You would expect Lexus to be No. 1 in vehicle dependability, just like it has been in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study for the past 11 years. It is No. 1 again for 2007, but for the first time, Lexus has tied with another automaker for the top spot, and you'll never guess who it is – Buick. Three-year old (2004) Lexus and Buick vehicles each scored 145 problems per 100 vehicles, the lowest scores of all automakers in the study. The results kind of make you wonder when we're going to cut our own domestic automakers some slack and begin admitting they're turning things around, building better, longer-lasting vehicles. Also consider that Cadillac (162) took the third spot, and Mercury (168) the fourth. Honda (169), meanwhile, earned the fifth spot.
Though Buick ranked highest among nameplates,
Feel free to check out all the rankings as posted by J.D. Power in our gallery below.
[Source: J.D. Power]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
F451 @ Aug 9th 2007 2:35PM
If they earned their kudos then I congratulate them. Congratulations Buick!
Don @ Aug 9th 2007 2:59PM
Uh, doesn't being ranked in the study automatically earn them kudos?
Mr. Oak @ Aug 9th 2007 3:58PM
Land Rover = Veeery Expensive $hit Box - No surprise there.
These are shockers:
Infiniti = Barley does a Chin-up over the industry Avg.
Jaguar bests - Acura, Audi, Mercedes, Infiniti, Volvo, Saab, Porsche.
Kia Bests - CrapWagens
ItGuy @ Aug 9th 2007 4:01PM
"Infiniti = Barley does a Chin-up over the industry Avg."
Which I don't understand - I have an '04 G35 and it's one of the best cars I've owned. Starts every time, and has given me 60k of trouble free miles.
WS @ Aug 10th 2007 1:15AM
Congrats to Buick, but there's more to the picture. Lexus cars frequently reach 300k miles, whereas the Buicks are lucky to make 150k miles. It's also true that high end buyers complain more about minor issues. Lexus cars are typically much more expensive than Buicks. My mother in law told me her Buick is worn out, the transmission is about to die, and the interior is dated. It's only 5 years old with 96k miles! Even the Buick Century that I owned only ran for 120k miles. All of my Toyotas have hit 220k or more. Two went over 350k. The Buicks also have dismal resale values. No thanks, I'll buy a Toyota built Lexus and drive it forever, while your Buicks are being recycled.
MiniMe @ Aug 10th 2007 1:32PM
"Lexus cars frequently reach 300k miles, whereas the Buicks are lucky to make 150k miles"
What absolute nonsense. Buick and Ford both beat Lexus in studies of long-term durability. And as for the Lexus trim line somehow magically allowing these rebadged Toyotas to "frequently reach" 300K, again, a complete load of nonsense for which you have nothing to back up except some made up crap about your grandmother's car.
geo.stewart @ Aug 9th 2007 2:38PM
now that's something that deserves praise.
And as you mention, quit knocking on US Reliability. knocking out Acura and Inifiniti and the others, no small feat.
This should continue for a time.
Robert @ Aug 9th 2007 2:51PM
Just wait until 2009/2010 when Ford and GM have their latest models on the study. There will be little doubt how far the U.S. automakers have come in terms of quality.
Bill @ Aug 9th 2007 2:43PM
This survey is a lot more informative than those short term 30 and 90 day surveys.
zack @ Aug 9th 2007 2:43PM
Keep it up from the Aveo to the Corvette. Way to go General!!
VK @ Aug 9th 2007 2:48PM
Buicks have always been good cars, the Lucerne and Enclave should hopefully keep up the pace for future surveys.
Detroit Fanboy @ Aug 9th 2007 2:48PM
J D Power hates America -
Don @ Aug 9th 2007 3:00PM
Apparently not.
john riley @ Aug 9th 2007 8:42PM
Re "JD Power hates America" I think JD Power gets a lot of money from GM for internal surveys. I've seen speculation that JD Power shortened the term of this study from 5 to 3 years to make the US companies look better.
Bob-omb @ Aug 9th 2007 2:49PM
I don't think it's a coincidence that the stodgiest of the brands - Lexus for Toyota, Buick for GM, Mercury for Ford, etc. - are on this list. Lincoln Town Car..Cadillac DeVille...Buick Century...all cars with average owner age over 50.
Don @ Aug 9th 2007 3:01PM
What? 50 year-olds can't appreciate dependability?
The Other Bob @ Aug 10th 2007 10:58AM
I think 50 year olds just take better care of their cars than the younger people who drive cars like Pontiacs.
geo.stewart @ Aug 9th 2007 4:19PM
Don,
Bob makes a valid point.
All have an older age group. What does that mean?
That means that a higher % of users are of retirement age. Typically that demographic puts a lot fewer miles on the car. Which means less wear and tear, fewer problems.
That being said, the ages are coming down. And US companies did a tremendous job supplanting the prior winners.
Yggdrasilly @ Aug 9th 2007 5:05PM
Yeah, we old farts tend to put fewer miles on our fartmobiles.
But then we complain more, and about smaller things too.
So it all evens out (you rotten kid)!
geo.stewart @ Aug 9th 2007 6:20PM
Yggdrasilly
Sorry if I pissed in your wheaties.
Feel free to provide data contrary.
Wasnt making any kind of indictment about your driving ability, just that according to AARP and insurance industry information, retired individuals on a whole drive fewer miles. Just as women as a whole drive fewer miles than men, teenagers have more accidents, men acquire more speeding tickets...
It does not speak to any one individual but a group.