FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

J.D. Power: Quality Not Exclusive to Highlines

J.D. Power’s annual dependability rankings include a strong showing from a number of mass-market manufacturers, including Toyota, General Motors and Hyundai.

by Staff
February 22, 2017
J.D. Power: Quality Not Exclusive to Highlines

The 2014 Toyota Prius topped J.D. Power’s latest dependability rankings in the compact car segment, one of 10 category wins for the mass-market OEM. Photo courtesy Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.

2 min to read


COSTA MESA, Calif. — Lexus and Porsche landed at the top of the list in J.D. Power's 2017 edition of its annual Vehicle Dependability Study. The study is based on a survey of original owners of vehicles built in 2014 and ranks manufacturers by problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100).

The two luxury carmakers earned their rankings by registering the lowest scores. But Dave Sargent, the company's vice president of global automotive, said mass-market brands had a good showing as well.

Ad Loading...

“We find buyers are increasingly avoiding models with poor reputations for dependability, so manufacturers can’t afford to let quality slip, particularly on their best sellers,” Sargent said. “While many expensive and niche vehicles do have excellent quality, the fact is that most consumers are shopping in the high-volume mainstream segments. The good news is that consumers don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a very dependable vehicle.”

Lexus topped J.D. Power’s nameplate rankings for the sixth consecutive year, earning a score of 100 PP100 and tying Porsche for the No. 1 spot. Here are other highlights from the study:

  • Toyota moved from No. 3 to No. 2 with a score of 123 PP100 and earned 10 of 18 segment awards.

  • Buick (126 PP100) took the No. 3 spot, followed by Mercedes-Benz (131 PP100).

  • Hyundai (133 PP100) shaved 25 points off last year’s score and jumped up to No. 6 in the rankings.

  • Dodge, Ford and Land Rover each improved their scores by at least 20 PP100.

To read the complete results of the study, including individual vehicle rankings and further analysis, click here.

More Showroom

Green road sign that says California Ave
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 21, 2026

California Sees Quarterly Gains

California’s new-vehicle market saw a boost in hybrids in the third quarter and its first overall quarterly market gain of the year.

Read More →
Silver Subaru STI parked in lot.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 14, 2026

New-Vehicle Prices Stay Put

Affordability pressures and model availability shaped new-vehicle sales in September, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.

Read More →
White electric vehicle parked at charging station.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 12, 2026

EV Buyer Consideration Shifts

What drives American consumers to purchase an electric vehicle is shifting as the question moves away from Should I?' to 'Which features and experience do I want to have?'

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Door handle in interior of new-looking vehicle
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•October 1, 2026

Year-to-Date Auto Sales Holding Their Own

A forecast through August shows that automakers have shifted strategies to keep deliveries and revenues up despite tariffs and other economic challenges.

Read More →
Interior of BMW ix3 electric SUV with hilly landscape seen through windshield
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 28, 2026

Slow to Robo

Ten years of polling consumers shows autonomous vehicles’ profiles have risen considerably, but even more people now want at least some level of control if they go that route.

Read More →
Photo of red SUV parked outside a car dealership after dark
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 9, 2026

Dealers a Little Down

A third-quarter Cox Automotive survey finds them in a mixed mood, bummed by fallen customer traffic but encouraged by better profits, costs and EV interest.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Silver car driving down road with graphic that says “Europe Plugs In”
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•September 9, 2026

European EV Sales Skyrocket

The EV market on the continent held strong in July with almost 25% of new-car sales being fully electric units, a stark contrast to the U.S., where EV sales declined about 42%.

Read More →
Mitsubishi shadow line-up
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 25, 2026

Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan

The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.

Read More →
A rear view of a red Hyundai Elantra
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 17, 2026

Used Lots Getting the Business

Many consumers are seeking out the units to save money, and the demand – higher in July than normal – is keeping supply limited and prices up.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
outside shot of two trucks in front of a body of water with a cloudy sky
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•July 29, 2026

Used Market Stabilizes

The Carfax Used Car Index noted a major drop in used-vehicle price increases in July after several months of hikes.

Read More →