Did automakers just suddenly one day decide to cut quality costs by 99% at some point? I mean, wtf? EVERY old vehicle I've driven, from my XJ to friends' old Fords and Chevys and Dodges, run like champs. High mileage and old, they still perform tops and are as reliable as they get. My XJ has NEVER left me stranded. Then, for whatever reason, every American car maker, Jeep included to an extent, just started to SUCK. Both of my parents' Escapes left them stranded and needed early repairs. My dad's 2007 Focus that I've been using just took a dump on the alternator today, along with a bazillion other problems. Another friend's mom's Chevy just crapped one day. I'm sorry to waste time with my rant, but am I the only guy noticing this?

I mean, what happened to true American quality?

 

I've worked on a lot of different years and models and talked to old school techs from back in they day.
It's pretty much the same o'l cycle. Happens to every year and make pretty much.

 

The older cars have already had the weak parts fail and now are happy with the replacements!

 

You'd be surprised at how many newer cars at my school have problems, yet the older ones have never had any major repair work.

 

A lot of the parts that are screwed, glued, and bolted to "American" cars are made from suppliers in other countries such as China and India. How well will you build that fuel pump module when you're making 38 cents and hour and have a quota to fill?