Buick ties Lexus for top spot in JD Power 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study
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]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
F451 2:35PM (8/09/2007)
If they earned their kudos then I congratulate them. Congratulations Buick!
Reply
Don 2:59PM (8/09/2007)
Uh, doesn't being ranked in the study automatically earn them kudos?
Mr. Oak 3:58PM (8/09/2007)
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 4:01PM (8/09/2007)
"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 1:15AM (8/10/2007)
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 1:32PM (8/10/2007)
"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 2:38PM (8/09/2007)
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.
Reply
Robert 2:51PM (8/09/2007)
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.
zack 2:43PM (8/09/2007)
Keep it up from the Aveo to the Corvette. Way to go General!!
Reply
Bill 2:43PM (8/09/2007)
This survey is a lot more informative than those short term 30 and 90 day surveys.
Reply
VK 2:48PM (8/09/2007)
Buicks have always been good cars, the Lucerne and Enclave should hopefully keep up the pace for future surveys.
Reply
Detroit Fanboy 2:48PM (8/09/2007)
J D Power hates America -
Reply
Don 3:00PM (8/09/2007)
Apparently not.
john riley 8:42PM (8/09/2007)
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.
Dave 2:50PM (8/09/2007)
"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."
I think everyone has been saying for a long time now. Now they have to figure out how to build something that people would actually like to buy anf get rid of crap like like the G6 and the Cobalt. They're almost there...
Reply
Bob-omb 2:49PM (8/09/2007)
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.
Reply
Don 3:01PM (8/09/2007)
What? 50 year-olds can't appreciate dependability?
The Other Bob 10:58AM (8/10/2007)
I think 50 year olds just take better care of their cars than the younger people who drive cars like Pontiacs.
geo.stewart 4:19PM (8/09/2007)
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 5:05PM (8/09/2007)
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)!