Lexus Tops, Dodge Flops on 2016 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study

For the fifth straight year, Lexus is the top brand brand in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study while Dodge sits at the bottom. 

Lexus captured the top spot with a score of 95 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), while the Japanese luxury brand was followed by Porsche (97 PP100), Buick (106 PP100), Toyota (113P PP100) and GMC (120 PP100). The industry average for 2016 is 152 PP100.

To get this information, J.D. Power polled 33,560 original owners of 2013 model-year vehicles to see how many problems were experienced in the past 12 months. The problems per 100 cars score is then tabulated, giving the brand a final score.

At the other end of the spectrum, Dodge had the most issues reported of any brand with 208 PP100. Moving up from Dodge you get to Ford with 204 PP100, then comes Smart with 199 PP100, Land Rover scored 198 PP100 while Jeep finishes the bottom five with 181 P100.

SEE ALSO: Fiat Finishes Last in JD Power Dependability Study

Technology continues to rank at the top of the list for customer complaints and J.D. Power says that issues with infotainment systems account for the industry’s 3 percent year-over-year decline in overall vehicle dependability.

Bluetooth pairing and voice recognition systems are the two main culprits, though tricky navigation setups are also a common complaint. Of those who say they have a Bluetooth issue, 53 percent said that their vehicle simply can’t find their phone. For those with a voice recognition problem, 67 percent said the system didn’t understand them.

When it comes to actual mechanical reliability, things are looking good as the number of engine/transmission problems decreased to 24 PP100 for 2016, down from 26 PP100.

J.D. Power also ranks the dependability of individual models and for 2016, eight segment awards went to General Motors while Toyota captured six. Overall, the Buick Verano scored the lowest PP100 score, making it the most dependable vehicle in the study. J.D. Power says that this is the first time in the 27 years it has been tracking vehicle dependability that a non-luxury car has taken the top spot.

Considering the Fiat brand scored so low on the overall brand list with 171 PP100, one of the surprise awards goes to the Fiat 500 in the city car category.

Click here to see all of the brands ranked. Click here to see how each car was ranked. Click here to see how the trucks, SUVs and vans ranked.

Discuss this story at our Lexus Forum