Highly Cited: 2012 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study

February 17, 2012 by Matt Keegan

Lexus, Ford, Porsche and Cadillac are among the best.

The much anticipated 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study from J.D. Power and Associates is out, giving automakers and consumers one of the best measuring tools of long-term vehicle quality. This latest study looked at the quality of 2009 models and how each brand has performed in the past 12 months, with the study tallying the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100). A lower score demonstrates higher quality for that brand.

Industry Average

The 2009 model year was one of the toughest on record for automakers as sales plunged to levels not seen in our generation. Car manufacturers responded admirably, however, ensuring that what vehicles were produced and sold were of a much higher quality year-over-year. Indeed, the J.D. Power study showed a 13 percent improvement in overall quality with the average PP100 rate moving from 151 to 133.

Twelve brands had scores that beat the industry average while 20 brands fell short. Toyota Motors had the best performance with Lexus, Toyota and Scion finishing first, third (tied) and fifth (tied) respectively. Lexus scored 86 PP100 followed by Porsche at 98 PP100, Cadillac and Toyota at 104 PP100 and Scion at 111 PP100. Mercedes-Benz (112), Lincoln (116), Ford (124), Buick and Hyundai (125), Acura (129) and Honda (131) rounded out the 12 industry average beaters.

Top Models

The 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study drilled down to look at specific models and ranked each by segment category. Fourteen segments were identified and ranked with the study spotlighting the top three finishers in each segment. Toyota Motors garnered eight first place finishes as the Lexus ES 350 (in a tie with the Lincoln MKZ); Lexus RX 350; Scion tC; Scion xB; Toyota Prius; Toyota Sienna; Toyota Tundra; and Toyota Yaris each won out. The Ford Motor Company followed with three first place winners: Lincoln MKZ (in a tie with the Lexus ES 350), Ford Fusion and Ford Explorer (tied with the Nissan Murano). Other first-place finishers included the Buick Lucerne, Hyundai Genesis, Chevrolet Equinox, Nissan Pathfinder and the Nissan Murano (tied with the Ford Explorer).

“We are extremely pleased that not only did we win awards in eight of the 14 model segments, but that in two segments we finished one-two and made the podium in 12 segments overall”, said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Much Improved Brands

The Ford Mustang, GMC Yukon and Porsche 911, each performed well in segments that did not have enough models eligible to compete and rank. The top performing model was the Lexus LS with just 72 PP100. MINI and Scion posted the largest year-over-year gains, rising 60 PP100 and 55PP100 in one year. Of the 32 brands tracked, 25 improved over the previous year, one remained stable and six slipped in dependability.

Said Bennie Fowler, Ford Group Vice President, Global Quality and New Model Launches, “It’s the customers who come out ahead. The vehicles we are building today are more reliable than ever. Ford has made significant strides over the past few years to achieve world-class levels of long-term quality and desirability.”

Bottom Feeders

The Chrysler Group has the dubious distinction of occupying the last four places in the study, with Ram (174 PP100), Jeep (179), Dodge (183) and Chrysler (192) bringing up the rear. Both Chrysler and General Motors filed for bankruptcy in 2009, but the quality of Chrysler’s vehicles continued to suffer while GM showed improvement. Although Chrysler did not issue a statement following the study’s release, the automaker may very well see improvement once its 2011 vehicles are surveyed and the results published in 2014. Chrysler has pointed to its 2011 model year vehicles as being substantially improved over previous model year vehicles with early data reflecting a positive boost in quality.

The J.D. Power study is based on responses from more than 31,000 original owners of 2009 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study was fielded between October and December 2011. LandRover and Saab were included in the study, but were not ranked due to a small or insufficient sample size. Discontinued brands, including Mercury, were not studied.

Consumer Tips

J.D. Power and Associates noted that consumer perceptions of vehicle quality and dependability are not always in line with what manufacturers are currently building. Gathering information from a variety of sources is important when considering a new vehicle purchase with consumers looking at initial quality and vehicle dependability when forming conclusions. That also means consumers should know that a well-maintained used vehicle may be worth more at trade-in despite what such surveys have shown.