Car repair being my field, and having driven and repaired vehicles on/from both sides of the pond, it is my view that quality and reliability are going down the drain on both sides.
People tend to compare things they know.
Vehicles built in the 70's and 80's were generally far more reliable and durable than current models, regardless of car maker.
Even Mercedes, traditionally regarded as a model of reliability and durability, is now having problems that simply could not exist before the year 2000.
IMHO, the two main contributing factors are environmental demands and greed, oh! excuse me, budget limitations.
One of the main sources of engine grief is the EGR valve, which tends to get clogged up rather quickly, and then proceeds to do the same to the engine innards. Not to mention the dreaded dual-mass engine flywheel (for manual transmissions, of course), which more than doubled the cost of a clutch kit replacement.
Camshafts used to be one solid piece you'd hardly worry about. Today, the shaft is hollow, and the cams are pressed onto it. A cam rotating out of position was simply unheard of. And this one can instantly totally destroy an engine.
If you are faced with a major engine or gearbox repair, it is now cheaper - and in some cases imposed by the car maker, as individual parts are simply not supplied - to exchange it for a complete rebuilt unit.
Remember the airline company that took one olive from every single meal served aboard? Well it seems the idea has caught on.
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