Tag Archives: quality

Porsche and General Motors Top Power IQS Quality Survey

Luxury brand Porsche and populist Chevrolet lead initial quality reports for 2013 models. As a manufacturer, General Motors leads other automakers by far. These claims come from the latest J.D. Power and Associates IQS – Initials Quality Survey – that polled more 83,000 owners after 90 days of experience with their new car or light truck. Continue reading

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Owners Report Quality Improvements at Most Automakers

A growing problem area is lumped under the “audio, entertainment, and navigation” category where reported problems have increased by 8% from 2011. This continues a negative trend, with problems in this category increasing by 45% since 2006, while other categories have improved by 24% on average. Buyers aged 35 and under, who grew up with myriad consumer electronic devices are particularly vocal about the design failures of automotive electronics. This is a growing problem for the product development departments of automakers that are largely managed by older, white males. Continue reading

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Ford, Lincoln Change Touch Screens after Quality Ratings Dive

While Ford keeps claiming its customers want electronic features such as MyFord Touch, saying 56% of them rate the technology as an “important” part of the buying decision, its quality and customer satisfaction ratings by users as measured from independent sources have plummeted during the three years since introduction. Continue reading

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Toyota Leads 2012 Vehicle Dependability Report

The highest initial quality ratings of 2009 model year vehicles has now resulted in historically high levels of vehicle dependability in 2012. Overall vehicle dependability in 2012 averages 132 problems per 100 vehicles, an improvement of 13% from the 2011 … Continue reading

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Initial Quality in China Achieves Historic High – Japanese Lead

Overall initial quality of vehicles sold in China averages 162 PP100 (problems per 100) in 2011. This is the lowest problem rate recorded since the inception of the study in 2000, according to J.D. Power Asia Pacific. Not surprisingly, models from Japanese brands, as a whole, have the lowest problem incidence in the China market in 2011 with an average of 108 PP100. Continue reading

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Quality Drops Drastically as Automakers Introduce New Models

After a four year run of improving quality, the trend has reversed itself as the initial quality of 2011 new vehicle launches has declined considerably in the latest study. Overall initial quality improved to an average of 107 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2011 from 109 PP100 in 2010. However, launch models – vehicles that are all-new or have had major redesigns – saw ratings drop by 10% to an average of 122 PP100 in 2011 from 111 PP100 in 2010. Continue reading

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Honda Recalls New Civic for Fuel Leaks in Latest Quality Gaffe

Toyota of course was ultimately assessed record civil fines by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year for its failure to promptly recall all of the vehicles affected by deadly unintended acceleration or stuck gas pedal problems. The “Toyota effect” now looms large over the auto industry since no automaker wants to be charged with a safety defect coverup. Continue reading

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Vehicle Dependability at Record, but Electronic Problems Grow

Overall vehicle dependability has slightly improved from 2010, but automakers are having difficulty overcoming problems with newer technologies and features, according to the J.D. Power and Associates. The study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners … Continue reading

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