Posted on 02/18/2021 10:16:27 AM PST by Red Badger
KEY POINTS:
According to a new J.D. Power study, the three most dependable auto brands in the U.S. are now Lexus, Porsche and Kia.
Chrysler, Tesla, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo and Land Rover are in the bottom five when it comes to dependability.
The 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study by J.D. Power looked into 33 different auto brands, and about 150 different models including cars, SUVs and trucks.
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The three most dependable auto brands in the U.S. are now Lexus, Porsche and Kia, according to a new J.D. Power study. The three least dependable are Jaguar, Alfa Romeo and Land Rover.
Tesla, which was profiled for the first time in this year’s vehicle dependability study, came in 30th out of 33 automakers. It landed one place behind Chrysler and one ahead of Jaguar.
J.D. Power studies serve as an industry benchmark, and its results can drive sales and impact insurance premiums for owners. The 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study analyzed responses from 33,251 verified owners of 2018 model-year vehicles sold in the U.S. The study assessed around 150 different models including cars, trucks and SUVs.
Tesla’s ranking in the 32-year-old annual study this year is considered unofficial, said Dave Sargent, J.D. Power’s vice president of automotive quality. That’s because Elon Musk’s electric vehicle venture doesn’t grant J.D. Power permission to survey its owners in 15 states that require this.
One of the excluded states is California, Tesla’s home base and a massive market for the company. However, the J.D. Power study included 756 Tesla respondents from 35 different states including major markets with comparably warm weather like Florida and Texas.
While Tesla rated unofficially low on the dependability survey, it unofficially topped J.D. Power’s 2020 APEAL survey, which rates vehicle brands by owners’ emotional attachment and level of excitement with their new vehicles.
Who’s up, who’s down The dependability survey asks drivers how many and what kind of problems their cars, trucks or SUVs experienced in the past year and assigns a score based on problems reported per 100 vehicles. The lower the score, the more dependable the automaker.
The greatest number of problems reported by vehicle owners across all makes and models concerned audio, communication, entertainment and navigation systems.
“With smartphone apps increasingly giving owners an alternative, some will give up on the vehicle’s built-in systems that caused that initial frustration. That’s problematic for automakers, as a lot of the vehicle’s value is tied up in these systems and they don’t want to hand this business over to third parties,” said Sargent.
The Porsche 911 was the highest-ranked model in the 2021 study.
Toyota-owned Lexus topped the list among all brands, with a score of 81 problems per 100 vehicles.
Kia vehicles have notably risen from among the least dependable auto brands in the U.S. to most dependable in just a decade, with 97 problems per 100 vehicles on average. Toyota was near the top of the list with 98 problems per 100 vehicles.
Volkswagen, which introduced two new models in 2018, slid in the dependability rankings. Sargent noted: “Results can be affected by whether a manufacturer has just launched a bunch of new products. They tend to be the most problematic their first year out.”
Owners of 3-year-old Teslas reported 176 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with the industry average in the U.S. of 121 problems per 100 vehicles. Tesla owners reported more problems with their exterior and interior than with other systems like propulsion, battery or infotainment and navigation. However, some did complain about troubles with Tesla’s in-vehicle voice recognition.
Overall, vehicle dependability improved by about 10% year over year, J.D. Power found. Part of this was due to lower use and abuse of vehicles amid a Covid pandemic that has restricted commuting and travel in 2020 stateside.
“We know the more people use a vehicle the more problems they’re going to have,” Sargent said. Last year, on average consumers had driven about 32,000 miles over three years of new vehicle ownership. This year, they had driven 29,000 miles -- representing a 10% reduction over a three-year period, and an implied 30% reduction in the last year.
-- CNBC’s Michael Wayland contributed to this report.
I’ve never owned a Tundra as I like the smaller truck and don’t need to pull a boat or anything. I do use the truck a bunch for mulch, and tools, and general chores, etc. Never felt the need for a turbo.
We had a beautiful Lexus GS400 that my wife got a great discount on. She won an award while working at Toyota (she went 7 years without a single sick day!) The award was a big discount on a Lexus.
Unfortunately, we had to get rid of it. The firt time I drove it I got a speeding ticket. They’re so smooth on the highway you look down and you’re going 90. But the real problem was living in Boston. The car got broken into 3 times. It was “nice” and a thief magnet. Oh well. By then we were having kids and needed a bigger car anyway. We got a Highlander and it was great (but that got stolen once too!).
So the Tundra...great truck if you need it. I’m sure the quality is excellent. It’s the same chasis as a 4-Runner I think. Always liked them too...
I have owned cars from every American manufacturer, Japan, British, German and Korean. They ALL break down eventually...............
Could it be that Power, or those who report to Power, has a vested interest in the status quo and is opposed to newcomers like Tesla?
Nah, couldn’t be!.......................
Bet you and your neighbor remember the Oliver!
JD Power is in business to make money. They are NOT neutral ratings company as anyone who has been solicited by them can attest.
Ours is a 2016 with every gadget you can get in Lexus. Zero problems.
[[[The three most dependable auto brands in the U.S. are now Lexus, Porsche and Kia,]]]
LOL Somebody cut a few checks.
I think most people understand the reason for buying a Tesla is to MAKE A POINT that you care, you care about the environment, and you care about the planet. And you need something to talk about at your socials.
The Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix were the same car. Both made by Toyota with the Vibe being branded as Pontiac. My sister bought the Matrix and it ran very well with no problems whatsoever until an illegal immigrant smacked into her car at an intersection. His fault and totaled it.
Where does a Mercedes stand on this list?
Where does a Mercedes stand on this list?
J.D. Power also names the most dependable model in each major vehicle segment. Toyota won five categories, while General Motors won four and Hyundai four. (Scroll down for the full list.)
J.D. Power’s 2021 Vehicle Dependability Study brand rankings (problems per 100 vehicles)
Lexus (81)
Porsche (86)
Kia (97)
Toyota (98)
Buick (100)
Cadillac (100)
Hyundai (101)
Genesis (102)
Lincoln (106)
Acura (108)
BMW (108)
Chevrolet (115)
Mitsubishi (116)
Mazda (121)
Mercedes-Benz (122)
Ram (123)
Dodge (125)
Mini (125)
Subaru (125)
Audi (127)
Nissan (128)
Ford (130)
Infiniti (137)
Jeep (141)
GMC (143)
Volvo (143)
Honda (145)
Volkswagen (163)
Chrysler (166)
Tesla (176)*
Jaguar (186)
Alfa Romeo (196)
Land Rover (244)
*Tesla did not allow its vehicle owners to be surveyed, so it did not technically meet J.D. Power’s ranking criteria, but the study leaders independently obtained enough data to give the brand a score.
J.D. Power 2021 Vehicle Dependability Study most dependable models, by segment (assesses 2018 models)
Most dependable model: Porsche 911
Compact car: Volkswagen Beetle
Compact premium car: Lexus ES
Midsize car: Kia Optima
Midsize premium car: Genesis G80
Midsize sporty car: Chevrolet Camaro
Large car: Toyota Avalon
Small premium car: BMW 2 Series
Compact SUV: Buick Envision
Compact premium SUV: Porsche Macan
Midsize SUV: Kia Sorento
Midsize premium SUV: Lexus GX
Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
Small SUV: Kia Sportage
Small premium SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLA
Minivan: Toyota Sienna
Midsize pickup: Nissan Frontier
Large light-duty pickup: Toyota Tundra
Large heavy-duty pickup: Chevrolet Silverado HD
“Does the car go from A to B? Oh sure, but if I can’t listen to Creedence Clearwater Revival the whole time, what’s the point?!”
The main reason for buying SOME cars has nothing to do with A or B, reliability or anything else except one thing... chick magnets (why hello Jaguar, hi Corvette!).
They should be rated scientifically on that basis, forget everything else. ;-)
I mean, if your new Jaguar has done its job otherwise and then breaks down on a lonely road at night, is that necessarily a bad thing?
hmmmI have bought only new American cars since 1964. My total repair expenses since 1964 are way less than $1000 total in 56 years of driving GM cars.
I will add though that my first new car a 1964 Corvair Monza was problematic and I traded it in as soon as warranty expired. The corvair had a weird air cooled engine and the drive belts would break without notice.
Have never needed transmission or engine repairs on any of my cars. Only repairs needed so far were 1 fuel pump and bent rocker arm replaced on Chevy Nova, grease seals for velocity joints on the Ford Probe, and water pump replaced on a Ford sedan.
The chevy nova rocker arm is a interesting story. I had a 35 mile one way commute from my job on 95th & Stoney in Chicago to my condo in Downers Grove. On a Friday after work I am on Stevenson expressway in heavy traffic, and the car engine begins making loud metal hammering sounds. I exited expressway at Cicero exit (IIRC) and found a Chevy dealer open. After more than an hour wait in waiting room, the mechanic drives my car into the shop. Soon he had another mechanic help in diagnose the problem. I hear they are revving up the engine again and again. Then they come in waiting area and inform me the main rod bearings are broken and that would need an engine overhaul. They quote me a cost which was more than half the value of the car. I said I am not sure I want to spend that much money on a car with 70,000 miles. I said I will decide over the weekend. They told me if I try to drive the car, the rod bearing will bust loose and engine block will be ruined. But I drove off the dealer’s shop anyway without any repair. I do not remember I was charged anything for the inspection. So I drive another 20 miles to home taking side streets so I can drive at less than 30 MPH. The metallic banging noise was less at lower speeds. I made it home without a problem. Over the weekend I studied my handy dandy car manual. It said if rod bearing is shot, there will be louder noise during acceleration or deceleration. So I knew it was not the main rod bearings, because the engine noise was proportional to speed. My best conclusion was there was a problem in the valve train. So on Monday morning I drive into a Buick dealer in Downer’s Grove, and tell the order taker to check the valve train in my engine. An hour later they tell me my car is ready to checkout. It was a bent rocker arm in the valve train! The cost was $125 versus $3000 quoted for engine overhaul (all 1976 dollars).
Wow!… what battery is in it?
I don’t know. Did the broken wiper blade cause the engine to blow up? That would be a great addition to the Farmers Insurance commercials.
I had one. It needed the transmission replaced, the window switch replaced, the door lock switch replaced, and ultimately the engine destroyed itself because of a design flaw. They issued a recall that I never got. No more Lexus ever.
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