Well in that case (granted this is only based off one year's statistics)but the owner does not build not even1% of that car, owner doesn't build any percent of that car. A person buys the car and hopes for the best. imo the job of a brand new car owner is to maintain the car and not neglect it. what about recalls? defectiveness from the factory. that is something that the owner will never have control over.
but i do agree with you that reliability does lie with the owner, idk about 99% of it though, cause there is something owner does not have control of.
http://www.statisticbrain.com/automobile-recall-statistics/
I am pretty sure Ford has the most recalls, but don't quote me.
When it comes to maintenance put on the shoulders of the owner I feel it pertains to items of normal wear and tear common to most vehicles. Things like belts,suspension,gaskets, fluid changes, even just keeping the car's interior/exterior/engine bay clean fall under that.