Consumer Reports New Car Preview 2005: Survey Predicts Reliability Problems With European Luxury Models; Ten of the 11 2005 Sedans With CR's Lowest Predicted Reliability Rating Were European Including HighPriced Models.

(From AScribe)

YONKERS, N.Y. -- Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey predicts continued troubles for European automakers with 2005 vehicles. Not only didn't European automakers have even one model among the top vehicles, but they dominated the list of vehicles with the worst predicted reliability ratings.

Ten of the 11 sedans with Consumer Reports' lowest predicted reliability rating were European, including such high-priced models as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, E-Class, and six-cylinder version of the C-Class; the Jaguar S-Type and X-Type; and the BMW 7 Series and 5 Series. Most of Volkswagen's models, including the Golf, Jetta, and New Beetle, also rated far below average for reliability. The four-cylinder version of the Passat has been troublesome in the past, but VW seems to have gotten the bugs out of that version. Only the all-wheel-drive version of the Passat received the lowest rating in CR's survey.

A full half of the sedans and small …