How would you rank the American car manufacturers in order?

[t-8900]

Like Chevy, Ford, Dodge, GMC, etc

[MrOracle]

American car manufacturers are ranked thusly.

• Tesla
• Ford
• GM

You'll notice that Stellantis (the car group owned by Fiat and the French Car Group, and parent company of Chrysler/Jeep) isn't listed, as it isn't an American car company.

The auto market is nothing but problems right now. The recent push for higher mileage, combined with Americans' love affair with trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, has resulted in all manufacturers - but the American ones in particular, making horribly-compromised vehicles (lots of too-small engines with turbos, that can be tuned to fake a decent mileage figure to improve CAFE numbers) that are also really unreliable. They've also approved production of major parts that they were warned were unsuitable, and buyers largely have to pay the price.

The OEMs pay for it too, to some extent. Ford's annual recall costs have been above $4B a year for the last several years (GMs too, though they had more vehicles sold), but that number might easily be double if they had to pay for all of their bad decisions.

For example, Ford's top engineers warned the company that the transmission they intended to put into 2012 and later small Fords (Focus, Fusion, Fiesta, etc.) had serious design problems that would cause them to fail very early. They approved them anyway and put them in cars for 6 years. Those transmissions have an incredibly high failure rate, and there's no other option - a rebuilt transmission will have the same problem and will eventually fail the same way. There's a class action lawsuit, since Ford refused to recall them, but most owners will get $36 while the lawyers will get millions, and they'll still have lost many thousands (or more) on their cars' values.

GM has similar problems on their smaller cars - the Cruise and the Volt have CVT transmissions that absolutely REQUIRE maintenance that rigorously follows maintenance schedules, but most customers don't know or understand this, and when these things grenade at 50,000 miles, you're looking at $8,000 for a new one. And a new one is the ONLY option - literally no one in the US rebuilds them. Most of these cars end up getting scrapped, with much less than 100,000 miles on them.

The even bigger problem is the Ford 5.4L 3V, which is in a LOT of vehicles, including most F150s from the last 15 years. The oil passages are way too small, and if the oil isn't changed VERY frequently (3000 miles or less) religiously, the engine will sludge up like nothing you've ever seen (if you remove the valve covers, it looks like someone threw in handfuls of potting soil or something), and by the time it starts making ticking noises - which is the first thing most owners notice - the engine is too far gone, and you're looking at $7-8000 for a new motor.

The car companies have plenty of people who can see these designs and know in advance that they'll cause big problems, but the culture of those companies is to play the Blame Game, and management doesn't want to spend more money or delay a launch, so bad designs get approved - and then stay in production for year after year. It's insane.

The bigger problem now is that the car companies all see that their gas-powered cars are soon to be legislated out of business, but they have to keep making them until they can get competitive EVs on the road, but they also don't want to spend any R&D money on them, so known problems aren't likely to get fixed. Dealerships also know that they're soon to be gone too, as the OEMs won't be using them for EVs. In many ways, it's a lousy time to buy anything but an EV. That's why Tesla is at the top, despite their issues.

[t-8900]

I enjoyed read this and am in the market. Honestly I miss my grandfathers caddie El dorado and mercury grand marquis. They drove so well and felt so good to sit in omg

[MrOracle]

I've got a 2006 Ford E250 van with the 4.6L 2V V8. It's an old design but a very reliable one, and the motor has over 270,000 miles on it and will hit 300k by the end of the year. Mileage is crappy, of course, and I've put a transmission in the thing, but that's not so surprising with the mileage. It's fairly easy to work on (engine access in the van is the hard part), and you can't argue with simple and reliable. Ford barely changed anything on those since the 60s other than a couple of relatively minor cosmetic refreshes across 4 decades, until it was finally replace by the Transit in 2015.

[t-8900]

I remember back in the 90's my dad drove us in a dodge grand caravan that was actually very nice tbh. Nowadays dodge is just... Dodgey

[MrOracle]

They're owned by foreign companies that have mostly made small economy cars for decades - they know little about the kinds of cars and trucks that Americans buy and use, and their priority is EVs, so they aren't investing in bigger American ICE cars, and it shows. Quality is abysmal, and even popular models like the Challenger and Grand Cherokee are being left to die.

