Lexus And Porsche Move To The Head Of The Class In The JD Power 2017 Vehicle Dependability Study

The study, now in its 28^th year, examines problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of 2014 model-year vehicles. Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The study covers 177 specific problems grouped into eight major vehicle categories.

The study finds that the 10 top-selling 2014 model-year vehicles average 134 PP100, which is significantly better than the industry average of 156 PP100. Two perennial best sellers—the Ford F-150 and the Toyota Camry—also lead their segments in the VDS this year.

“We find buyers are increasingly avoiding models with poor reputations for dependability, so manufacturers can’t afford to let quality slip, particularly on their best sellers,” said Dave Sargent, vice president, global automotive at J.D. Power. “While many expensive and niche vehicles do have excellent quality, the fact is that most consumers are shopping in the high-volume mainstream segments. The good news is that consumers don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a very dependable vehicle.”

J.D. Power finds that in addition to impacting purchase decisions and brand loyalty, better long-term quality is a key factor in contributing to higher residual values for vehicles. For example, J.D. Power estimates that Toyota—the highest-ranked non-premium brand in the study—has a residual values benefit of more than $750 per vehicle, compared with the average brand. This translates into a benefit of more than $1.3 billion for the 2014 model year alone.

“In the current industry environment of record levels of leasing and long-term loans, higher residual values allow automakers to provide more competitive deals to buyers,” said Jonathan Banks, vice president of vehicle analysis and analytics at J.D. Power. “This creates the opportunity to achieve higher market share and/or elevated profit margins.”

Highest-Ranked Nameplates and Models

Lexus and Porsche tie to rank highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates, with a score of 110 PP100. This is the sixth consecutive year of Lexus topping the nameplate rankings in the VDS.

• Toyota (123 PP100) follows in the rankings, moving up one rank position from 2016.
• Following Toyota in the rankings are Buick (126 PP100) and Mercedes-Benz (131 PP100).
• Hyundai (133 PP100) is the most improved nameplate in the study, improving by 25 PP100 from 2016. At sixth position (up from 19^th in 2016), this is Hyundai’s best-ever ranking in the VDS.
• Other notable improvements include Dodge and Ford, which both improve by 21 PP100 from 2016, and Land Rover, which improves by 20 PP100.

Toyota Motor Corporation models receive 10 of the 18 segment awards, representing the highest number of awards ever received by an individual corporation in the study. These awardees are Lexus ES; Lexus GS; Lexus RX; Toyota Avalon; Toyota Camry; Toyota FJ Cruiser; Toyota Prius; Toyota Prius v; Toyota Sienna; and Toyota Venza. The Toyota Camry has the lowest PP100 score industry-wide.

General Motors models receive four segment awards for the Chevrolet Camaro; Chevrolet Sonic; Chevrolet Silverado HD; and Chevrolet Tahoe.

Other models receiving segment awards in the study are the Ford F-150; Honda Ridgeline; Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class; and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Other Key Findings

• Continuing increases in technology-related problems have contributed to dependability worsening in the industry for a second consecutive year. The industry average of 156 PP100 is a 4 PP100 increase from 2016.
• The Audio/Communication/Entertainment/Navigation (ACEN) category continues to be the most problematic area, accounting for 22% of all problems reported—up from 20% last year.
• For a third consecutive year, the problems most reported by owners are Bluetooth pairing/connectivity and built-in voice recognition misinterpreting commands.
• New to the top 10 list of problems reported in 2017 is battery failure. In fact, 44% more owners report a battery failure this year than in 2016. Batteries are the most frequently replaced component not related to normal wear and tear in 3-year-old vehicles at 6.1%—up 1.3 percentage points from 2016.

The 2017 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from 35,186 original owners of 2014 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study was fielded from October through December 2016.

Agent009 - 2/22/2017 12:35:57 PM

+2 Boost

Hmmm..

Essentially this says with the exception of Fiat. The most "reliable" brands visited the dealer with 1 "issue" in the last 12 months. While the worst had 2 "issues" to report in the visit.

So it is entirely possible in the real world to have a more reliable vehicle have more perceived issues than a less reliable model depending on your expectations.

