“Historically, VDS model results mirror the results of the respective model year in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, so a deterioration of vehicle dependability is unusual,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power.

“This can likely be attributed to the tumultuous time during which these vehicles were built, and owners are keeping their vehicles for much longer. In fact, the average age of vehicles on American roads today is approximately 12 years, which underscores the importance of building a vehicle designed to stand the test of time. Automakers must ensure new vehicle technology introduced today will still meet the customer’s needs years down the road,” Hanley observed.

The widely respected study, now in its 35th year, covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features/controls/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats. Toyota Motor Corporation won the most segment awards at nine. These awards are the most received by any automaker since 2017 when Toyota received ten awards. The top brands showing the greatest improvement in the number of problems are Porsche (33 PP100 improvement), Mercedes-Benz (22 PP100 improvement), and
Toyota (21 PP100 improvement).