http://www.detroitnews.com/story/bu...endability-takes-hit-jd-power-study/98231926/
Technology-related problems contributed to a worsening in dependability for a second consecutive year in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study.
The study, which looked at problems reported in the past 12 months by owners of 2014 model-year vehicles, found an industry average of 156 problems per 100 vehicles. The previous study released in 2016 found 152 problems per 100 vehicles. As high-tech gadgetry filters down through all levels of vehicles, more problems are being registered by owners.
“The industry as a whole has largely gotten worse in this area again this year ... ,” said Dave Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power. “It’s largely driven by higher penetration of more sophisticated entertainment systems.”
Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, Ram and Lincoln, which all ranked in the top 10 last year, slipped to varying degrees in the latest rankings.
Buick, which previously was No. 3, slipped to No. 4. GMC, previously No. 5, tumbled to No. 14; the number of problems per 100 vehicles grew from 120 to 151. Chevrolet slipped two spots to No. 8.
Ram, which was No. 9 in dependability last year, took a precipitous plunge to a tie with the Ford brand at No. 26. Sargent said Ram’s fall is most likely due to the inclusion of Ram’s heavy-duty pickup in the latest tabulations. The number of problems reported spiked from 129 problems per 100 vehicles last year, to 183 in this study.
And Lincoln slipped slightly in the rankings, from No. 10 in 2016 to a tie for No. 12 in 2017. Its Ford brand stablemate showed improvement, rising from 31st place last year to a tie for 26th this year.
Tops for reliability
■Small car - Chevrolet Sonic
■Compact car - Toyota Prius
■Compact premium car - Lexus ES
■Midsize car - Toyota Camry
■Midsize sporty car - Chevrolet Camaro
■Midsize premium car - Lexus GS
■Large car - Toyota Avalon
■Small SUV - Volkswagen Tiguan
■Compact MPV - Toyota Prius v
■Compact SUV - Toyota FJ Cruiser
■Compact premium SUV - Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
■Midsize pickup - Honda Ridgeline
■Midsize SUV - Toyota Venza
■Midsize premium SUV - Lexus RX
■Minivan - Toyota Sienna
■Large SUV - Chevrolet Tahoe
■Large light-duty pickup - Ford F-150
■Heavy-duty pickup - Chevrolet Silverado
Technology-related problems contributed to a worsening in dependability for a second consecutive year in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study.
The study, which looked at problems reported in the past 12 months by owners of 2014 model-year vehicles, found an industry average of 156 problems per 100 vehicles. The previous study released in 2016 found 152 problems per 100 vehicles. As high-tech gadgetry filters down through all levels of vehicles, more problems are being registered by owners.
“The industry as a whole has largely gotten worse in this area again this year ... ,” said Dave Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power. “It’s largely driven by higher penetration of more sophisticated entertainment systems.”
Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, Ram and Lincoln, which all ranked in the top 10 last year, slipped to varying degrees in the latest rankings.
Buick, which previously was No. 3, slipped to No. 4. GMC, previously No. 5, tumbled to No. 14; the number of problems per 100 vehicles grew from 120 to 151. Chevrolet slipped two spots to No. 8.
Ram, which was No. 9 in dependability last year, took a precipitous plunge to a tie with the Ford brand at No. 26. Sargent said Ram’s fall is most likely due to the inclusion of Ram’s heavy-duty pickup in the latest tabulations. The number of problems reported spiked from 129 problems per 100 vehicles last year, to 183 in this study.
And Lincoln slipped slightly in the rankings, from No. 10 in 2016 to a tie for No. 12 in 2017. Its Ford brand stablemate showed improvement, rising from 31st place last year to a tie for 26th this year.
Tops for reliability
■Small car - Chevrolet Sonic
■Compact car - Toyota Prius
■Compact premium car - Lexus ES
■Midsize car - Toyota Camry
■Midsize sporty car - Chevrolet Camaro
■Midsize premium car - Lexus GS
■Large car - Toyota Avalon
■Small SUV - Volkswagen Tiguan
■Compact MPV - Toyota Prius v
■Compact SUV - Toyota FJ Cruiser
■Compact premium SUV - Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
■Midsize pickup - Honda Ridgeline
■Midsize SUV - Toyota Venza
■Midsize premium SUV - Lexus RX
■Minivan - Toyota Sienna
■Large SUV - Chevrolet Tahoe
■Large light-duty pickup - Ford F-150
■Heavy-duty pickup - Chevrolet Silverado