Buick, Jaguar Top J.D.Power Dependability Study

20th 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 Study^SM (VDS) released today. Buick improves from a sixth-place ranking in 2008, while Jaguar improves from 10^th place. Following in the top five rankings this year are Lexus, Toyota and Mercury.

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 average number of problems is 170 per 100 vehicles, which is down from 206 in the 2008 study (an improvement of 17%).

J.D. Power also gives segment awards, which honor the top vehicles in each class. Toyota led all manufacturers with 10 vehicles getting top honors in their segments. Ford was next with 4 (5 if you include Mazda), followed by Honda with 2. GM, Chrysler and Nissan received 1 segment award each.

There were some surprises in the results. We are used to seeing Toyota and Honda vehicles at the top of most quality rankings, and they certainly make good products - just ask any southern senator. The most startling is the ranking of the much-maligned (and now deceased) Ford Freestar over the Toyota Sienna in the minivan category (Dodge Grand Caravan won the segment). Another big one is in the midsize car category, where the Buick LaCrosse won, beating out the Toyota Camry and Mercury Milan - Honda Accord was nowhere to be found.

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.