Survey: Better reliability is why most consumers replace their car

With consumers holding onto their vehicles longer, thanks to a tough economy, their primary vehicles are now an average of nine years old. But what motivates drivers to finally replace them? The answer is poor reliability, safety concerns, and repair costs, according to a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. About 82 percent of respondents cited car problems, two-thirds (67 percent) said safety concerns, and nearly one-half (47 percent) singled out annual repair costs as factors with high importance in the decision to replace their current vehicle.

To better understand ownership factors surrounding car maintenance and repair issues, the Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted 1,699 random, nationwide telephone interviews of adult car owners from November 3-7, 2011.

Another leading factor respondents cited in replacing their current vehicle (41 percent) is that it no longer meets their needs. And with ownership periods approaching a decade, it is understandable that there can be significant lifestyle changes over that time. Other factors: More than a third (35 percent) cite poor fuel economy as a very important motivator, followed by outdated technology (10 percent), and being bored with styling (6 percent).

As we have seen in other car surveys conducted by Consumer Reports, motorists often favor practical considerations in tough times, such as ownership costs and convenience. However, when we take a broader look at the results and consider factors that respondents said were very or somewhat important, safety was mentioned by nearly 9 in 10 (87 percent). We're glad to see safety remains a top priority. Based on the average age of the typical car, it's likely that shoppers could readily find new or late-model used vehicles that perform better in crash tests and include more accident-avoidance technology, such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control.

With consumers going for longer periods before buying a new vehicle, it's even more important to do your research and see which models are currently the best in their categories. ConsumerReports.org subscribers get full access to all of our vehicle ratings, road-test reports, and lists of recommended models, which are good all-around vehicles that meet our stringent requirements in the areas of performance, reliability, and safety.

Learn more about car reliability.

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Survey: Consumers are running risks by postponing car maintenance or repair
Survey: Consumers trust their shop for car maintenance and repair

—Jeff Bartlett