Photo: Lexus
When it comes to JD Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study, Japanese carmakers are the ones dictating the play. But this supremacy looks untouchable at this moment, after Lexus secured the number one spot for the fourth time in a row.
Once a year, we hear from J.D. Power and Associates and their U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). For the last four years, Lexus managed to secure a well-deserved first place, creating a new record. Wondering how they did it?
For starters, here’s how the study works. Each year, J.D. Power surveys original owners of three-year-old vehicles about what type of problems they experienced over the last year. Based on the data collected, J.D. Power puts together the VDS, by rating each make and individual model based on how many problems were found per 100 vehicles (PP100). The models in the 2013 study are in fact 2010 model year vehicles, those from the 2014 study are 2011 year models and so on, you get the point.
This year, Toyota’s luxury brand made another good impression after Lexus owners only reported 89 problems per 100 vehicles, making it its fourth straight year of domination at the top of the table. Toyota took the third place, after owners declared 111 problems per 100 vehicles, while the second place was somehow surprisingly took by Buick, with 110 problems per 100 vehicles.
Lexus - along with Porsche - managed to experience fewer problems year over year, but it is not unusual for the survey to reveal big flops from big-name carmakers you would normally expect to shine when it comes to dependability.
For example, popular brands only got below-the-average ratings and the list includes Volkswagen (165 problems per 100 vehicles), Ford and Hyundai (188 problems per 100 vehicles each) and MINI (193 problems per 100 vehicles).
The saying “the bigger they are the harder they fall” is a perfect illustration of how brands like Land Rover, Fiat and Jeep failed to perform, according to the survey. Indian-owned Land Rover recorded 258 problems per 100 vehicles, Fiat was even worse at 273 problems per vehicles while Jeep owners disappointingly reported 197 problems per 100 vehicles.
For starters, here’s how the study works. Each year, J.D. Power surveys original owners of three-year-old vehicles about what type of problems they experienced over the last year. Based on the data collected, J.D. Power puts together the VDS, by rating each make and individual model based on how many problems were found per 100 vehicles (PP100). The models in the 2013 study are in fact 2010 model year vehicles, those from the 2014 study are 2011 year models and so on, you get the point.
This year, Toyota’s luxury brand made another good impression after Lexus owners only reported 89 problems per 100 vehicles, making it its fourth straight year of domination at the top of the table. Toyota took the third place, after owners declared 111 problems per 100 vehicles, while the second place was somehow surprisingly took by Buick, with 110 problems per 100 vehicles.
Lexus - along with Porsche - managed to experience fewer problems year over year, but it is not unusual for the survey to reveal big flops from big-name carmakers you would normally expect to shine when it comes to dependability.
For example, popular brands only got below-the-average ratings and the list includes Volkswagen (165 problems per 100 vehicles), Ford and Hyundai (188 problems per 100 vehicles each) and MINI (193 problems per 100 vehicles).
The saying “the bigger they are the harder they fall” is a perfect illustration of how brands like Land Rover, Fiat and Jeep failed to perform, according to the survey. Indian-owned Land Rover recorded 258 problems per 100 vehicles, Fiat was even worse at 273 problems per vehicles while Jeep owners disappointingly reported 197 problems per 100 vehicles.
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