Latest JD Power survey results (USA)

mike65

This from LA Times

Luxury automakers Lexus and Porsche topped this year's J.D. Power list of automotive quality as the auto industry in general, including American manufacturers, showed an impressive gain in building more dependable vehicles, according to the annual survey released today.

The study, which measures the problems reported by the owners of 2002 model year vehicles, found that long-term quality across all brands and makers rose 12% from last year's results, according to Westlake Village-based J.D. Power & Associates. The categories showing the most significant improvements in 2005 included ride, handling and braking; engine; and interior.

Eight General Motors models and five from Ford Motor Co. received the highest rankings in their categories, while the owners of South Korean-made Hyundai vehicles reported the largest reduction in problems, according to the survey, which is based on the responses from more than 50,000 vehicle owners.

"Even though there is still room for improvement, Hyundai is a great example of an automaker that is making strides toward improving vehicle quality by paying close attention to owner feedback and designing products with both short- and long-term quality in mind," said J.D. Powers research chief Chance Parker in a statement.

Despite industrywide improvements, Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus brand continued to lead the quality rankings, taking first place for the eleventh consecutive year. The Lexus quality score improved 14% compared to last year to 139 reported problems for every 100 vehicles.

The quality score for Porsche, which placed second among nameplates, shot up 38% — the largest percentage increase in this year's survey — to 149 problems for every 100 vehicles.

Meanwhile, Kia Motors of South Korea came in at the bottom of the quality rankings, with 397 problems for every 100 vehicles.

(Problems per 100 vehicles)

Lexus 139
Porsche 149
Lincoln 151
Buick 163
Cadillac 175
Infiniti 178
Toyota 194
Mercury 195
Honda 201
Acura 203
BMW 225
Ford 231
Chevrolet 232
Chrysler 235
Industry Average 237
Saturn 240
Oldsmobile 242
GMC 245
Pontiac 245
Mazda 252
Hyundai 260
Subaru 260
Volvo 266
Jaguar 268
Dodge 273
Nissan 275
Mitsubishi 278
Mercedes-Benz 283
Saab 286
Jeep 289
Suzuki 292
Audi 312
Daewoo 318
Isuzu 331
Volkswagen 335
MINI 383
Land Rover 395
Kia 397

More info from JD Power here

Whats strikes me most is how the US manufacturers seem to have pulled thier socks up and how poor Eruopean makes are overall.

Mike.

drdre

lexus are doin great. there new gs430 is amzing and is full of topend spec.

dahamsta

mike65 wrote:

Whats strikes me most is how the US manufacturers seem to have pulled thier socks up and how poor Eruopean makes are overall.

Indeed, very surprising to see the likes of Mercedes, Audi and Volkswagen there. MINI third from the bottom too, shame on BMW. Some were a given though, you only need to look at modern Saabs to see that the quality has gone way down -- you can see shutlines from about six miles away for a start. Who owns Saab now, Ford? Sure looks like it anyway.

Apart from a slight affinity for the Aristo and the Soarer, the only Lexus I every really liked was the original LS. Damn near bought (a second-hand) one in fact. Then the IS came along and ruined the whole brand for me. It's a Corolla with leather seats for f*ck's sake!

adam

mike65

Saab are now totally owned by GM. The Vectra floor panel forms the bones of the 9-3 and the old 9-5 is the same thing stretched by a foot! They share the engines too.

Mike.

dahamsta

mike65 wrote:

Saab are now totally owned by GM.

Ah, that's right. It's Volvo is owned by Ford, right? Same difference though, GM dragged Saab down into dullness and obscurity; and Volvo, after a brilliant start, have dragged Volvo back to average, bland and dull, but without the underlying brilliance. Yawnorama. I'm thinking of writing a book:

Mergers & Acquisitions In The Auto Industry: How To Kill Brilliance And Innovation In Two Easy Lessons

adam