Car buyer satisfaction is down for a third straight year as prices rise and recalls continue, according to new data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Customer satisfaction with automobiles falls 3.7 percent to 79 on ACSI’s 100-point scale.

“While it’s true that all cars are now much better than they were 10 to 20 years ago, it’s alarming that so many of them have quality problems,” says Claes Fornell, ACSI chairman and founder. “The number of recalls is at an all-time high. This shouldn’t happen with modern manufacturing technology and has negative consequences for driver safety, costs, and customer satisfaction.”

Car owners report a 40-percent increase in recalls compared to the second quarter of 2014, which—along with rising prices—is damaging driver satisfaction. While quality problems abound, rising prices are also contributing to the decline in buyer satisfaction. As the economy improves, consumers are replacing older cars and sales are up—but so are prices.

 …