J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study.
This year Buick and Jaguar tied for the top spot dethroning Lexus from the top spot, which its held for the past 14 years. Lexus came in at no. 3 followed by Toyota at no. 4 and Mercury at no. 5.
“Buick has ranked among the top 10 nameplates each year since the study was last redesigned in 2003, while Jaguar has moved rapidly up the rankings,” said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates.
Land Rover, Volkswagen and Suzuki received the lowest ratings in the survey.
PRESS RELEASE:
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Buick and Jaguar Tie to Rank Highest for Vehicle Dependability; Toyota Motor Corporation Captures Ten Segment Awards; Ford Motor Company Garners Four
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 19 March 2009 - Buick and Jaguar each rank highest in vehicle dependability in a tie, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) released today. Buick improves from a sixth-place ranking in 2008, while Jaguar improves from 10th place. Following in the top five rankings this year are Lexus, Toyota and Mercury.
Toyota garners five segment awards-more than any other nameplate in 2009-for the Highlander, Prius, Sequoia, Solara and Tundra. Lexus follows with four segment awards for the ES 330 (in a tie with the Acura RL), GX 470, LS 430 and SC 430. Lincoln captures two awards for the Mark LT and Zephyr. Models by Acura, Buick, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan and Scion each rank highest in one segment.
“Buick has ranked among the top 10 nameplates each year since the study was last redesigned in 2003, while Jaguar has moved rapidly up the rankings,” said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. “Lexus remains a very strong competitor in long-term quality. In particular, the Lexus LS 430 sets the industry standard for dependability, with fewer problems reported than any other model in the study.”
The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2006 model year) vehicles, has been redesigned to include 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle. Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The study is used extensively by vehicle manufacturers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles-which typically retain higher resale values-and by consumers to help them make more-informed choices for both new and used vehicles.
“In the current economic climate, consumers are delaying new-vehicle purchases and keeping their vehicles longer-the average age of a vehicle at trade-in has increased to 73 months in 2009 from 65 months in 2006,” said Sargent. “This makes vehicle dependability even more critical. Automakers have improved long-term dependability by an average of 10 percent each year since the inception of the study, which is a testament to the industry’s commitment to continuously improve and sustain quality, especially long-term quality. Making improvements in long-term quality not only satisfies customers who are holding onto their vehicles longer, but it will also influence their decisions when they return to the new-vehicle market or are seeking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle.”
The study finds that the frequency and severity of component replacement has a particularly strong impact on customer loyalty intentions. Component areas for which the impact is greatest include engine and transmission. When engine components are replaced or rebuilt, just 11 percent of customers state that they definitely intend to purchase or lease another vehicle of the same make, compared with nearly 40 percent among owners who report replacing no components.
The study also finds that Buick, Lincoln, Mercury and Jaguar owners are less likely to replace components than owners of other vehicle brands. While component replacement rates are similar for premium and non-premium makes, there are notable differences between vehicle segments. Owners of models in the premium sporty vehicle segment are least likely to replace components, while owners of models in the van segment are most likely to replace components.
The 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 46,000 original owners of 2006 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded in October 2008.
Find more detailed findings on vehicle dependability as well as model photos and specs by reading an article and reviewing brand and segment dependability ratings at JDPower.com.
Comments (21)
Wow! I didn't see that one happening! Good job to Buick and the new Jag!
Posted by Paul | March 20, 2009 9:15 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:15
Wow, Good job Buick. I am surprised to see Chrysler above BMW, Mercedes, Saturn, Nissan, and Scion, although they still need to work on Jeep and Dodge. But again good job Buick and Jaguar.
Posted by Jeremy | March 20, 2009 9:23 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:23
Guys, take a chill pill.This is just another paid study that has nothing to do with reality.Just look on the news,read a newspaper ot listen to a radio.How can u think these companies are doing almost perfect cars when in reality they are on the edge of bancrupcy ot dying.Get real ppl....Can u compare sales of Jaguar or Buick with sales of let's say Mazda (i just picked a bottom one ). Nothing to see here ppl, just allot of paid blsht ,move on...
Posted by XxX | March 20, 2009 9:34 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:34
@ Jeremy
I think that Jeep used too be a lot lower, they are doing better and I believe that Dodge is about the same.
Posted by Vince | March 20, 2009 9:36 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:36
@ XxX
First you would not have written that if Lexus was still at the top and secondly Mazda(I know you just picked it but still) and Buick are in different price ranges. That is like comparing BMW to Kia. Kia sells more then BMW.
Posted by Jeremy | March 20, 2009 9:42 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:42
wow... this is wtf....
what is the timeframe for this study?
