Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo tops for initial quality: J.D. Power

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If it feels like your old vehicle had fewer problems than your new one, you might not be wrong. J.D. Power, the U.S.-based consumer insights firm, released its annual J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS) for 2023 in late June, and the future isn’t looking bright when it comes to vehicle quality. 

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Last year the report, now in its 37th year, revealed that new-vehicle quality was at an all-time low. It felt disappointing then, and automakers had 365 days to make it right. Still, there hasn’t been much improvement. The 2023 study found new-car buyers reported, on average, 192 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership. That’s 12 more problems than the average in last year’s report.

“The automotive industry is facing a wide range of quality problems, a phenomenon not seen in the 37-year history of the IQS,” says Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power.

Automakers are favouring technological advancements—driver assist features, mammoth touchscreens that span the dash, in-car selfie cams, social media connectivity—over actual vehicle quality, according to the report.

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“The industry is at a major crossroad and the path each manufacturer chooses is paramount for its future,” adds Hanley. “From persistent problems carrying over from years past to an increase in new types of problems, today’s new vehicles are more complex—offering new and exciting technology—but not always satisfying owners.”

For the 2023 study, J.D. Power surveyed owners and lessees of 2022 models and had them track issues that arose within the first 90 days of ownership. There were 223 specific possible problems that owners were asked to monitor, and those were organized into nine categories, including climate, driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, features/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertrain, and seats. 

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One of the most-noted red flags in this year’s report was malfunctioning door handles, a problem that 10 years ago would’ve been a non-issue, as a door handle was a door handle; these days, more and more new vehicles are adopting touch handles, and with that tech comes issues. Seven of the 10 models reported with this problem were BEVs.

Frustrations around wireless charging were also frequently noted. Drivers noted a variety of issues with charging pads, including poor location/design, overheating devices when connected, and intermittent charging—or, in some cases, no charging capabilities at all.

Safety systems were also a cause for headache, including lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance, as well as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

Still, some brands are pushing the quality envelope. Dodge ranked highest overall in initial quality, scoring 140 PP100. Ram (141 PP100) and Buick (162 PP100) trailed behind. In terms of luxury brands, Alfa Romeo took top spot (143 PP100), followed by Porsche (167 PP100) and Cadillac (170 PP100).

The full report has been published on J.D. Power’s U.S. website.