EVs have a lot of promise, but we're still a LONG way from an all-EV world. Chrysler may not survive long enough to get there. Tesla may well be the third in the US "Big 3" before too long.

[AviatorTom]

Ruling out foreign car manufacturers like Toyota, Honda etc. that have plants in the US, ranking the Big 3 US auto manufacturers in terms of quality: General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, etc.); Ford (incl Lincoln Mercury); Chrysler (Plymouth, Dodge).

[Tiptoetamm]

American cars suck in comparison to German Chinese and Japanese brands. I'm looking for a new car and think I might get suburu outback or Toyota Camry Camry is cheaper and really reliable car. I will not buy an American made car lol. The Ford I had the transmission always shit the bed. I sold the damn thing it was a nightmare. I'd give them a rating of 2 maybe 3 and that's being nice lol

[MrOracle]

The US hasn't cared about CARS in a long time, and the few models they still sell show that in spades. The trucks and SUVs are better, and the crossovers are about the same, but if you want a CAR, you're definitely better off with a Japanese one. The Japanese are slow to incorporate the very latest tech (unlike the Germans), but that's because they prioritize reliability and value, and in those areas, they deliver better than anyone else. Yes, the cars can be boring, but I'd rather be bored with reliability than enjoy the "excitement" of a car that constantly needs expensive repairs.

[Tiptoetamm]

I didn't know that good to know. I completely agree same here

[Aerissa_Jade]

I say Ford first since they didn't need government bailouts and while their cars aren't the best their Trucks are awesome.

Dodge probably secon

Chevy and GMC aren't they like different divisions of the same company?

[t-8900]

Dodge/Chrysler

[t-8900]

Some of the chevies like the Impala and Tahoe are supposed to be solidm the suburban too but it's gas mileage is ass. I always thought dodge was... Kinda dodgey

[OlderAndWiser]

1. Ford
2. Dodge
3. Chevy

[msc545]

Essentially, they all really suck compared to Korean and Japanese and German car manufacturers.

[t-8900]

I want to live Ford though I really do. They need better cc across the board. Ford's seats are better for my back. The issue with these kids and Hyundai's and stuff is they have these retarded seat cushions that wrap around your back. It's okay for small people but NOT big guys like me

[t-8900]

*like ford

[msc545]

Yes but... the engines and transmissions suck

[t-8900]

The 4.6L f150 is the most solid of any truck on the market. But their 5.4L is third worst in the market so it taints the reputation

[msc545]

Trucks are dangerous gas hogs

[t-8900]

They have a use. Also I'm a big guy I need lots of room. Plus I'm claustrophobic af

[msc545]

Maybe a tank would suit you?

[t-8900]

No need. But trucks are versatile. You can live out of them, camo with them, move furniture. Plus they are Manmobiles, exuding testosterone and sexiness. Trucks, vintage American Muscle, and Harleys man, that's where it's at.

[msc545]

Yes and no. If you live in rural areas, they are fashionable. Where I live, a Porsche is more in style.

[t-8900]

I can't even fit in a Porsche though 😂

[msc545]

I think you might be able to fit in some of the new ones that have convertible tops. It might be worth your try

[t-8900]

Well sense I live in California now I suppose that's more viable. In Maryland it rains all the damn time. Sometimes 2 straight weeks without sunlight. I suspect it's why we are so violent and crabby over there

[msc545]

Could be, although the folks in Seattle have these nonstop rains, and they are not all that bad. Where in CA do you now live? It matters!

[t-8900]

Azusa ATM

[msc545]

Ah yes. Close to me relatively speaking.

[exitseven]

I was a chevy guy for years but I say Ford, Chevy, Dodge.

[Exterminatore]

Chevy/GM, Dodge and GMC equal and Ford at the bottom.

[FinalFantasyBro]

Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Hundai, and Toyota

[t-8900]

Hundai is Korean and Toyota is Japanese lol

[FinalFantasyBro]

I know but still I love those two manufacturers

[Anonymous]

Ford, Dodge, GMC and Chevy

[GMANN56]

I don't buy American cars

[Redstang88]

Ford, GM, Dodge.