227 problems with 100 vehicules... mazda
i dont remember having any problem with my mazda3 after 120 000 km
Posted by jettto | March 20, 2009 9:43 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:43
"The 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 46,000 original owners of 2006 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded in October 2008."
wow thats pretty stupid... a serious study should've ask a car fixer!!! they know what they are talking about... + they have all the data in their computer!!!
Posted by jettto | March 20, 2009 9:49 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:49
But depending on how you look at it and old Kia is probably in the shop as much as an old BMW...
Kia has certainly come up a fair amount since they came over to America.
And personally I don't really trust things like this. Everyone has their expectations of how a car should last and everything should be taken with a grain of salt.
Posted by Brian | March 20, 2009 9:49 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 09:49
One thing perhaps we all can agree on, is that Buick and Jag are improving their quality. One can not like a car (and obviously hate the country it was made), but still appreciate innovation. I'm happy when competition brings out the best in design and innovation. Go GM and Ford!
I would think that if America and Germany did not make great cars, Japan would still be making tin junk cars like they did 20+ years ago.
Posted by sparky | March 20, 2009 10:09 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 10:09
Its no surprise to me that Buick has finally cracked the top three like this, even less a surprise that it was in the top five for a few years.
Most their models and equipment, even powertrains, are nearly a decade old. By now, its going to be reliable not due to quality engineering, but just because they've been able to work the kinks out.
The difference between Buick, Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Ford then is that Buick builds a car, then works out the problems.
When the other three do it, they build the car right the first time.
The one I didn't see coming was Jaguar. Sure, they too have decade old powertrains, but in that decade they never once got more reliable, until now all of a sudden. Its like Tata has actually done good to the brand.
And lo and behold, new powertrains next year! Way to go Tata motors.
Posted by Allen | March 20, 2009 10:53 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 10:53
hey noya where you at?i cant wait to hear what you have to agure
Posted by muscleoverrice | March 20, 2009 12:00 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 12:00
I guess good for Buick and Jag, but JD Power is notoriously unreliable as far as actual vehicle quality is concerned.
Posted by gm0n3y | March 20, 2009 5:11 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 17:11
@ Jettto -
Ha, that is an awesome idea. Freedom of Information Act, get the automakers to turn over their records regarding vehicle repairs.
I am sure the automakers would jump at the chance to prove how reliable their cars are!
HA! That would be an interesting thing to be sure...
Posted by Chad | March 20, 2009 5:12 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 17:12
@ muscleoverrice
JD Power is a JOKE. They've been a shill for years.
Look through their website, they have Saturn ranked as high as Acura for powertrains. Lincoln ranked with Audi for interior quality and so on.
Ever heard the term "Money talk and bullshit walks?"
Posted by Noya | March 20, 2009 5:47 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 17:47
Hey Noya, I thought the Big 3 were out of money? Can't make BS walk without money now can you?
Posted by Avatar | March 21, 2009 7:18 AM
Posted on March 21, 2009 07:18
@Avatar
"Hey Noya, I thought the Big 3 were out of money? Can't make BS walk without money now can you?"
What did you think those bailouts, I mean "loans", were for?
Posted by Totenglocke | March 21, 2009 8:29 AM
Posted on March 21, 2009 08:29
Keeping the greedy UAWs pockets lined.
Posted by Avatar | March 21, 2009 9:58 AM
Posted on March 21, 2009 09:58
The results are statistically insignificant. If Jag or Buick were as sophisticated as Lexus or has as much gadgetry, they're reliability would be much lower. This is BS.
Posted by Rick Wag | March 22, 2009 8:17 AM
Posted on March 22, 2009 08:17
@Allen
"When the other three do it, they build the car right the first time. "
You mean like those countless Honda/Acura automatic transmissions that drop like flies? My buddy runs a tranny repair shop and he loves those Hondas almost as much as Chrysler minivans for the work they bring him. That's what I call "doing it right the first time".
"The one I didn't see coming was Jaguar. Sure, they too have decade old powertrains, but in that decade they never once got more reliable, until now all of a sudden. Its like Tata has actually done good to the brand."
Clearly you know nothing about Jaguar. I'm a licensed Jaguar technician, and there have been numerous & significant updates to their powertrains over the last 10 years.
And this study has nothing to do with Tata. The vehicles represented in this survey were all developed when Ford was still the owner.
Posted by reality | March 22, 2009 9:32 AM
Posted on March 22, 2009 09:32
Wow,all the other cars must have really sucked.
Posted by Patrick | March 22, 2009 9:47 PM
Posted on March 22, 2009 21:47
no complaints because no one bought them.
Posted by Patrick | March 22, 2009 9:51 PM
Posted on March 22, 2009 21:51