{"id":551,"date":"2023-02-10T11:58:59","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T09:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autocitygroup.co.za\/kia-site\/vehicle-dependability-improves-despite-continued-problems-with-technology-j-d-power-finds\/"},"modified":"2023-05-25T12:49:03","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T10:49:03","slug":"vehicle-dependability-improves-despite-continued-problems-with-technology-j-d-power-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kiaautocity.co.za\/vehicle-dependability-improves-despite-continued-problems-with-technology-j-d-power-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Vehicle Dependability Improves Despite Continued Problems with Technology, J.D. Power Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lexus Ranks Highest among All Brands; Kia Ranks Highest among Mass Market Brands for Third Consecutive Year<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM<\/sup> (VDS), released today, reports an industry average of 186 problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles, an improvement of 6 PP100 from 2022. The study examines how 2020 model-year vehicles are currently performing in terms of quality, component replacement and appeal\u2014including those vehicles with new technology\u2014and helps automotive manufacturers design and build better vehicles to stand the test of time and promote higher resale value. A lower PP100 indicates higher performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading the industry\u2019s improvement for fewer problems are mass market brands with 182 PP100, 8 PP100 lower than a year ago and 23 PP100 lower than for premium brands (205 PP100). The gap between the two segments is at its widest since the study launched 34 years ago and mirrors a trend that began in 2016. A driving force for the dependability disparity between the two segments is new technology introduced in vehicles. Premium brands usually have more technology, which increases complexity and the inherent likelihood of additional problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is typical in the automotive industry to roll out concepts and features by putting them in premium vehicles first,\u201d said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. <\/strong>\u201cA bellwether for mass market brands looking to adopt and implement these technology features into their portfolio is in two of the industry\u2019s preeminent studies, the J.D. Power Initial Quality StudySM<\/sup> (IQS) and the Vehicle Dependability Study. Connecting insights from the two studies better informs automakers by substantiating trends and showcasing how some automakers are preventing problems from occurring early on and throughout the ownership experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 3-year-old vehicles measured in this year\u2019s study were first examined in the 2020 U.S. Initial Quality Study. Six of the 10 highest-ranked brands in the 2020 IQS are among the 10 highest-ranked brands in this year\u2019s VDS. Some of the most deteriorated areas from 90 days to three years of ownership are starter battery failures, outdated maps, Android Auto\/Apple Car Play and voice recognition problems. The increase in problems in the technology area shows the importance that over-the-air updates can play in correcting issues with audio systems and keeping the information in them up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study was redesigned in 2022 to include features and technology that are available in current vehicles. It now covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features\/controls\/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following are key findings of the 2023 study:<\/p>\n\n\n\n