A: The CarMD Vehicle Health Index is an annual report of the most common automotive diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), fixes and repair costs for 1996 and newer vehicles in the U.S. – foreign and domestic.

Since 1996, the U.S. government mandated that on-board diagnostics (OBD2) be included on all foreign and domestic cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs driven in the U.S. This universal technology is installed in each vehicle’s computer system, and is designed to detect malfunctions, set a DTC and turn on the “check engine” light if there is a problem. The system provides vital health and safety information for approximately 80 percent of a vehicle’s systems.

CarMD has compiled the industry’s most comprehensive database of DTCs downloaded by automotive technicians and vehicle owners since 1996. In addition to diagnostic trouble code data, CarMD has compiled the most comprehensive database of “fixes” or recommended repairs that correspond to each trouble code scenario. On a daily basis, a nationwide network of thousands of automotive service excellence (ASE) technicians recommend, confirm and upload repairs and costs by region to the CarMD database. As a result, CarMD has built the largest, most up-to-date database of diagnostic trouble codes, expert fixes and repair costs.

CarMD plans to release this data on a yearly basis to provide vehicle owners and the industry the most in-depth view of vehicle health and repair. This level of data has never before been released or available to the public.

A: The CarMD Vehicle Health Index was launched in April 2011 to help consumers and the vehicle market put their finger on the pulse of the raw data associated with vehicle failures, repairs and safety issues. It is CarMD’s goal to take benchmarking data and new information to show unbiased trends and give consumers an edge when it comes to what may happen with their vehicle in the future. The CarMD Vehicle Health Index will help consumers and professionals better diagnose vehicle problems, make more informed new and used car purchases, and ultimately stay one step ahead of what may happen to their vehicles in the future. Because CarMD.com Corp., procures information from a network of thousands of ASE certified automotive technicians, and customers from all 50 states, its data covers more than 80 percent of vehicles on the road, giving a unique perspective on vehicles driven in the U.S.

A: While other organizations provide valuable information on consumer satisfaction, buyer behavior, product quality and even vehicle history reports, no single organization – until now, has put its finger on the pulse of the raw data associated with vehicle failures, repairs and safety issues. The CarMD Vehicle Health Index is the first research project to collect and statistically assess fixes and diagnostic trouble code scenarios for the majority of model year 1996-current vehicles.

A: The first annual CarMD Vehicle Health Index was released in two reports on April 27, 2011, encompassing the most common failures and costs across all vehicles nationally and by region; and on Nov. 14, 2011, ranking manufacturers and vehicles with the fewest combined failures and lowest cost per repair. Each April, CarMD.com Corp. will release the overall vehicle failures and repair cost data during National Car Care Month. In November, CarMD will release the manufacturer and vehicle rankings and lists.

A: The CarMD Vehicle Health Index April 2011 report provided the following information on the most common failures and costs across all vehicles nationally and by state, with benchmarking data from 1996-2010, and then 2010-specific data.

1. Top 25 most common diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) for 1996-2010 vehicles across the U.S.
2. Top 10 most common type of vehicle failures in the U.S. – 1996 to 2010
3. Top 10 most common type of vehicle failures in the U.S. – 2010
4. Top 25 most common vehicle repairs and associated repair costs in the U.S. – 1996 to 2010
5. The top 25 most common vehicle repairs and associated repair costs in the U.S. – 2010
6. National Average for Repair Costs by region (Northeast, Southwest, Midwest) – 1996 to 2010
7. National Average for Repair Costs (parts and labor) 2010
8. Top 20 most expensive vehicle fixes in the U.S. 1996 to 2010
9. Top 25 Most Common DTCs by region (NE, SW, Midwest) – 1996 to 2010
10. Top 10 most common types of vehicle failures by region (NE, SW, Midwest) – 1996 to 2010
11. Top 10 most common automotive repairs by region (NE, SW, Midwest) – 1996 to 2010
12. Top 10 diagnostic trouble code/repair categories by region (NE, SW, Midwest) – 1996 to 2010

The November 2011 report provides the first ever ranking of manufacturers and vehicles with the fewest combined “check engine” failures and lowest repair costs, adding an unprecedented level of transparency for consumers when purchasing new and used vehicles:

1. Top 10 vehicle manufacturers. This ranking is based on a rating derived from the combined rating of lowest percentage of “check engine” light-related problems and lowest average repair costs over the past year for model year 2001-2011 vehicles.
2. Top 100 vehicles on the road MY 2001-2011. This list takes a never-before-seen approach to ranking vehicles based on the total vehicle population, making it possible to compare a 10-year-old vehicle with a newer one. This is particularly important since drivers are holding onto vehicles longer than ever before with an average vehicle age in excess of 10 years.
3. Common repairs and costs by vehicle brand. This particular list enables vehicle owners and shoppers to identify common problems and related costs, which can be beneficial to both car shoppers as well as owners in their purchase, maintenance and repair decisions.
4. Top 3 ranked vehicles by category Model Year 2001-2011. This ranking is based on combined fewest and lowest cost “check engine”-related problems across the most popular vehicle categories.

