Although the University of Michigan’s American Customer Satisfaction Index doesn’t have the clout of other industry surveys – such as J.D. Power and Consumer Reports – it does give an indication of a customer’s satisfaction with a six month to three year old vehicle. The domestic automakers probably should start taking note of U of M’s study as all three performed poorly in this year’s survey.
The Big Three had actually been gaining on their Japanese and German rivals over the past few years, but the Michigan automakers took a big hit this year. “The gap is extending. Detroit is falling,” Claes Fornell, the professor in charge of the study, told The Detroit News. “It’s all foreign at the top and all American at the bottom.”
Fornell says that the decrease in satisfaction with the domestic brands is directly related to their truck and SUV-heavy lineups. Consumers have become fed up with high gas prices and therefore aren’t as satisfied with their large vehicles.
General Motors’ Chevrolet brand fell the furthest in the study – slipping by 3.7 percent – and actually ranked just behind Kia. The only brands ranked below Chevy in the survey were Chrysler’s Dodge and Jeep brands.
Despite the poor performance by Chevy, GM’s Buick was the highest ranked domestic brand, and the company’s Saturn division posted the biggest improvements. Coincidently, Saturn is GM’s most fuel-efficient brand.
Ford’s Lincoln and Mercury brands fared well – ranking above the industry average – but the Ford brand actually came in below the average.
Lexus, BMW, Toyota and Honda took the top four spots, respectively.



08/19, 12:20 PM
posted by:
RotaxKart
Wow
08/19, 12:23 PM
posted by:
inline6
So people are less satisfied with American trucks and SUVs because of their FUEL MILEAGE?
Didn’t these people read those big numbers in the middle of the window stickers on the SUVs and trucks they bought before buying them?
What a bunch of whiners.
08/19, 12:28 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
The American car maker is having a bad time as it is, if you are not happy with a “DOMESTIC CAR” then, DON’T BUY ONE. But if you had LEASE A BMW, and now you got your safe a DODGE because of $3.99 a galend, WELL SHUT THE F@<# UP!!!!! You now “DRIVE A DODGE” As for any one that is “UP-SET” that you have to drive 30 minutes or more to another dealer that is under staff because the on in your neighborhood close down, well sorry… But just remember if we don’t root for the home team who will???
08/19, 12:29 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
WTF is a galend?
08/19, 12:33 PM
posted by:
oldraven
This means absolutely nothing. If it had something to do with reliability and build quality, then maybe the domestics should pay attention. Since it’s about fuel economy, they’re already on the right track there.
So, to sum up the blog….
Current domestic offerings use a lot of gas. People don’t like that…… [crickets]….
08/19, 12:50 PM
posted by:
hbcbob3
People are whiney ****suckers who would rather bitch about **** than do something about it. And the American yuppie is top man on that totem pole.
x2 on the galend? Kind of like Galend-a on the Wizard of Oz?
08/19, 12:52 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
I love the comments where you guys are totally ignoring the article and that it means absolutely nothing (OLDRAVEN).
YOU GUYs ONLY LISTEN TO WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.
BIG 3 STILL HAVE ALOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.
Ford has the potential to do it and needs to make the right decision to bring that class leading european developed lineup to the US, I can respect them for that.
08/19, 1:07 PM
posted by:
oldraven
What am I ignoring or missing, asshole? The article is saying the big three need to significantly drop the fuel consumption on their models. No ****. Where has this guy been for the last twelve months? The blog implies that Ford, Chrysler, and GM (in particular) need to get with the program and build some more fuel efficient models. As far as I can tell, other than raising their quality standards, fuel economy has been the ONLY focus of GM and FoMoCo for well over a year. GM is dumping billions into the E-Flex system and PHEVs whilst they bring out new Hybrid models every few months. Ford is looking to replace most V8’s and V6’s with their smaller boosted counterparts. Both are developing small diesels for their work trucks (the worst offenders). Both are bringing over smaller, more fuel efficient and better built cars to our market from Europe. So what more can be said than “People don’t like burning so much fuel. Oh, you are? Alright, keep up the good work.”
Chrysler is a dead duck….. the clock is ticking down to the time the LLC sells off the bits.
08/19, 1:15 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
YEAH from europe. Thats the thing american developed cars suck
08/19, 1:20 PM
posted by:
beemerdude
“Lexus, BMW, Toyota and Honda took the top four spots, respectively.”
GET IT RIGHT, LLN… BMW TIED LEXUS FOR THE #1 SPOT. IT WAS NOT LEXUS #1 AND BMW #2 (AS THE STORY STATES)!!
Why does LLN keep giving wrong information?
08/19, 1:26 PM
posted by:
oldraven
“YEAH from europe. Thats the thing american developed cars suck”
Seriously, that’s your reply? And we’re the ones who only see what we want. What a fool. Stop pretending you know what’s going on, and don’t call me out unless you have a real reason to.
08/19, 1:30 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
“And we’re the ones who only see what we want. What a fool. Stop pretending you know what’s going on,”
what are you talking about?
08/19, 1:45 PM
posted by:
oldraven
I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you suffer from short-term memory loss.
08/19, 2:17 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
can you not explain yourself you tit
08/19, 2:33 PM
posted by:
oldraven
Try reading your comments, followed by my comments.
I said ‘this means nothing’.
You said ‘you guys are totally ignoring the article…YOU GUYs ONLY LISTEN TO WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR’. You also pretended to know something.
I asked you ‘What am I ignoring or missing’ then proceeded to explain that the only thing this blog has pointed out, implying the domestics don’t know it yet, is something needs to be done about domestic vehicles using too much fuel. The fact is, something is being done about it, and these things have been going on for a long time now.
You replied without addressing anything I’d said, except that they’re importing European car, which I already said were superior to NA made cars in the same class.
