Image by Dave Verwer via Flickr
This week is like “sweeps week” on TV for Automotive brands; KBB recently released the Best Car Brands, JD Power and associates released its 2010 US Vehicle Dependability Study as well. US brands fared well by holding down three of the top five slots – spread between the Big 3.
Vehicle Dependability Study criteria for consideration: Dependability of three-year old vehicles by measuring the number of vehicle problems experienced by their original owners. 198 possible vehicle issues and/or problems are considered. Vehicle dependability is determined by the number of problems per 100 vehicles and, just like your golf score, the lower the better.
“Producing vehicles with world-class quality is just part of the battle for automakers; convincing consumers to believe in their quality is equally as important,” explained David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates.
“It takes considerable time to positively change consumer perceptions of quality and dependability — sometimes a decade or more — so it is vital for manufacturers to continually improve quality and also to convince consumers of these gains,” he added.
Sargent suggested several strategies for automakers to help foster perception of high quality among consumers. These include the following:
—Offer extended warranties. This can help a brand show that the automaker stands behind its product.
—Include features, materials and finishes “that have a rich feel” in vehicles.
—Make sure that when new vehicles are introduced, they have stronger quality than the prior editions. Spread the word regarding high quality and dependability via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, and tap into “traditional” channels, as well.
Complete ranking of the fewest problems per 100 vehicles:
- Porsche: 110
- Lincoln: 114
- Buick: 115
- Lexus: 115
- Mercury: 121
- Toyota: 128
- Honda: 132
- Ford: 141
- Mercedes-Benz: 142
- Acura: 143
- Hyundai: 148
- Cadillac: 150
- Infiniti: 150
- Subaru: 155
Industry Average: 155
- Saab: 158
- Saturn: 164
- BMW: 165
- GMC: 165
- Chrysler: 166
- Kia: 167
- Volvo: 167
- Hummer: 169
- Jaguar: 175
- Chevrolet: 176
- Nissan: 180
- Audi: 182
- Dodge: 190
- Pontiac: 192
- Mazda: 195
- Scion: 201
- Mitsubishi: 202
- Mini: 203
- Jeep: 222
- Volkswagen: 225
- Suzuki: 253
- Land Rover: 255
Broken down by segment, the top three in each car category are as follows:
Sub-Compact Car
- Highest Ranked: Honda Fit
- Toyota Yaris
Compact Car
- Highest Ranked: Toyota Prius
- Toyota Corolla
- Pontiac Vibe
Compact Sporty Car
- Highest Ranked: Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Saturn Sky
- Pontiac Solstice Convertible
Midsize Sporty Car
- Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Monte Carlo
- Toyota Solara
- Ford Mustang
Midsize Car
- Highest Ranked: Buick LaCrosse
- Mercury Milan
- Honda Accord
Large Car
- Highest Ranked: Mercury Montego(tie)
- Buick Lucerne, Ford Five Hundred
Compact Premium Sporty Car*
- Highest Ranked: BMW Z4
Entry Premium Vehicle
- Highest Ranked: Lincoln MKZ
- Acura TSX
- Cadillac CTS
Midsize Premium Car
- Highest Ranked: Audi A6
- Lexus ES 350(tie) Cadillac STS, Infiniti M-Series
Large Premium Car*
- Highest Ranked: Cadillac DTS
- Lexus LS 460
Premium Sporty Car*
- Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
- Porsche 911
*Note: No other vehicle in these categories rated above the segment average.
Meanwhile, the following are the top three vehicles in each truck/multi-activity vehicle categories:
Compact MAV
- Highest Ranked: Honda CR-V
- Subaru Forester
- Hyundai Tucson
Midsize MAV
- Highest Ranked: Toyota Highlander
- Toyota 4Runner
- Ford Freestyle
Large MAV
- Highest Ranked: Toyota Sequoia
- GMC Yukon
- Ford Expedition
Large Pickup
- Highest Ranked: Toyota Tundra
- Ford F-150 LD
- Chevrolet Silverado Classic HD
Midsize Pickup
- Highest Ranked: Honda Ridgeline
- Dodge Dakota
- Ford Ranger
Midsize Van
- Highest Ranked: Ford Freestar
- Toyota Sienna
- (tie) Buick Terraza, Chrysler Town & Country
Midsize Premium MAV
- Highest Ranked: Lexus GX 470
- Lexus RX
- Infiniti FX-Series
Large Premium MAV
- Highest Ranked: Lincoln Mark LT
- Lincoln Navigator
- Cadillac Escalade EXT
The judging criteria only went back three years. I wonder how some older vehicles would face under the same scrutiny – take this 1979 Monte Carlo for sale. Classic dependability combined with meticulous ownership would probably score high.
What has been your most dependable vehicle? How about the least dependable?
Pingback: Most Dependable Cars – JD Power 2010 Awards