Subaru holds its lead in mass-market brands while Lexus surges 6% to take top luxury slot

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Subaru leads mass-market brands with record driver satisfaction score of 85, topping Toyota and Mazda.

• Lexus surges 6% to claim the No. 1 luxury spot, ahead of Mercedes-Benz and Tesla.

• Overall satisfaction slips as rising prices and longer car loans weigh on drivers.

Subaru and Lexus are pulling ahead of the auto pack when it comes to customer satisfaction, according to new survey data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

The annual ACSI Automobile Study shows overall driver satisfaction slipping 1% to a score of 79 (on a 100-point scale) despite the industry reaching its strongest sales in five years. The decline comes as buyers face steeper payments over longer loan periods.

In the mass-market segment, Subaru rose 2% to an industry-leading score of 85, separating itself from Toyota, which fell 1% to 82 and now shares second place with Mazda. Buick, GMC, and Honda followed close behind at 81. Subarus reputation for safety and dependability, along with freshened models like the redesigned Forester and new Crosstrek engine options, helped solidify its lead.

Luxury brands

On the luxury side, Lexus leapt 6% to a score of 87, leapfrogging last years co-leaders Mercedes-Benz (82) and Tesla (81). The Toyota-owned brand is benefitting from booming hybrid sales, with five Lexus models ranking among the top 15 most popular luxury hybrids in 2024. Lexus electrified sales climbed more than 13% year over year in the first quarter of 2025.

The study also highlights shifting consumer expectations as automakers balance technology, safety, and cost. Vehicle safety and technology both slipped by one percentage point, while two newly added measures driving range on a full charge or tank and expected future resale value debuted at the bottom of the rankings. Electric vehicles fared worst on both counts.

For automakers, innovation and practicality now collide, said Forrest Morgeson, Associate Professor of Marketing at Michigan State University and Director of Research Emeritus at the ACSI. Customers expect advanced technology and efficiency, but theyre also scrutinizing every dollar spent.

The 2025 ACSI Automobile Study is based on nearly 10,000 customer surveys conducted between July 2024 and June 2025.

The FTC claims they resold thousands of Taylor Swift tickets for outrageous prices

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing a Maryland-based ticket broker for allegedly using illegal tactics to scoop up tickets for high-demand events, including Taylor Swifts Eras Tour.

• The brokers allegedly bypassed Ticketmasters safeguards using fake accounts, spoofed IPs, and SIM boxes to purchase nearly 380,000 tickets in just over a year.

• The operation allegedly generated millions in profits by reselling tickets at steep markups, in violation of federal law.

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against a Maryland ticket broker operation accused of unlawfully gaming Ticketmasters security systems to purchase hundreds of thousands of tickets for some of the nations most sought-after events and reselling them at inflated prices.

The investigation was launched after an avalanche of complaints in 2023 from music fans who said it was nearly impossible to get tickets to Taylor Swift concerns, and when they were available from third-party sellers, prices were outrageous.

A 2023 report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) suggested that many fans who purchased tickets for her Eras Tour decided to take advantage of the demand and resell those tickets at unheard of prices.

How high? According to StubHub, seven times more than a Springsteen seat, nine times Adele and Beyonc, and 13 times what the Super Bowl charged.

FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said the action reflects the agencys commitment to cracking down on practices that hurt consumers and distort fair competition.

Todays action puts brokers on notice that the Trump-Vance FTC will police operations that unlawfully circumvent ticket sellers purchase limits, ensuring that consumers have an opportunity to buy tickets at fair prices, Ferguson said.

The charges

According to the FTC complaint, Key Investment Group operating under names such as Epic Seats, TotalTickets.com LLC, and Totally Tix LLC used a range of tactics to evade Ticketmasters restrictions. These included:

• Creating thousands of fictitious or third-party Ticketmaster accounts.

• Deploying thousands of virtual and traditional credit card numbers.

• Concealing their identity with proxy and spoofed IP addresses.

• Using SIM boxes to collect cell phone verification codes linked to fake accounts.

According to the FTC, these methods allegedly enabled the group to purchase nearly 380,000 tickets in just over a year, spending close to $57 million. They then resold portions of those tickets for about $64 million, pocketing millions in profits through hefty markups.

The FTC argues that these tactics violated both the FTC Act and the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, which prohibits the circumvention of technological controls designed to enforce ticket limits or preserve fair online purchasing rules.

