US vehicle manufacturers are producing higher-quality vehicles than ever before, according to the JD Power and Associates 2012 US Initial Quality Study (IQS) released today.
Lexus is the highest-ranked nameplate in the industry for a second consecutive year, averaging 73 PP100 (problems per 100 vehicles). With 75 PP100 each, Jaguar and Porsche tied in second place. Jaguar posts the largest improvement in the study—reducing problems by 39 PP100, moving up from the 20th position in 2011. Cadillac (80 PP100) and Honda (83 PP100) round out the top five ranked positions.
Among the 21 model-level segment awards, Ford and Lexus receive three each. Ford earns awards for the Expedition, Mustang and Taurus, and Lexus gains awards for the ES 350, LS and RX.
Receiving two segment awards each are Infiniti (EX-Series, M-Series); Nissan (Frontier, Quest); and Toyota (Corolla, Yaris). The Porsche 911 ranks highest in the premium sporty segment and achieves 44 PP100, the lowest PP100 score since the study was redesigned in 2006.
"While in past years a handful of brands tended to collect numerous segment awards, 14 different brands receive segment awards in 2012—this is only the second time in the history of the study that so many different brands achieved award status," said David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at JD Power and Associates.
"This is a positive indication of how widespread high quality is among automakers, with most brands producing a number of models with exceptional quality levels."
Of the 34 brands ranked in the 2012 IQS, 26 have improved from 2011, five have declined, one scores the same as in 2011 and two were not included in the 2011 study.
The average quality of all-new or redesigned models has improved 12 percent compared with 2011, with eleven all-new or redesigned models performing better than their segment average.
The one area that has not improved, however, is audio, entertainment, and navigation, where problems have increased by 8 percent from 2011.
As manufacturers introduce increasingly sophisticated multimedia systems designed to enhance the ownership experience, owners more frequently cite these systems as a source of quality problems. For the first time in the 26-year history of the study, owners report more problems related to audio, entertainment, and navigation systems than in any other vehicle area.
The 2012 US Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 74,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2012 model-year cars, trucks and multi-activity vehicles surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study was fielded between February and May 2012.
The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and build better models and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions. It captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories: design-related problems and defects and malfunctions.