Then you completely lost the plot and I had to explain, again, what was already posted above. Are we up to speed?
08/19, 2:46 PM
posted by:
Robert
This study is a bigger joke than JD Power. The range of scores is from about 75 to 86. Toyota and Lexus are at 86. Saturn, Buick and Cadillac are at 85. L-M is at 83. Ford is at 80. I’m not sure how that is “considerable ground.”
Oh well…
08/19, 3:02 PM
posted by:
yarddog82abn
“GALLON” O.K. I MEANT TO SAY GALLON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
08/19, 3:28 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
You mean to tell me the people that WANTED these big over priced $H!Tboxes now complain, in a customer satisfaction survey, of all thngs, GAS MILEAGE!
08/19, 3:38 PM
posted by:
ktulu
the University of Michigan is more trustable thab J.D. Power or Consumer Reports.
thevse vehicles R not old unuff 4 a study. I say 5 yrs.
“Fornell says that the decrease in satisfaction with the domestic brands is directly related to their truck and SUV-heavy lineups. Consumers have become fed up with high gas prices and therefore aren’t as satisfied with their large vehicles.”
That’s Y this hole thing has 2 B disregarded.
Kia is better than people ythink, but it’s no chevry.
Lexus, BMW, Toyota and Honda? Which 1 doesn’t belong? BMW, the rest R junk.
Lexus sucks!
people pribably did not read those big #s in the middle of the window stickers. They just droold over a shiny nu truk.
galendewagen? That’s a MBZ SUV/ Looks like it’s in the Army.
Why does LLN keep giving wrong information? Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!Lexus sucks!
BMW doews not.
No tie.
08/19, 3:49 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Fascinating news story. In other news, Paris Hilton videotaped sucking a dick!
08/19, 4:06 PM
posted by:
murderedout
foreign vehicles=OVERPRICED GARBAGE
08/19, 4:26 PM
posted by:
murderedout
CLAES FORNELL is probally not even American, CLAES?WTF kind of name is that? Another biased professors “OPINION” rooting against American products. CLAES needs to be curb stomped for that retarted statement. In the end, the smart customer is not going to buy into these stupid biased flawed surveys. Only asshole and triple on dicks, are retarded enough to buy into these foreign butt humping biased reviews. Can’t wait to see all the retarded foreign humpin LLN newbies comments after this post. It will be more of the same. BLAAAHHH BLAHHH BLAHHH DRRRRRRRRR DRRRRRRR DRRRRRRR.
08/19, 4:56 PM
posted by:
Jordan
i don’t think murderedout knows very much about cars.
08/19, 5:20 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I’m getting my popcorn ready for this one…
08/19, 5:22 PM
posted by:
hateful83
Americans: Time to start buying American cars, american products for that matter. The government isn’t going to put too many stipulations on who can sell here, so it’s time to start ignoring some of these brands. To me Hyundai doesn’t even exsist for example. Call me crazy, but I’d like to start supporting our economy, not Korea’s (or Japans, or Germanys, etc). Also, regardless of what I hear about “surveys”, from what I hear and see in the real world reliability of an automobile stems more from the owners maintenance than the origin of the vehicle. All new cars have warranties to cover your ass in the event of some freak problem, where as you’re always taking a risk buying a used car without one.
08/19, 5:22 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
Calm down kids…
08/19, 6:35 PM
posted by:
bigp
well its the same cars and trucks from last year
08/19, 7:14 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
“because of $3.99 a galend”
What the fuc.k is a galend you fu.cking bell-end?
08/19, 7:33 PM
posted by:
murderedout
Jordan, I know a lot more about cars than your, towel head retarded, donkey riding, douchebag, dumbass.
08/19, 7:35 PM
posted by:
murderedout
Jordan needs to be curb stomped. Btw, jordan is a bitches name, you little fagget.
08/19, 11:23 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
True, Jordan was the name of that high-pitched ball-less faggot from New Fags on the ****.
08/20, 6:41 AM
posted by:
oldraven
“well its the same cars and trucks from last year”
Best point made so far.
08/20, 9:40 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
That’s a poorly designed survey if they measure quality and satisfaction tied to fuel economy and poor purchase decisions.
It reminds me of when the Hummer H2 came out, and it immediately ranked among the worst quality vehicles in surveys, including JD Powers. The number one “quality” complaint? Poor fuel economy.
How is poor fuel economy a quality problem? It isn’t.
Stupid people who buy these things actually expected GOOD fuel economy? It weighs 6,000 lbs. and has the aerodynamics of a brick wall. Duh!!
08/20, 9:51 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
How many people that own motorhomes complain that they get less mileage than their compact car? They don’t.
08/20, 1:04 PM
posted by:
hbcbob3
I’m with hateful 100% on this one…as irrelavent as it is.
09/07, 10:31 AM
posted by:
speedemon
08/19, 5:22 PMposted by:hateful83
Americans: Time to start buying American cars, american products for that matter. The government isn’t going to put too many stipulations on who can sell here, so it’s time to start ignoring some of these brands. To me Hyundai doesn’t even exsist for example. Call me crazy, but I’d like to start supporting our economy, not Korea’s (or Japans, or Germanys, etc). Also, regardless of what I hear about “surveys”, from what I hear and see in the real world reliability of an automobile stems more from the owners maintenance than the origin of the vehicle. All new cars have warranties to cover your ass in the event of some freak problem, where as you’re always taking a risk buying a used car without one.
IF THAT BE THE CASE ASSHOLE,DON’T BUY ANYTHING THATS SAYS “MADE IN CHINA”ON IT.BET YOUR ASS CAN’T DO IT.SUPPORT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY WHAT A JOKE!!!!!
11/08, 3:02 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Go Blue!