JD Power says Lexus is most dependable auto brand, ranks Tesla 30th out of 33

CNBC ^ | THU, FEB 18 202111:00 AM EST | Lora Kolodny

[strider44]

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...

[Red Badger]

I have owned cars from every American manufacturer, Japan, British, German and Korean. They ALL break down eventually...............

[vigilence]

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?

[Red Badger]

Nah, couldn’t be!.......................

[ryderann]

Bet you and your neighbor remember the Oliver!

[Clemenza]

JD Power is in business to make money. They are NOT neutral ratings company as anyone who has been solicited by them can attest.

[A Navy Vet]

Ours is a 2016 with every gadget you can get in Lexus. Zero problems.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

We have a 2016 Kia Optima with all the bells and whistles, including heated seating and heated steering wheel. While it may not ride or corner like a Lexus, it is the best new car I’ve ever bought. KIA is quality product.

We have two...a 2016 Sedona minivan and a 2019 Soul. Neither have had any problems.

[headstamp 2]

[[[The three most dependable auto brands in the U.S. are now Lexus, Porsche and Kia,]]]

LOL Somebody cut a few checks.

[BobL]

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.

[Lmo56]

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.

[Exit148]

Where does a Mercedes stand on this list?

[Exit148]

Where does a Mercedes stand on this list?

[Red Badger]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2021/02/18/porsche-911-j-d-power-vehicle-dependability-study-2021-cars-suvs/6785512002/

[Red Badger]

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

[BroJoeK]

“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?

[entropy12]

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).

[snoringbear]

Wow!… what battery is in it?

[Reno89519]

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.

[Hardastarboard]

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.