The added merchandise goes beyond tools and appliances

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Best Buy officially launches its online marketplace, more than doubling product offerings

• Customers gain access to hundreds of new brands and expanded categories, from tech to home goods

• Licensed sports merchandise, musical instruments, and movies will soon join the lineup

Amazon does it. Now, Best Buy is also doing it, launching a digital marketplace that includes products from third-party sellers items you didnt previously find in Best Buy stores or on its website. Starting today, the products are included on BestBuy.com and through the Best Buy App.

Best Buy said the new platform more than doubles the retailers product assortment and adds hundreds of brands across a wide range of categories beyond traditional consumer electronics.

This is the largest expansion of our product assortment in company history, Frank Bedo, chief marketplace and eCommerce officer at Best Buy, said in a statement.

With marketplace, were able to give customers not only more of the latest technology, but also a massive new collection of products outside the tech space so we can truly offer the full experience they need.

Tech and gaming upgrades

Electronics remain the centerpiece of Best Buys strategy, with expanded offerings from top brands such as Samsung, Microsoft, LG, Lenovo and HP. Gamers in particular will find a wider selection, with new options for gaming chairs, desks, controllers, keyboards, monitors, and headsets.

Partners include Beach Camera, World Wide Stereo and Antonline, allowing the hardware and home services retailers to offer more consumer electronics from popular names.

Sports is included

For the first time, Best Buy will soon carry officially licensed sports merchandise through a new partnership with Fanatics. Shoppers will be able to choose from team-branded phone cases, mini football helmets and other gear.

In addition, the enhanced marketplace will introduce an array of home and lifestyle products, including small kitchen appliances from brands like Oster, Crock-Pot and Martha Stewart, as well as expanded floor care selections from Tineco and Eufy.

Furniture is also getting a major boost, with triple the options now available, ranging from office desks and gaming chairs to sofas, patio sets, gazebos and barstools.

While the marketplace lives online, Best Buy is introducing a new wrinkle, integrating physical stores into the experience. Customers can return marketplace purchases at any Best Buy location, and in-store associates known as Blue Shirts will continue to offer product recommendations, including helping customers build carts directly on BestBuy.com for what the company hopes will be a seamless shopping journey.

Ford again leaves competitors in the dust

Quick Recap Table Week of Aug. 18

Heres the complete version of theAuto Safety Recall Derbywith links to the NHTSA site.

Auto Safety Recall Derby: Week of Aug. 18

Ford

Headlights May Fail

• NHTSA ID: 25V519000

• Units Affected: 21,765

• Models: 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang Mach E, Mustang

• Issue: Burnt diode in LED Driver Modules may cause failure of multiple exterior lights, including headlights, DRLs, turn signals, and tail lights (Nautilus).

• Remedy: Dealers will inspect/replace LED Driver Modules. Notifications start Aug. 25, 2025.

Window Automatic Reversal System

• NHTSA ID:25V518

• Units Affected: 102

• Models: 20242025 Lincoln Nautilus

• Issue: Incorrect recall repair may prevent windows from reversing when obstructed, violating FMVSS 118.

• Remedy: Dealers will update driver and passenger door module software. Notifications Sept. 15, 2025.

Parking Lights May Flicker

• NHTSA ID:25V517

• Units Affected: 1,278

• Models: 2022 Ford F-150

• Issue: Improper repair under recall 22V686 may cause parking lights to flicker when headlights are on.

• Remedy: Dealers will replace LED control module and update software. Notifications Sept. 15, 2025.

Parking Lights May Flicker (Repeat)

• NHTSA ID: 25V515

• Units Affected: 2,361

• Models: 2022 Ford F-150

Rearview Camera Image May Not Display

• NHTSA ID: 25V510

• Units Affected: 41,875

• Models: 20202022 Lincoln Corsair

• Issue: Water intrusion in connectors can cause loss or distortion of rearview camera image.

• Remedy: Replace camera harness and camera. Interim letters mailed Aug. 18, 2025; final notice later.

Jaguar

Upper Suspension Arm May Detach

• NHTSA ID: 25V514

• Units Affected: 121,509

• Models: 20142017 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport

• Issue: Cracked suspension knuckle joint can cause arm detachment.

• Remedy: Inspect and install retaining bracket or replace knuckle. Notifications Sept. 30, 2025. Expands recall 24V840.

Nissan

Daytime Running Lights May Malfunction

• NHTSA ID: 25V508

• Units Affected: 13,719

• Models: 2025 Nissan Frontier

• Issue: Software logic error may cause DRLs to dim when idle start-stop restarts the engine.

• Remedy: Dealers will update ECM software. Notifications Sept. 17, 2025.