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Consumer Reports Snubs Toyota Highlander

Magazine withholds its coveted "Recommended" designation

December 6, 2007

The new Highlander is the first vehicle to be hit by the magazine’s October 16 decision to not automatically award the “Recommended” designation to Toyota vehicles because of reliability issues with the automaker.

Nevertheless, the 2008 Highlander scored better than 13 competing mid-size, three-row SUVs to take the segment’s top spot in the magazine’s January ratings.

The Highlander was not officially recommended because “we recommend only models with sufficient data to predict average or better reliability,” according to David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Center.

If Toyota vehicles return to levels of sustained reliability Consumer Reports considers to be excellent, the magazine will resume automatic recommendations, according to a press release.

Other vehicles tested in the January issue were the Buick Enclave, Ford Taurus X and Subaru Tribeca, whose ratings along with the Highlander were added to the magazine’s existing rankings of 10 other midsize, three-row SUVs.

The Tribeca and Taurus X received a “Recommended” designation from Consumer Reports.

Toyota toppled

In October, Toyota Motor Co. was dropped from the top spot in Consumer Reports vehicle reliability survey.

Honda Motor Co. beat out Toyota for first place but the maker of the top selling Prius hybrid managed a third place finish behind Honda and Suburu.

Ford Motor Co. made great strides forward, according to the consumer advocacy group with 41 of Ford's 44 models scoring average or better in predicted reliability.

Three Toyota vehicles lost the magazine's "buy" recommendation. For the first time in the survey's history, the V6 Toyota Camry is not recommended by the publication. The Lexus GS sedan and the full-sized Tundra pickup also dropped off the recommended list.

Japanese-made vehicles dominate CR's most-reliable list but U.S. automakers are making some progress, according to David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center.

"Just because a vehicle is made in Japan, doesn't mean it has bullet-proof quality," Champion said.

Both General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC achieved high ratings in launches of new vehicles but were unable to maintain the ratings.

Consumer Reports said The Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan sedans rank among the most reliable family cars in its survey, along with the Toyota Prius and Honda Accord. Those Ford sedans and the two-wheel drive Ford F-150 V-6 comprise three of the four domestic models on the survey's most reliable list.

Buick was the top U.S. nameplate at number 10 while Mercury followed in the number 11 spot, Ford was 13 and Lincoln 14.

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