From: rajiv@hilltop.mitre.org (Rajiv Kohli)
Subject: 1992 New Car Lemon Index - See where your car/manuf stands
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 17:38:53 GMT


Here is the 1992 NEW CAR LEMON INDEX for MA

See where your car stands

The lemon index is a measure of how well new car manuf responded to MA
consumers who attempted to resolve problems with defective automobiles by
invoking the state's successfull Lemon Law. The lemon law, which was
enacted in 1986, requires manuf. to submit to arbitration when a
consumers new car experiences continuing, reoccuring or unrepairable
serious defects which the manuf. cannot fix in a reasonable amount of
time. The statistics are derived from the outcome of arbitration cases
which were acted on within calendar year 91

The rating is provided for those manuf. with atleast 300 reigistrations
on MA vehicles weighing less than 10,000lbs (excluding motorcycles) using
the following formula:

	A manuf's percentage of the total of accepted arbitration caes
	(not including cases which the manuf. won)
	-------------------------------------------------------------- -1
	The manuf's percentage of the MA new car market

A higher (larger "+") lemon index rating index indicates that a manuf. is
either producing more than its share of allegedly defective vehicles, or
is not settling enough consumer complaints before consumers seek
arbitration, or both. Simply put, if a manufacturer's share of Lemon Law
cases is greater than its share of the market, the manufacturers Lemon
index rating will a high one. The higher the positive number, the worse a
manuf. has been at resolving Lemon Law cases. Conversely, the lower the
negative number, the better a manuf. has been at satisfying consumers who
bought a defective automobile.

The market share is based on MA registrations of new cars and trucks from
1/91 - 12/91 according to R.L. Polk and Co statistics. The % of market
share is based on 251,983 total MA registrations of qualified vehicles
during 1991. Arbitration case statistics are courtesy of the American
Arbitration Assoc which administers the arbitration program under
contract from the state. Cases accepted may include some which were
actually received in 1990 and may include some cars purchased prior to
1991 which were brought to arbitration in 1991.

Manufacturer	% share of		% Share of	LEMON INDEX 
		accepted		MA new car	    %
		Lemon Law Cases		market
===================================================================
VW		12.1%			2.1%		+466%	^ High
Hyundai		3.4%			0.8%		+388%	^ Complaint
BMW		1.7%			0.5%		+262%	| Rate
Saab		1.7%			0.7%		+143%	|
Chrysler	27.6%			13.0%		+112%	|
 (inc. Dodge,							^
  Plymouith,							|
  Jeep, Eagle)							|
Mazda		5.2%			2.9%		+81%	^
Mitsubishi	1.7%			1.1%		+52%	|
Ford		22.4%			21.3%		+5%	^
 (inc. Linc,							|
  Merc)								|

  Average						0%


GM		20.7%			27.7%		- 25%	V
 (inc. Buick,							|
 Cadillac,							V
 GMC Truck,							|
 OLDs,Pontiac)							V
Nissan		1.7%			3.9%		- 57%	|
Honda		1.7%			7.7%		- 78%	V
Infiniti	0.0%			0.2%		- 100%	|
Audi		0.0%			0.3%		- 100%	|
Saturn		0.0%			0.4%		- 100%	V
Lexus		0.0%			0.6%		- 100%	|
Benz		0.0%			0.6%		- 100%	|
Volvo		0.0%			0.8%		- 100%	V
Isuzu		0.0%			1.1%		- 100%	|
Suburu		0.0%			1.3%		- 100%	| Lower
Acura		0.0%			2.2%		- 100%	V Complaint
Toyota		0.0%			10.4%		- 100%	V Rate


Figures shown are rounded

Other manufacturers with less than 300 registration (# of
registrations/accepted cases)

Alfa Romeo	64/0
Bentley		1/0
Daihatsu	1/0
Ferrari		6/0
Jaguar		212/0
Lotus		3/0
Maserati	11/0
Peugeot		213/0
Porche		116/0
Range Rover	95/0
Rolls Royce	2/0
Sterling	52/1
Suzuki		208/0
Winnebago	4/0
Yugo		7/0
all others	34/0