I've consulted CR in the past before making major purchases, but the problem I usually encounter is that by the time they've done their research and printed their article, that particular item has been discontinued and replaced by an updated model which may be much different than the model that was featured in the magazine.

 

Consumer reports? I thought the internet and yelp made them obsolete.

 

Did they cite the reasons for reduced reliability?

Interestingly CR back when there was a W platform for both Pontiac and Buick with identical powertrains CR would rate the Buicks as more reliable - the difference being the age of the owners and how they used the cars.

Buicks obviously at the time had older less aggressive drivers where Pontiac had the opposite so reported reliablity tended to be worse on the Pontiacs even though the powertrains were identical.

It pays to drill down deeper when your looking at things like this and try and find out what the reasons for reduced reliability are, especially when your talking an aggregate rating based on owner experience.

 

Good point.

 

While they didn't get into specifics about the Mustang, Fords overall reliability is down due to electronics and new models, this is out of article:

Several factors contributed to Ford’s decline. A few new or redesigned models, including the Explorer, Fiesta, and Focus, came out of the gate with more problems than normal. Ford has also added the MyFord/MyLincoln Touch electronic information and entertainment system, which has been problematic so far, to many vehicles. And three historically reliable models—the Ford Escape and Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ—are not included in the analysis. They were redesigned for 2013, and we don’t know how the new versions will fare.

 

When I checked specifics the one thing on the V8 Mustang that did have much worse average relaibility was minor transmission issues...