Consumer Reports Most Reliable Cars

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/autos/2012/10/29/consumer-reports-most-reliable-cars/index.html
Most of them are Toyota. Virtually all of them are Japanese brands. A few Kia's did well, too. Saw a picture of Japanese workers at one of their Toyota plants. Each one appeared to be wearing surgical masks, clean uniforms, lined up in precise formation, reminiscent of technicians assembling space probes. Saw a picture of American workers at a domestic plant. None were wearing surgical masks, most were in T-shirts and blue jeans or equivalent. Going thru the motions doing what they do. Ford's reliability reportedly has taken a nose dive...

The same thing happened with the motorcycle industry. Eventually the Japanese bikes became the most reliable.
However, I had two Toyota cars and neither of them was that great of a car. My 1988 Celica was a wreck after only 73,000 miles and I took great care of it. But it just continued to decay until it was not work the cost of repair and yes I bought it new. I wanted to repair many things, but they would only sell complete component, no parts were available to repair the items like the rack and pinion steering.
Then I bought a Ford Ranger in 1999, still have it and it is a great truck that has never required any repairs in 80,000 miles and runs like new, looks great too.
I also got a 1999 Ford Explored that ran for 110,000 miles without a problem, still had the original hoses and belts on it when I traded it in on the 2011 Kia Forte.
So, I think that some of our cars are also pretty good.

I've had 5 Ford trucks since 1988:

1989 Ext cab ranger - Son totaled it when hit by a short bus, son was uninjured:

1988 " " 4 x 4, Traded it on 1994 Ford F150 Ext cab XLT 4 X 4, needed a heavier truck:

1994 Ford Ranger Ext cab 4 x 4 bought for daughter 2003: totaled in 45mph collision with a tree while dodging a drunken fool who clipped the back as she veered off the road to avoid him: daughter had concussion from DS window hit, bruised but fine later that day. Truck actually saved her life that day as it protected her very well.

1999 Ford Ranger ext cab 4 x 4 insurance settlement bought for daughter in 2003; She traded it on a 2007 Ford Fusion in 2007, as she wanted a car.

2004 Ford F 250 Super Duty Ext Cab XL traded 1994 XLT for it, needed heavier truck. Still have the F250 & it has worked it's fanny off since purchase. Pushed gobs of snow with a Western 8' blade, & has usually has a 20' trailer with 4500 lbs of lawn equipment on it from April 1st to October 31st every year of it's life with me. It has paid for it's self many times over............ Not a lick of complaint or problem really from any of them, been good reliable, dependable trucks. Most I worked past their rated capacities.

AS for Toyota??! Only experience I've ever had with them has been working next to a couple of the "full sized" versions trying to keep up with the F250 while plowing snow.
Both were worthless at it & got hung up frequently, enough so both were fired from the jobs by the Contractor's area super. Couldn't push a load of snow 1/2 the size of the Fords or Chevies & had to be "rescued" from being hung in small spoil piles frequently. Had to pull them out as they were usually stuck right square in the way of getting the lots done. The Toyotas just plain didn't have enough guts to be attempting such heavy work from what I saw in both cases. Likely why I just don't see any more of them attempting such work or hauling well loaded tandem equipment trailers around. Likely the Toyota "full sized" trucks do an excellent job for their owners as long as they don't ask too much of them and keep them within or under their load rated capacities. As for the Fords I've owned they have all done very well even when constantly asked to perform well outside of their "capacity" envelope.

Just one man's experience & opinions, but I'd take a Ford over a Toad (Toyota) any day of the week...But then I use my trucks as a truck, not a shiny symbol of my manliness!

CS!