Tests and Features

Vehicle Reliability According to J.D. Power

by Michel Deslauriers

Every year, the well-known American firm J.D. Power surveys vehicle owners to determine the most reliable brands on the market. It asks consumers who bought a new vehicle three years ago to report problems that occurred in the last 12 months with their car or truck. Issues can be of the mechanical type or even concern the vehicles’ infotainment system, and a ranking is established using a coefficient called PP100, or the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles.

This year, Lexus and Porsche share first place in the list of the most reliable brands with a score of 110 PP100, or 1.1 problems per vehicle. By the way, this isn’t anything new for Lexus, who has been ranking first for the last six years. In third place, we find Toyota with a score of 123 PP100, or 1.23 problems per vehicle, followed by Buick (126 PP100) and Mercedes-Benz (131 PP100). The Top 10 list is completed by Hyundai (133 PP100), who notably climbed from 19th place to sixth in a year, BMW (139 PP100), Chevrolet (142 PP100), Honda (143 PP100) and Jaguar (144 PP100). The industry average this year is set at 156 PP100.

According to J.D. Power’s list, the least reliable brands are Ford (183 PP100), Ram (183 PP100), Dodge (187 PP100), Infiniti (203 PP100) and Jeep (209 PP100). However, it’s Fiat that takes last place—by far—with a score of 298 PP100, 2.98 problems per vehicle.

Amongst all the problems reported by the owners surveyed by J.D. Power, 22% of all owners’ complaints concerned their vehicles’ infotainment, audio and navigation systems. While cars and trucks are mechanically more reliable than before, the number of defective batteries that need replacement is on the rise.

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

Tests and FeaturesHow to Breathe New Life into the Cabin of a Used Vehicle
Congratulations, you just bought a used vehicle! Oftentimes, a second-hand car isn’t everything you’d hoped for. If the colour and overall look aren’t your cup of tea, that’s one thing. But the cabin is really important, since that’s where you’ll be spending much of your time. Here are a few …
Tests and FeaturesUsed Vehicles: A Good Choice for Students
Buying a used vehicle is a tough decision for any student. You want a stylish car with low interest premiums that will be affordable across the board and, of course, reliable. You certainly don’t want to spend your entire paycheck on repairs. If this is the situation you’re in, here …
Tests and FeaturesA Certified Pre-owned Vehicle? Why Not?
The vast majority of automobile manufacturers now offer consumers a certified pre-owned vehicle program, something to consider when we’re shopping for a good used car. First of all, not all pre-owned vehicles sold in automotive dealerships can obtain the manufacturers’ certification. According to them, cars and trucks are thoroughly inspected …
Tests and FeaturesThe Best Used Vehicles According to Consumer Reports
Every year, the respected American institution Consumer Reports publishes rankings for numerous industries. Consumer Reports is well-known in the automotive world, where the organization consistently provides the most reliable data, year after year. Here are Consumer Reports’ rankings for the best used vehicles per category. Among subcompact cars , the …
MechanicalUsed Vehicles: are Clunkers Really a Good Deal?
We’ve all heard the story about the neighbour’s cousin’s brother-in-law who bought an ancient car for $500 that was rusted all over and reeked of oil and fumes—and drove it for almost two years without a problem. Unfortunately, not all clunker stories have a happy ending. People with a very …