Cadillac SRX reliability

[mkaresh]

Thanks, Sal, for giving me permission to post this.

Dissatisfied with existing information on vehicle reliability, a year ago I started conducting my own reliability research. I'm reporting stats like "average times in the shop" to enable comparisons between cars and tradeoffs with other factors car buyers also care about, like styliing and performance. These things are hard to do with vague dot ratings.

I'd like to collect data on the SRX, but to start a model year I need 25 signed up.

To encourage people to participate, detailed results will be available free
of charge to those who help out.

For more information, and to sign up:
Vehicle reliability research

Comments and questions welcome.

[robhersch]

I would be willing to sign up; and I tried but apparently your web site is not accessible to me via your posted address above.
My SRX: 2005 - N*V8 - RWD - UltraView (works as expected - shade & roof opens, closes, no air or water leaks, no noises) - Trailering pkg (no hitch) - Spec order for BlueChip/ Ebony/ trailering - Mfg Date ~12/15/04, Del 1/21/05 - now has ~ 13k mi.
My CD changer replaced @ 4557 mi (DIC resetting, was solved), my suspension checked @ 9559 mi (safety recall - no action reqd), refused reprogram (to solve AWD drive train issues??) based on data posted herein that degraded performance, etc. - serviced (Mob-1 synthetic oil chg, etc) by local Cad dealer @ 4368; @ 8646; @ 11744.
Volant CAI installed @ 8660.
My SRX fuel mileage (12-14/ 19-22) ~ 20% less than my '99 DeVille Concours

[mkaresh]

It was broken earlier, but I fixed it. Should be working fine now. Just in case, here's a plain link:

http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php

My process only collects data on future problems. I am currently working on a repair history section, though. Should be up and running soon.

[donjumpsuit]

I will sign up, because I have something to say. My only fear is that people who sign up are like me, with problems, like always in life, those who have had no problems, are not the squeaky wheels that require the grease.

Comments?

[TSS]

Not only that, but as a gruop we are much pickier and educated (w/ respect to how our vehicles should perform) than average folks. Most people don't participate in forums about their cars. Therefore, problems we report may go unnoticed by many. With that said, I would participate.

[mkaresh]

The registration form and later the regular survey asks about regular forum participation. Once the sample size is large enough it will be possible to determine if forum participation affects repair rates.

The reliability survey only asks about problems that happen in the future, with the exception of the first month. So except to the degree that past problems predict future problems (because the owner and vehicle remain the same), this source of potential bias is eliminated.

For what it's worth, this is the only reliability survey I'm aware of where people do not know what they'll be reporting at the time they decide to participate.

For people who want to report repairs that have already happened, I am working on a repair history section.

Edit: Repair history survey now online.

[DVC-Don]

Sorry, my security system blocked your web site.

[mkaresh]

I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you're talking about. At work? Based on what?

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by robhersch

I would be willing to sign up; and I tried but apparently your web site is not accessible to me via your posted address above.
My SRX: 2005 - N*V8 - RWD - UltraView (works as expected - shade & roof opens, closes, no air or water leaks, no noises) - Trailering pkg (no hitch) - Spec order for BlueChip/ Ebony/ trailering - Mfg Date ~12/15/04, Del 1/21/05 - now has ~ 13k mi.
My CD changer replaced @ 4557 mi (DIC resetting, was solved), my suspension checked @ 9559 mi (safety recall - no action reqd), refused reprogram (to solve AWD drive train issues??) based on data posted herein that degraded performance, etc. - serviced (Mob-1 synthetic oil chg, etc) by local Cad dealer @ 4368; @ 8646; @ 11744.
Volant CAI installed @ 8660.
My SRX fuel mileage (12-14/ 19-22) ~ 20% less than my '99 DeVille Concours

I just launched a repair history survey for people who want to provide this sort of information. As stated above, the main research only collects data going forward, not histories.

[mkaresh]

I'm still short of the minimum sample I need to get started.

In contrast, I already have 40 2007 Acura MDXs. I'll have initial reliability info on that new design in May.

People will pay attention to Consumer Reports as long as there is no real alternative. Help me create one.

Vehicle reliability research

[jrose7004]

I signed up.

[mkaresh]

Thanks.

I've had a few people ask me when I'll have information on the SRX. Unfortunately, that depends on how soon I have enough signed up.

With the Acura MDX, I have 50 owners signed up for the 2007 alone.

Details on the research: Vehicle reliability research

[Jmale]

I wonder what kind of sample size for a particular model year ( or vin # range) one would need to derive any useful information from analysis. Coupled with that the potential skewed data from an isolated population segment ( tech savy/ problem searching users) makes it even more interesting.

But hey, start small and see where it goes. I would love to get 'real world' facts on reliablity etc.

Kudos to you for your efforts!!!!!!!!! (I'll sign up)

JAM

[mkaresh]

Thanks for helping out.

I'm seeing results start to stabilize with samples in the 20s, partly because the metric I'm focusing on at first--repair trips to the shop--is very robust. People with many small problems tend to combine them into a single trip, evening out variation.

In general, problem rates are much higher than those reported to CR, but much lower than many people expect--overage is about 0.6 repair trips per year for a 2006 model.

Average in CR is about 0.18 because their survey is annual and they ask people to only report problems "you considered serious." That's how you get bias into responses--you let each respondent decide whether a problem was serious enough to be reported.

[mkaresh]

Still ISO more SRX owners. 37 so far for all model years.