A Study of Automotive Reliability and Associated Cost of Maintenance in the U.S.A.

Increasing Governmental regulation, changing judicial policies, greater consumer awareness and expectations concerning product integrity and rapidly rising operating costs are all having a profound effect on engineering and managerial decisions. Proper decisions, regardless of the area of business, require precise and easily accessible information. A research project established to provide sound engineering and cost data on transportation equipment, its systems and components, has provided answers to many questions faced in the automotive industry.

Information feedback on vehicle and component performance is fundamental in addressing the effectiveness of design/manufacturing changes which have already taken place. Statistical summaries and detailed findings, historical trends from model year to model year, intercorrelations between field, laboratory and proving ground experience enables greater insight into product modifications still required. The significance of the data have facilitated functional problem analyses on new designs, justified design and manufacturing changes to current configurations and aided preliminary concept definitions for new automated transportation system projects.