A: The CarMD Vehicle Health Index pulls its information from the extensive CarMD diagnostic database, which has captured diagnostic trouble code and fix information for model year 1996-present. The company began collecting data for 1996 vehicles because that was the year that the U.S. government mandated that second-generation on-board diagnostics (OBD2) be included on all cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs driven in the U.S. – Foreign and domestic. This universal program is installed in each vehicle’s computer system, and is designed to detect malfunctions, set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and turn on the “CHECK ENGINE” light if there is a problem. CarMD uses this data, as well as repair information from its nationwide network of thousands of automotive technicians to produce its Index.

A: The Index features benchmarking data from 1996-current, as well as annual data from the previous, and most current year. In the April 2011 report, the most common diagnostic trouble codes, fixes and related costs are presented on a national and regional level. You can observe trends by simply comparing the most current year’s data with the previous or benchmarking data. Other trends can be ascertained by looking at regional differences, costs and even outside data such as climate.

The November vehicle manufacturer focused index takes a never-before-seen approach to ranking vehicles based on the total vehicle population, making it possible to compare a 10-year-old vehicle with a newer one. This is particularly important since drivers are holding onto vehicles longer than ever before with an average vehicle age in excess of 10 years.

A: The size of the Index sample varies depending on which report you’re looking at and is growing on a daily basis. For instance, the 1996-2010 fix data is based on approximately 200,000 fixes that apply to roughly 180 million vehicles on the road in the U.S. The 1996-2010 diagnostic trouble code data includes approximately 82,000 scenarios. The regional samplings are smaller with roughly 26,000 fixes in the Midwest and 41,000 in the Southwest in the benchmarking data.

The November 2011 data was based on more than a half-million repairs in its proprietary database that apply to roughly 189 million on board diagnostic, second generation (OBD2) vehicles on the road in the U.S., including an estimated 136 million MY 2001-2011 vehicles, from which the 2011 CarMD® Vehicle Health Index and Ranking was procured

On a daily basis, CarMD’s nationwide network of thousands of OE (original equipment) and independent automotive repair technicians recommend, confirm and upload repairs and costs by region to the CarMD database. As a result, subsequent CarMD Vehicle Health Index reports will draw from a larger sampling of diagnostic trouble codes, expert fixes and repair costs. Methodology will remain as defined above.

A: No. The CarMD Vehicle Health Index is stripped of all individual customer and automotive technician information before it is used to produce the Index. In no event does CarMD.com Corp. provide name, vehicle VIN information, address, email, or any other personally identifying information such as to any third parties in connection with the CarMD Vehicle Health Index. Please click here for CarMD’s consumer privacy policy.

A: Metafuse Inc., a leading web-based management software development company, consults on the CarMD Vehicle Health Index. Key personnel at this organization have access to CarMD’s data, but only where it is necessary to extrapolate and summarize the data.

A: CarMD.com Corp. invites you to visit the http://corp.carmd.com website for information about the Index, the data and the company. There you will see graphic charts and summary of the Index, as well as links to more detailed information. Please contact us if you would like to request a copy of the next Index report when it becomes available. CarMD also works with a wide array of national consumer, business and automotive media to publicize the report. Media are encouraged to access the CarMD media room for more information.

A: Virtually all 2001 to 2010 makes and models of cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs – foreign and domestic – with on board diagnostic second generation (OBD2) technology are included in the Index. For the 2011 Vehicle Health Index, CarMD focused on model year 2001-2011 vehicles, since the average age of a vehicle is now just over 10 years old, and these are the vehicles that will be of most interest to new and used car buyers. In determining the Top 10 manufacturers and Top 100 vehicles, CarMD included all makes and models that were listed among the U.S. vehicle population, according to R.L. Polk data, and had a CarMD diagnostic report. In determining the Top 10 manufacturers, brands were grouped under their parent manufacturer (i.e. Lexus under Toyota; Acura under Honda; Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Saturn under GM; etc.)

A: As a result of compiling the industry’s most comprehensive database of diagnostic trouble codes and repairs for “check engine”-related problems, CarMD is uniquely positioned to provide statistics on a wide range of vehicles and manufacturers. By offering this unbiased and never-before-seen repair and reliability information over time, CarMD is able to present an unparalleled view of reliability over the lifecycle of vehicles, enabling consumers and the industry to compare and contrast makes based on facts and not just opinion surveys. This never-before-seen approach to ranking vehicles based on the total vehicle population, also makes it possible to compare the reliability record of 10-year-old vehicle with a newer one. This type of comparison is totally new and is particularly important since drivers are holding onto vehicles longer than ever before with an average vehicle age in excess of 10 years.