I was very interested in the subject of this thread. Reliability was the number one purchase criteria in my search for a new ATV. Reliability research is the main reason I joined Can Am Forums.
My career was in OEM component manufacturing for major agricultural and construction equipment companies, like Deere. Reliability is a major design criteria. It is even more so with automobile manufacturers. If you were shopping for a new tractor or a new car, you could find some pretty good reliability data, like defects per unit sold.
I could not find any objective reliability data on ATVs. I read a bunch of threads filled with anecdotal information and opinions. I did not choose Can Am because of good reliability data, I chose Can Am because of the Rotax engine, style, fit and finish, good dealer service shop, and BRP involvement in aircraft manufacturing. And I liked the blue color! How's that for being dumb.
I agree the Japanese brands have a strong reputation for reliability. But they don't make a two up ATV, and I didn't want a side by side.
The ATV.com reliability page is nothing more than a "vote", or opinion. Can Am is my favorite, so I will vote for Can Am. I did not see any good reliability data (defects per unit sold, recalls, life testing data, warranty claims, etc.) on the ATV.com page. I have not had any defects or issues in the first 13 hours of operation. Off to a good start, but there is a long, long way to go.
So we drop 3 years savings on a new, fun motor "toy" (like motorcycle, power boat, camper, riding lawn mower, etc.) and take our chances.
I think an independent data analysis company like JD Powers or others would do us ATV consumers a real service by gathering reliability data on the various brands and models. I think it would inspire ATV manufacturers to improve there design and manufacturing processes.
We Can Am Forum members have a thread on Can Am Outlander Improvements we would like to see. It is quite a list. I hope Can Am marketing and engineering took a read of the thread.
David