WASHINGTON — For the fourth year in a row, Lexus ranked the highest in vehicle dependability, according to J.D. Power’s annual rankings.
Lexus ranked highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates, according to the 26-year-old J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study that measures the dependability of vehicles after three years of ownership.
Buick came in at No. 2, moving up three rank positions from 2014.
For the 2015 Vehicle Dependability Study, J.D. Power rolled out a new study conducted online with questionnaires tailored to the specific vehicle purchased by the survey respondent.
The top-ranked vehicles:
1. Lexus
2. Buick
3. Toyota
4. Cadillac
5. Honda (tie)
5. Porsche (tie)
Lexus owners reported 89 problems per 100 vehicles; the industry average was 147 problems.
Fiat was the worst performing brand, with 273 problems per 100 vehicles. Land Rover, Jeep, Mini and Dodge rounded out the bottom five performers.
Scion made some major movements on the list since 2014. This year, it improved 13 rank positions.
Also, Ram improved 11 positions and Mitsubishi went up 10 spots.
Technology’s influence on buyers
Frustrated with your new car’s fancier features? You’re not alone, according to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study.
The study examines problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of 2012 model-year vehicles. It found that the top two problems reported by owners are Bluetooth pairing/connectivity and built-in voice recognition systems misinterpreting commands.
Among owners who experienced a Bluetooth pairing/connectivity problem, 55 percent say that their vehicle would not recognize their phone, and 31 percent say the phone would not automatically connect when entering their vehicle.
After three years of car ownership, the problems were persistent for car owners, the study found.
“As we’ve seen in our Initial Quality Study, owners view in-vehicle technology issues as significant problems, and they typically don’t go away after the ownership honeymoon period is over,” Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive at J.D. Power, said in a news release.
Stephens says car owners are coming to expect the latest, most-advanced technology for their new vehicles, according to the company’s upcoming 2015 U.S. Tech Choice study.
“Owners clearly want the latest technology in their vehicles, and they don’t hesitate to express their disapproval when it doesn’t work. Their definition of dependability is increasingly influenced by usability,” Stephens said in a news release.
Frustrations with technology in vehicles are influencing consumers’ purchasing plans, too, the study found.
Fifty-six percent of owners who report no problems with their vehicle say they “definitely will” purchase the same brand next time, compared with 43 percent of those who report three or more problems.
“At the three-year point, many owners are thinking about replacing their vehicles, and we find that how they feel about their current vehicle’s quality and dependability impacts their intent to consider purchasing the same brand again,” said Stephens in a news release.
“Oftentimes, the issues owners experience can be resolved with a software update or, in the case of Bluetooth pairing problems, dealers can step in to help. In cases such as these, proactively reaching out to owners presents an opportunity for automakers and their dealers to engage with customers in a positive way.”
The 2015 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 34,000 original owners of 2012 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study was fielded in November and December 2014.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
