For the 14th consecutive year, Lexus ranks highest in vehicle dependability, improving by 25 problems per 100 vehicles since 2007 to achieve a score of 120 PP100, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) released today.  Following in the top five rankings are Mercury (not available in Canada), Cadillac, Toyota and Acura, respectively.

In addition, Lexus garners six segment awards — the most of any nameplate in 2008 — for the ES 330, GX 470, IS 300, LS 430, LX 470 and SC 430. Toyota follows with five segment awards for the Highlander, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, and Tundra. Ford and Honda each capture two awards. Ford models receiving awards are the Crown Victoria and Ranger, while Honda earns awards for the Element and S2000. Models by Buick, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Mazda and Mercury each rank highest in one segment.

SAAB is the most improved brand in the study, although it continues to rank below the industry average. SAAB improves by 65 PP100 since 2007.

The study found that long-term vehicle quality has improved by 5 per cent industry-wide in 2008 — with an overall decrease of 10 problems per 100 vehicles — compared with 2007. More than 60 per cent of the 38 nameplates included in the study improved in 2008, compared with 2007. Among the 19 segments included in the study, the midsize premium MAV segment demonstrates the most improvement in 2008 — 36 PP100 fewer than in 2007. The compact car and midsize car segments also have much lower problem levels in 2008 than in 2007, and together account for more than one-half of the overall industry improvement.

“The gains in dependability for compact and midsize vehicles are good news for consumers who are downsizing their vehicles due to increasing fuel prices,” said Sargent. “Consumers who purchase these smaller vehicles benefit not only from immediate gains in fuel economy, but also from improvements in long-term dependability, compared with previous years.”

The 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 52,000 original owners of 2005 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded from January through April 2008.

2008 Nameplate VDS Ranking
  Problems Per 100 Vehicles
  Lexus                120
  Mercury              151
  Cadillac             155
  Toyota               159
  Acura                160
  Buick                163
  BMW                  164
  Lincoln              165
  Honda                177
  Jaguar               178
  Porsche              193
  Mitsubishi           197
  Hyundai              200
  Ford                 204
  Infiniti             204
  Industry Average     206
  Audi                 207
  Mercedes-Benz        215
  Nissan               224
  Pontiac              225
  GMC                  226
  Mazda                228
  Subaru               228
  Chrysler             229
  Dodge                230
  MINI                 233
  Chevrolet            239
  HUMMER               241
  Scion                243
  Volvo                244
  Saturn               250
  Jeep                 253
  Volkswagen           253
  SAAB                 254
  Isuzu                274
  Kia                  278
  Suzuki               302
  Land Rover           344

Note: Maserati is included in the study but not ranked due to small sample size.

Top Three Models per Segment

  Car Segments

  Sub-Compact Car
  Highest Ranked: Hyundai Accent
    Scion xA
    Chevrolet Aveo

  Compact Car
  Highest Ranked: Toyota Prius
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    Toyota Corolla

  Compact Sporty Car
  Highest Ranked: Mazda Miata
    Toyota Celica
    Subaru Outback Sport

  Midsize Sporty Car
  Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Monte Carlo
    Toyota Camry Solara Coupe/Convertible
    Mitsubishi Eclipse

  Midsize Car
  Highest Ranked: Buick Century
    Mercury Sable
    Toyota Camry Sedan

  Large Car
  Highest Ranked: Ford Crown Victoria
    Mercury Grand Marquis
    Buick Park Avenue

  Compact Premium Sporty Car
  Highest Ranked: Honda S2000
    BMW Z4 (tie)
    Porsche Boxster (tie)

  Entry Premium Vehicle
  Highest Ranked: Lexus IS 300/IS 300 SportCross
    BMW 3 Series
    BMW X3

  Midsize Premium Car
  Highest Ranked: Lexus ES 330
    Lexus GS 300/GS 430
    Acura RL

  Large Premium Car
  Highest Ranked: Lexus LS 430
    Lincoln Town Car
    Cadillac DeVille

  Premium Sporty Car
  Highest Ranked: Lexus SC 430
    Ford Thunderbird
    Porsche 911

  Top Three Models per Segment
  Truck / Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) Segments

  Compact MAV
  Highest Ranked: Honda Element (tie)
    Toyota RAV4 (tie)
    Honda CR-V

  Midsize MAV
  Highest Ranked: Toyota Highlander
    Buick Rainier
    Mercury Mountaineer

  Large MAV
  Highest Ranked: Toyota Sequoia
    Chevrolet Suburban
    Ford Excursion

  Large Pickup
  Highest Ranked: Toyota Tundra
    Ford F-150 LD
    Dodge Ram Pickup LD

  Midsize Pickup
  Highest Ranked: Ford Ranger
    Toyota Tacoma
    Dodge Dakota

  Van
  Highest Ranked: Mercury Monterey
    Ford E-Series
    GMC Savana

  Midsize Premium MAV
  Highest Ranked: Lexus GX 470
    Lexus RX 330
    Volvo XC70

  Large Premium MAV
  Highest Ranked: Lexus LX 470
    Cadillac Escalade EXT
    Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV