made perfect sense. So I think i’ts a mix.

Since it is government mandated it requires a whole host of hoops to jump through. You do not actually get your credit scores, and it can take 7-10 days to receive the information. All in all not very consumer friendly. Guess that is what happens when a big company is required to do something they do not want to do.

Here is how I got my Credit Report and Score from all 3 bureaus for free.

I went to and signed up for their service.

It took like 3 minutes! They give you 7 Days for Free to try the service.

So I just canceled the next day after printing out everything I needed.

Easy and Free.

A simple credit background will be pulled from their choice of the Big 3 agencies, likely Equifax.

Disclosure law may require them to supply you with a copy of the report, depending on your state of residence.

Many companies use a search-service that provides any public-record info available, such as court-criminal history, traffic offenses, and the Sex Offender registry of your state.

I’ve also owned Honda and Toyota vehicles and have considered them to be more reliable and better quality than other brands, particularly American brands, that I have owned. It is no surprise to me that these two brands are always on top. Have you ever owned a Honda or Toyota?