The motor industry’s most viable rating agency says the introduction of engines that meet revised EPA regulations is once again taking a toll on heavy-duty truck quality and customer satisfaction, as customers are reporting more problems with their truck engine. This is according to their 2012 U.S. Heavy-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study released Wednesday.
Overall customer satisfaction with heavy-duty trucks declines to 737 index points on a 1,000-point scale in 2012, compared with 751 in 2011, primarily due to an increase in the number of problems experienced. The study finds that quality of Class 8 trucks that are one model year old has decreased, with problem levels rising 9 percent to 223 problems per 100 trucks (PP100) in 2012, up from 204 PP100 2011.
Overall quality is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 trucks, with a lo
The most problematic engine and fuel problems are driven by technology that is designed to reduce emissions from heavy-duty truck engines.
And the issue doesn’t stop there.