Chrysler's Woes Are Partly The Result of Poor Quality†

Auto Makers Showing in Consumer Reports Survey Is Evidence of Miscues

Wall Street Journal, October 27, 2008 — Detroit's Big Three look like they will soon be a Smaller Two. Industry leaders and investors are still absorbing the idea that Chrysler LLC could disappear. A lot of consumers have already moved on.

Chrysler's woes arise from many mistakes, compounded by bad turns of luck. But the company's failure to keep up with rivals on quality is a significant, and underrated, factor in its current crisis.