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Cars are getting more dependable despite continued issues with technology
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–> by Stephen Rivers
February 9, 2023 at 19:34
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by Stephen Rivers
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Lexus has taken the lead back from Kia in J.D. Power’s 2023 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) even though most other luxury brands, with the exception of Genesis that secured second spot, languish near the bottom of the rankings. Its RX model also ended up tied for first place with Toyota’s C-HR as the most dependable vehicle.
The study focuses on nine categories including climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features/controls/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats. Inside of those categories it covers 184 specific problem areas.
The 2023 VDS gives car models from 2020 a PP100 or problem per 100 vehicles score. A lower score means fewer problems and better reliability. With that in mind it’s interesting to note that as a whole, the automotive industry saw an improvement from 192 PP100 last year to 186 PP100 this year, indicating that vehicles across the market are getting more reliable despite some consistent pain points surrounding technology.
Read: American Brand Cars Are Among The Least Reliable In Consumer Reports Annual Ranking
Interestingly, mass-market cars led most of the field with an average of 182 PP100 which is 23 fewer than the average for premium brands (205 PP100). Luxury marques like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz all fell far below the average with at least 208 PP100 or more. According to J.D. Power, that’s likely due to the fact that premium cars get newer features first.
“The gap between the two segments is at its widest since the study launched 34 years ago and mirrors a trend that began in 2016, ” said J.D. Power. “A driving force for the dependability disparity between the two segments is new technology introduced in vehicles. Premium brands usually have more technology, which increases complexity and the inherent likelihood of additional problems.”
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“It is typical in the automotive industry to roll out concepts and features by putting them in premium vehicles first,” noted Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power.
That makes it all the more impressive that Lexus beat out the rest of the brands included. Overall, its models showed 133 PP100. Korean automaker Genesis came in second place with 144 PP100 and Kia rounded out the top three spots with 152 PP100. On the other end of the spectrum, Ford, Audi, Lincoln, and Land Rover made up the bottom four spots.
Tech Complaints
The biggest issue that most people reported had to do with their infotainment system and second place wasn’t even close. They made up some 49.9 PP100 on average and six of the top ten problem areas found relate to infotainment.
Those features include Android and Apple connectivity, voice recognition, and touchscreen sensitivity. Interestingly, other technological advancements like over-the-air updates can improve satisfaction scores according to the study.
The Top Models
In terms of specific models noted for their dependability, Lexus with its RX and Toyota with its CH-R tied for the most dependable vehicles in the study. Each one scored 111 PP100. Other segment winners include the BMW 4-Series, the Kia Forte, The MINI Cooper, The Kia Optima, the Toyota Highlander, and the Chevrolet Tahoe. See full rankings on the most dependable vehicles in the study below.
