mkaresh

In late 2005 I started conducting reliability research. I'm reporting absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so it's possible to provide reliability information on new models like the 2008 xD very quickly--if enough owners sign up to help out. The sooner enough owners of the 2008 get involved, the sooner others considering the car will have some reliability information to factor into their decision.

With first-year designs, reliability is always a question mark. Some do start out with problems, but the manufacturer often quickly identifies and addresses these. With TrueDelta's quarterly updates, any such improvement becomes apparent within a few months.

Participants report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members will receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

Comments, questions, and suggestions welcome.

mkaresh

I'm going to start collecting data on the new xB next month. I'd like to also start with the xD, but first need a few more owners to sign up.

Results for about 65 other models also coming next month.

bbcxb2

will you hook a brother up for providing you my data :D

mkaresh

I'm not quite sure what you're asking.

Join up and help provide the data, and I'll hook you up with the best, most recent vehicle reliability info.

mkaresh

Will include the xD in this research as soon as enough owners sign up to help. With 22 owners signed up so far, the 2008 xB is already included.

Auto reliability research -- need more xDs!

SpoonKiller

That's a great idea!

mkaresh

Thank you for the encouragement.

An intial result for the 2008 xB will be released in early February. The xD is still not included in the survey--need at least ten more owners to sign up to get started.

For the details and links to the enrollment form:

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Closer, but still not there yet for the xD.

The 2008 xB has actually been experiencing a worse than average repair rate owing mostly to issues with exterior trim. I suspect that repair rate will improve with the next update in May, but time will tell.

For the full set of the latest results click here: TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

Let's get the xD in future sets!

mkaresh

Still just ten of these.

Is the xD selling that much worse than the new XB? Over 40 of those.

To help get the xD included in the survey:

Vehicle reliability research

ChelsDS

No I'm just too lazy to sign up.

Runawayrogue

Well... the xB is the xB... everyone and their aunt buys the xB. Us xD owners are of the rarer, more distinguished breed.

mkaresh

Sounds about right.

15 now signed up, so I've added the xD to the survey. Will need more participants to post results, though.

To help make this happen, click Vehicle reliability research

Runawayrogue

At what point do you add a vehicle to the report? It seems to me like even 40 owners reporting is much too small a sample to be judging an entire car model year.

mkaresh

I report a full result with 25+ responses. Results tend to be usefully accurate even with that small a sample. You can't split fine hairs with that size sample, but you can get an indication of high--medium--low repair rates.

Of course, more is better.

mkaresh

The follow-up email goes out today, and this is the last time this month I'll include new members in the survey.

17 owners of the xD have signed up so far. If a few more could be included in this survey, that would make a full result in August more likely.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

A few more owners have signed up. We might have an initial result in August, and a full result in November. This will depend on how many owners sign up and participate.

To help get the xD in there:

Vehicle reliability research

ssscamaro

ill sign up. i drive 25000-28000 miles per year using car for work. I am very fussy car owner. 39 years old family owner muscle car /american car nut. This is my first import( actually i did own a wrx a few years ago for 9 months forgot that). I would love to post feedback there. picking my xd up Friday. 2000 mile preowned certified auto trans.
Ryan

mkaresh

Thanks, I appreciate it.

We'll have an initial result for the xD in August, but asterisked for marginal sample size.

I'd like to get rid of that asterisk. If you've signed up to participate but haven't yet responded to the survey (via a link in the email you received), please do. And if you haven't signed up yet, I hope you'll consider doing so.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

That result in a week or so.

Additional participants always helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

That result has been posted.

We didn't have enough responses for a full result. But none of those responding reported a repair, so the repair rate is clearly low.

I'd like to have a full, publicly visible result the next time around, in November. Simply need more participants to make this happen.

For the current set of results, and to sign up:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results