U.S. ears cause most complaints

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 28

U.S. ears cause most complaints

NZPA-Reuter Washington Owners of United States-made cars made more frequent complaints about their cars than owners of imported models, Jack Gillis of the Centre for Auto Safety said in his 1989 edition of “The Car Book.” His analysis of thousands of complaints made to the Transportation Department by owners of 1981 to 1988 model cars showed a preponderance of the good cars were Japanese. In a telephone interview Gillis noted that his survey contained good news for United States car companies. Three of the 15 cars with a zero complaint rating were United Statesmade — the Buick Somerset Regal, the Chevrolet S--10 Blazer and the

Chrysler Le Baron GTS — and a fourth, the Dodge Shadow, was imported for Chrysler. The other 11 cars with zero complaint ratings were all Japanese except as noted: Acura Integra 1986-88; Honda Civic CRX 1984-87; Hyundai Excel 1986-88 (South Korea); Mazda 82000 1986-88; Nissan Van 1987-88; Saab 9000 1986-88 (Sweden); Subaru Justy 1987-88; Toyota Starlet 1981-84; Toyota Tercel 1987-88; Toyota van waggon 1986-88; Volkswagen Fox 1987-88 (West Germany). At the bottom of the list were the Pontiac Phoenix (1980-1984 models), the Peugeot 505, the Oldsmobile Omega (1980-84), the Buick Skylark (1979-1985) and the AMC Alliance/ Encore (1983-87).