Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407080070
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
DETROIT - Chrysler's Town & Country minivan and Toyota's entire truck line tied for the top ranking Wednesday in a survey of truck owners' satisfaction with their vehicles and their dealers.
Both scored 156 and exceeded the industry average by 20 points in the J.D. Power and Associates 1994 Customer Satisfaction Index for light trucks, a category that includes pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles. Power released its survey of passenger cars on Tuesday.
Filling out the truck and van survey's top five were Oldsmobile at 146, and Mercury and Plymouth at 142. Light trucks that carry the Olds brand are sport utility vehicles and minivans. Mercury and Plymouth ``trucks'' all are minivans.
Placing sixth through 10th, in order, were Pontiac, Mazda, Dodge, Ford and Mitsubishi.
Nine truck lines were at or below the industry average, with Isuzu, Suzuki and Volkswagen at the bottom of the list.
J.D. Power questioned 10,000 owners of 1993 light truck models who bought their vehicles a year ago. Vehicles were scored on reliability, repairs and owners' satisfaction with their dealer.
- Associated Press
Probe of Jeep defects upgraded
WASHINGTON - The government's auto safety agency said Wednesday it has upgraded an investigation into fuel line problems in some Jeep Grand Cherokees.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in its monthly defect investigation report, said there have been 22 complaints involving 21 fires of fuel line connector failures in 1993-94 Grand Cherokees with 5.2-liter, V-8 engines. About 153,086 of the Chrysler Corp. cars are on the road.
The agency said when the fuel couplings fail, pressurized fuel is released into the engine compartment and that could result in a fire.
The investigation eventually could lead to a recall of the vehicles, but most cases are dropped.
Also, the NHTSA opened an investigation into 1986-91 Hyundai Excels and Sonatas. There have been 81 complaints, including one accident and six fires, that an electrical short may develop in the charging system. That can result in a complete loss of engine and electrical power without warning, and burned electrical wires.
Hyundai has issued service bulletins and parts kits to repair alternators and other components in the unit that charges the battery.
About 1.1 million of the vehicles are on the road.
The 1986-89 Excels were recalled to prevent fires, the agency said.
- Associated Press
Animal Industry day at Tech
J. Carlton Courter III, Virginia's new commissioner of agriculture, will talk about promoting the state's agriculture industries at Virginia Tech's annual Animal Industry Day on Friday.
Paul Torgersen, Virginia Tech president, also will speak at the event, which will be held at the livestock center on Plantation Road. The traditional barbecue luncheon will follow.
For more information contact a local extension office or call (703) 231-5252.
- Staff report
Briefly...
Professional Network Services, a computer networking specialist, has expanded its staff and offices at 3507 Shenandoah Ave., Roanoke. Bruce Torello is managing partner of the firm.
by CNB