PARADIGM SHIFT: Koreans Brands DOMINATE Top Spots In New Car Quality

If the NISSAN Altima rates AS the HIGHEST quality Mid-size car in ANY study -that alone tells me not to consider these studies.

THe problem is - Most of these studies are through owner questionnaires over the phone. And we do not know what was asked - and how the answers were verified. Was actual repair/warranty data verified through the dealerships - NOPE. It is possible based on how you word a question - to get someone to give the answer you want. I would was to see the list of questions.

Still - OWNER answered questionnaires had/Have a fatal flaw - they are generally answered based on how a person EXPECTS his car to be - that would be Okay . For people who spend less money - they are accustomed to getting less and accepting it - so a few minor repairs - a Major mention for a Mercedes - would be overlooked for a Kia. Now add in - things that have nothing to do with RELIABILITY- like I don't like the MEDIA system - or the Nav system - may be personal preference. And in fact - this will also reflect how good a "DEALER" who did the prep work did - rather than the Manufacturer.

But - by all means - keep giving us these meaningless data and surveys - CARSON STILL had NEVER been adequately replaced.

the NISSAN frontier.....LMAO. Bring back the hand crank windows...and that vehicle will be number 1.

JD Power sells its endorsement for advertising. If the same brands win every time, you have no new revenue streams. Thus, you need to find ways to crown and dethrone kings and you do that through flexible methodology. JD Power means next to nothing.

Don't remember folks trashing these rankings when they fell more in line with their preferences (ie. German makers ranked higher).

This is the Initial quality study which considers complaints about navigation systems, stereos etc...and all the repairs are under warranty. The more important study is the 5 year dependability study. This study seems a little off. Jeep more reliable than Toyota, Honda and Acura....really??

don;t worry, it'll plummet after 3 years..

What the hell happened to Audi?

I thought that Lexus built the most reliable vehicles?

This initial "quality" survey has nothing to do with "quality". It's about user complaints. *Any* kind of complaints. Even unreasonable ones.

I participated in one of these when I bought my most recent new car, and I was surprised to discover this. Examples (not applicable to me):

- This car should have a full-size spare (even though I bought it knowing it didn't)

- The seats should have more adjustments (even though I chose the less expensive ones to save money)

- Doesn't have a navigation system (it's an option I didn't buy, but I'm pissed because I think the manufacturer should include one as standard equipment without additional cost.)


If you have a customer base that's more likely to complain, you end up with worse ratings. If your customers are used to a crappy car, and they took a step up to an "value" car that they like, you'll get less complaints, regardless of the actual objective qualities of the vehicle.

Caveat Emptor, folks.