06-20-2010, 08:55 AM
For the first time in the history of the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, Ford has topped the list of domestic, non-premium brand automakers. Ford finished fifth overall, but behind such brands as Lexus (4th), Mercedes Benz (3rd), Acura (2nd) and Porsche (1st). Even long time quality leaders such as Honda (6th), Lincoln (8th), Infiniti (9th), Cadillac (13th) and Toyota (21st) couldn’t match Ford’s performance.
On the flip side, the manufacturers with the worst performance were Land Rover (33rd), Mitsubishi (32nd), Volkswagen (31st), Mini (30th) and Jaguar (29th). While I’m not surprised to see Land Rover on the list, it’s disappointing to see quality control slipping at both Mitsubishi and Volkswagen. It doesn’t bode well for the future of Mitsubishi, whose product offering seem to decrease with each passing year. Volkswagen, on the other hand, seems to have a great product line tied to indifferent or poorly trained dealers. If VW wants to see growth in the U.S. Market, they’d best address the QC and dealer support situation quickly.
This is the 24th year J.D. Power has conducted its Initial Quality Study, which tracks problems in vehicles over the first 90 days of ownership. The big revelation this year is that traditional U.S. domestic brands averaged 108 problems per 100 vehicles versus 109 problems per 100 vehicles for import brands. This is the first time in all 24 years that domestic brands have been rated better for initial quality.
You can see the full chart of how the automakers stack up in problems per 100 vehicles after the jump. You can also see which vehicle models have the highest initial quality ratings in each class.
[attachment=1583]
Sub-Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Hyundai Accent
Toyota Yaris
Honda Fit
Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra
Compact Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Scion tC
Compact Premium Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Volvo C70
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Entry Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Acura TL
Cadillac CTS
Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus GS
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
Volvo S80
Midsize Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Ford Mustang
Dodge Challenger
Large Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus LS 460
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Porsche Panamera
Midsize Car
Highest Ranked: Honda Accord
Ford Fusion
Chevrolet Malibu
Large Car
Highest Ranked: Ford Taurus
Buick Lucerne
Nissan Maxima
Compact Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Toyota FJ Cruiser
Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Compact MPV
Highest Ranked: Scion xB
Chrysler PT Cruiser Wagon
Nissan Cube
Entry Premium Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Acura RDX
Volvo XC60
Midsize Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Honda Accord Crosstour
Honda Pilot
Ford Edge
Large Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Suburban
GMC Yukon
Midsize Premium Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Lexus GX 460
Infiniti FX-Series
Volvo XC70
Large Premium Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Cadillac Escalade
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Infiniti QX56 (tie)
Land Rover Range Rover (tie)
Large Pickup
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Avalanche (tie), GMC Sierra LD (tie)
Ford F-150 LD
Midsize Pickup
Highest Ranked: Nissan Frontier
Ford Ranger
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Minivan
Highest Ranked: Toyota Sienna
Kia Sedona
Dodge Grand Caravan
*No other model in this segment performs above the segment average, according to J.D. Power.
On the flip side, the manufacturers with the worst performance were Land Rover (33rd), Mitsubishi (32nd), Volkswagen (31st), Mini (30th) and Jaguar (29th). While I’m not surprised to see Land Rover on the list, it’s disappointing to see quality control slipping at both Mitsubishi and Volkswagen. It doesn’t bode well for the future of Mitsubishi, whose product offering seem to decrease with each passing year. Volkswagen, on the other hand, seems to have a great product line tied to indifferent or poorly trained dealers. If VW wants to see growth in the U.S. Market, they’d best address the QC and dealer support situation quickly.
This is the 24th year J.D. Power has conducted its Initial Quality Study, which tracks problems in vehicles over the first 90 days of ownership. The big revelation this year is that traditional U.S. domestic brands averaged 108 problems per 100 vehicles versus 109 problems per 100 vehicles for import brands. This is the first time in all 24 years that domestic brands have been rated better for initial quality.
You can see the full chart of how the automakers stack up in problems per 100 vehicles after the jump. You can also see which vehicle models have the highest initial quality ratings in each class.
[attachment=1583]
Sub-Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Hyundai Accent
Toyota Yaris
Honda Fit
Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Hyundai Elantra
Compact Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Scion tC
Compact Premium Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Volvo C70
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Entry Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Acura TL
Cadillac CTS
Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus GS
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
Volvo S80
Midsize Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Ford Mustang
Dodge Challenger
Large Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus LS 460
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Porsche Panamera
Midsize Car
Highest Ranked: Honda Accord
Ford Fusion
Chevrolet Malibu
Large Car
Highest Ranked: Ford Taurus
Buick Lucerne
Nissan Maxima
Compact Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Toyota FJ Cruiser
Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Compact MPV
Highest Ranked: Scion xB
Chrysler PT Cruiser Wagon
Nissan Cube
Entry Premium Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Acura RDX
Volvo XC60
Midsize Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Honda Accord Crosstour
Honda Pilot
Ford Edge
Large Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet Suburban
GMC Yukon
Midsize Premium Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Lexus GX 460
Infiniti FX-Series
Volvo XC70
Large Premium Crossover/SUV
Highest Ranked: Cadillac Escalade
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Infiniti QX56 (tie)
Land Rover Range Rover (tie)
Large Pickup
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Avalanche (tie), GMC Sierra LD (tie)
Ford F-150 LD
Midsize Pickup
Highest Ranked: Nissan Frontier
Ford Ranger
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Minivan
Highest Ranked: Toyota Sienna
Kia Sedona
Dodge Grand Caravan
*No other model in this segment performs above the segment average, according to J.D. Power.