Car satisfaction with U.S. brands slips

USA TODAY, August, 2008 by Eric Nordwall

U.S. car buyers are growing less satisfied with their purchases from domestic automakers, while their Asian and European competitors continue to improve, according to a recent survey. Consumer satisfaction with U.S. auto brands slipped as Lexus and BMW tied for first place, followed by Toyota and Honda, according to the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index released today. General Motors' Buick and Cadillac brands and Ford's Lincoln and Mercury lines fell from their No. 2 perch at a time when U.S. companies are struggling to outshine their competitors and reverse shrinking sales and market share. Traditionally, U.S. brands improve their customer satisfaction scores each year, just not as much as their overseas counterparts. (GM gives buyers employee discount, 3B.)

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