TheSteve - 2/22/2017 2:17:32 PM

+5 Boost

^^^
Yup. If we use a 2 year interval, we can use whole number for problems. So, every 2 years:
- An average car will have about 3 problems
- The "best car" (Lexus or Porsche) will have about 2 problems
- The worst car (Fiat) will have about 6 problems

Notable conclusions:

(1) With respect to defects, the difference between an average car and the best, is having 3 problems every 2 years (average), versus having just 2 (the best). That's just 1 fewer problems per 2-year-period. That doesn't see like a huge gap between "average" and "best."

(2) Fiat. What can I say about Fiat? Wow :-( It's in a class of its own?

Agent009 - 2/22/2017 3:21:24 PM

+2 Boost

Very true and accurate observation. Also factor in that many of these issues are simply user interface issues and gap dwindles even more.

Basically if the interface stinks it is a reliability issue. Just ask Ford and the MyTouch infotainment system that killed them for a number of years. It was all interface issues and nothing that would leave you on the side of the road or need a repair.

carsnyc - 2/22/2017 1:03:48 PM

+2 Boost

No surprises here except that Subaru and Mazda still be under average

PUGPROUD - 2/22/2017 2:24:46 PM

+1 Boost

If my memory serves me right Mercedes has made major movement up this chart over
last decade...

malba2367 - 2/22/2017 4:13:51 PM

+2 Boost

Looks like the German makes are really improving their reliability. BMW and MB are now ahead of Honda. Im somewhat surprised to see such poor reliability showings from Acura and Infiniti. These results are significantly different than CR which still lists Infiniti in the "more reliable category" and Audi as the most reliable German make. I guess there is one trend that always stays true in these reliability studies...Lexus/Toyota are always at the top.

malba2367 - 2/22/2017 4:14:18 PM

+2 Boost

And Buick too...left it out by accident.

TomM - 2/22/2017 9:33:59 PM

+1 Boost

If you remember back in the 1980's when Lee Iaccoca was in charge of Chrysler - HE brought up an example of why these studies are not as accurate as can be assumed - in the fact the Chrysler sold several Mitsubishi cars - at the time that Mitsubishi also sold the same car - made in the same factories - on the same assembly lines - and Mitsubishi's cars ALWAYS came out way ahead on Quality. Chevy had similar problems with their version of the Toyota Corolla (Chevy Nova back then) - which were also made in the same factory. THere are lots of other similar examples.

These studies depend on the memory of the buyer - and many buyers forget about quality problems when they spend a lot for a car and want to justify it to themselves. In addition - all you need is a poor service experience - which is not technically a car reliability problem - to make you remember problems that were not really major.

And that is the other problem - they do not differentiate between problems that required a reflash of the computer with problems that required a whole engine replacement. Is a decal that was not quite straight the same level of problem as a transmission that needs to be replaced. WE really get NO data as to what type of problems happen. I admit that both probably required a service visit - but they are really not on the same level.

I have always said that I want to see a copy of the actual forms the customers filled out - and also see if the people actually report all problems. It is not unusual for some manufacturers to correct problems when a car goes in for service - with the owner of the car calling that a maintenance call - not a service problem too.

In real life - the more complex a car - the more service will be needed. WHen I had my Service Businesses open - I found that while there were clear losers - but that if properly serviced regularly - and driven in a normal manner - most cars lasted far longer than owners would realize. In the days of turning back odometers - often 50-60,000 miles extra on clean examples without concern. Most older cars break because people start to ignore service intervals - and little problems initially - which turn into bigger problems later.

iamdabest1 - 2/22/2017 11:50:45 PM

+3 Boost

i dont get how acura is so poor considering its the same damn car as a honda.

DavidA - 2/23/2017 8:43:22 AM

+3 Boost

I wish we could somehow focus on truly reliability issues and toss out stuff like Bluetooth pairing problems. So many technology issues are due to people being too stupid to operate it correctly.

carsnyc - 2/24/2017 11:24:20 AM

+2 Boost

David, yes, some people can be slow or just too old to get the new systems, but in all fairness to everybody a lot of those systems can be very little intuitive and even freeze on you. All of this goes also in detriment of safety