2017 JD Power's Auto Dependability Study

[SocalMS]

The consulting company J.D. Power released its 2017 auto dependability study Wednesday. The study measures problems per 100 vehicles based on responses from 35,186 original owners of 2014 model-year vehicles. The industry average is 156 problems per 100 vehicles, up four from a year earlier.

Here are the rankings, the problems per 100 vehicles and the number of places each brand rose or fell from the 2016 study.

1. Lexus, 110 (0); Porsche, 110 (+1)

3. Toyota, 123 (+1)

4. Buick, 126 (-1)

5. Mercedes-Benz, 131 (+6)

6. Hyundai, 133 (+12)

7. BMW, 139 (+6)

8. Chevrolet, 142 (-2)

9. Honda, 143 (-2)

10. Jaguar, 144 (not ranked in 2016)

11. Kia, 148 (+5)

12. Lincoln, 150 (-3); Mini, 150 (+5)

14. GMC, 151 (-9)

15. Cadillac, 152 (-1)

16. Audi, 153 (-6)

17. Volvo, 154 (-2)

18. Chrysler, 159 (+3)

19. Subaru, 164 (+3)

20. Volkswagen, 164 (+4)

21. Mazda, 166 (-1)

22. Acura, 167 (-14)

23. Nissan, 170 (+3)

24. Land Rover, 178 (+4)

25. Mitsubishi, 182 (-6)

26. Ford, 183 (+4); Ram, 183 (-18)

28. Dodge, 187 (+3)

29. Infiniti, 203 (-17)

30. Jeep, 209 (-3)

31. Fiat, 298 (-6)

 

[DriverOne]

To save everyone some time, Tesla does not appear in that list.

 

[Shock-On-T]

To save everyone some time, Tesla does not appear in that list.

Too late to save me!

 

[ecarfan]

To save everyone some time, Tesla does not appear in that list.

Maybe JD Power did not get enough responses from Tesla owners (because relatively fewer owners compared to the long established companies) to have confidence in publishing a number for Tesla?

 

[kort677]

in early 2014 I took delivery of #33XXX, the point is that they would have had to have had almost 100% participation rate from tesla owners to be able to draw conclusions.
as others noted there just weren't that many teslas on the road when this study was taken

 

[DriverOne]

"35,186 original owners of 2014 model-year vehicles"

I think that 35,185 is across all brands, so about 1,000 per brand. There were certainly >1,000 Teslas made in 2014!

Could be Tesla is/was seen as a niche brand? EV and ICE deemed not comparable? EVs *should* have all the reliability advantages.

 

[SageBrush]

Could be Tesla is/was seen as a niche brand? EV and ICE deemed not comparable? EVs *should* have all the reliability advantages.

Not even close, because the lion's share of "problems" are not drivetrain related, they are fit and finish, and feature related like the telematics and info-tainment systems.

 

[Vitold]

Biggest gain:
6. Hyundai, 133 (+12)


Biggest loser:
26. Ram, 183 (-18) (five time Motor Trends truck of the year)

 

[kort677]

Not even close, because the lion's share of "problems" are not drivetrain related, they are fit and finish, and feature related like the telematics and info-tainment systems.

I disagree, while there certainly were a lot of fit and finish issues the teslas from that time had big issues with the drive unit, numerous ones were replaced and they also had a battery contact issue that affected many cars

 

[SocalMS]

I disagree, while there certainly were a lot of fit and finish issues the teslas from that time had big issues with the drive unit, numerous ones were replaced and they also had a battery contact issue that affected many cars

"were" is not the operative word. "Is" and "still is" is more appropriate.

Tesla vehicles DEFINITELY have trim/fitment issues in every area.. from chrome trims, carpeting, leather, stitching, etc...

They need to address this and not just focus on the battery...

It's embarrassing to drive around a 100K+ car w/ loose carpeting, chrome trims bulging out, or excessive wind noise...

 

[TexLaw]

I do hope I don't miss my Lexus too much.

 

[SocalMS]

I do hope I don't miss my Lexus too much.

You'll enjoy the ride.. because the car drives like it's flying....

but the you will definitely miss the overall quality of a Lexus...