Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

We're already reporting a result for the 2008, but haven't enough owners signed up for earlier years.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

Closer, but not there yet for any year of this generation.

Help get your year included:

Vehicle reliability research

Fifty first-gen Lancers now enrolled. A good start, but more remain needed.

We're providing results for the 2008 Lancer and soon will be for the 2009. We'd like to do the same for earlier model years.

Car reliability research

Updated results recently posted for the 2008 Lancer. Hoping to include results for earlier model years in future updates--just need more participants.

Of these model yaers, the 2003 is closest to getting started--need just ten more owners to sign up to participate. The 2006 is about halfway there.

Help get your year included:

Car reliability research

Now 65 first-gen Lancers signed up. A start, but more remain needed. We'll be updating results for the second-gen Lancer next month, and would like to have the first-gen in future updates.

Car reliability research

The 2003 is now only five owners sshort of the minimum needed to get started, and other years are also getting closer.

Now just three short for the 2003. And the 2004 is now halfway.

Help get your year included:

Car reliability research

So close.

Updated results recently posted for the current Lancer. I'd very much like to have this information for the first-generation car as well, just need a few more owners involved.