Its a fact that American auto manufacturers were all to happy to have parts that broke on their cars so customers either had to replace parts or would buy a whole new car. Then the Japanese started to enter the American market with cars that didn’t fall apart and the American auto manufacturers continued to make inferior products not understanding Americans actually valued that type of quality. The Japanese gained incredible market share over time through the 80’s and 90’s. I know I probably never would have bought anything but Japanese if I had not married my husband.
My Ford truck, which we do love, has had to have all sorts of things fixed during it’s first three years of life. Springs in the visors for crap (a college friend of mine makes them for Ford). The emergency brake was terrible at first (Ford already had a better part for it, so they changed ours out when we complained, but they don’t do anything unless you complain. Maybe by now the newer trucks have the better part, but possibly not.). There’s more, I won’t bore you. I really considered a Ford Fusion the last time I wanted a car, but went with Honda in the end. If little things hadn’t broken on my truck I would have bought the Ford.
I don’t think Ford does it on purpose to make money on the parts anymore, I think they do it to save a nickle and dime here and there and make more profit. Or, as people said above, the American consumer wants things to be cheap. Not that a car is cheap. I think it is a combination of company greed and consumer demanding lower prices. It does seem the manufacturers make the engines better, fewer people breaking down, but the little bells and whistles are marginal.
There was a recent article about how clothing is ourposely made to barely last through a few washings. I have complained for years about the quality of clothing. It’s so frustrating. I can’t believe how much garbage is out there. You can still buy designer goods that are made well, but the average moderate garment has gone way down in quality. Actually, it’s hard to find moderate garments, they tend to be cheap or very expensive.