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Buick ties Lexus for top spot in JD Power 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study

Buick ties Lexus for top spot in JD Power 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study

Posted Aug 9th 2007 2:29PM

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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, ~~none of its vehicles managed to earn the highest ranking in their respective segments~~. (Whoops, one did. The Buick Century was highest ranked Midsize Car.) Lexus vehicles, however, led five categories, the most for any nameplate. Its parent company, Toyota, also added an additional four vehicles that led their segment, while Ford, Honda and... what?... Oldsmobile each had two vehicles that led their segments. Remember, this study focuses on 2004 model year vehicles, which means Oldsmobile was still operating when these cars were built. The Bravada and Silhouette each led their segments in dependability, which likely means those workers building Oldsmobiles near the end took pride in their work.

Feel free to check out all the rankings as posted by J.D. Power in our gallery below.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Related GalleryJ.D. Power 2007 Vehicle Dependability Study

Category: Buick, Lexus

Tags: buick, dependability, j.d. power, J.d.Power, jd power, JdPower, lexus

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West Roxbury Car Buyer

I own a Buick and my experience with vehicle problems and customer service has been horrible. When I bought my Lacrosse I didn't drive six miles before it had a major engine problem, chucks of metal were found in the oil pan and an engine bearing was misaligned. The dealer attempted to install a new cam assembly and acted as if he was doing me a favor (he even told me Buick would do less for me). I emailed Buick and they told the dealer to put a new engine in the car. However I feel that when a consumer buys a brand-new car and it immediately has a major engine problem replace the car. After the engine problem my Onstar module had to be replaced, steering shaft had to be lubed, a shield between the engine and transmission had to be modified, padding under my seat had worked its way out making the seat creak and squeak, I have a dash rattle that no one can solve, and one of my vehicle's remotes fell apart.

When I started dealing with Buick customer service, I got very little service; the representative handling the problem when on vacation and stopped working on my claim. I was calling the representative and emailing him with no response, other representatives said they would contact him, until I ask to speak to a manager. The manager did very little to help and when I asked to speak to the area manager for Buick in the Boston area she told me the customer care center shielded the area managers from the customers. I don't know what managers do if they don't speak with the customers. As my experiences with vehicle problems continued and I received more poor customer service I asked for the head of customers services address and fax number, I faxed two letters to him to no avail, (I saved my emails and fax receipts so I can prove everything happened as I said). I bought a Buick because I read Buick was high in quality and customer satisfaction but I have not seen anything to support this.

August 25 2007 at 9:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

beken

I've got nothing but problems with my Buick Century.
So far this year....entire gauge cluster was replaced because the odometer quit, auto headlights no longer work, daytime running lights don't work, replaced brakes last year, need to replace them again this year, engine misfiring but no engine codes to dealer thinks "nothings wrong" so won't fix it but charged me for diagnosis anyways....finally took it to a mechanic I trust and had the spark plugs replaced.

August 14 2007 at 5:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

you all are way too brand loyal to be any kind of car lovers. good god... some of the stuff you people say. it boggles the mind.

August 10 2007 at 6:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tiger Mil

And did I say Buicks are fugly?!

Harley Earl is doing about 40rpm.

August 10 2007 at 8:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

icu812ru469

I've never given the JD Powers survey much mind either which way. This is all based on owners subjective thoughts as to what is "wrong" and what is not. For an owner of a Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, the owner is obviously going to have higher expectations of how the car should be build, fit-n-finish, quality, etc., while someone buying a Honda, Toyota, Buick, is not going to expect (and rightfully shouldn't for the price point) the same quality. Therefore, a "defect" in the Lexus owner's mind, say a misaligned cup holder cover, is going to get over looked in the Buick owner's mind.

Studies by independant companies (i.e. Consumer Reports, although they're not great either) are a better indicator of how quality really is improving, or deproving...

August 10 2007 at 8:04 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

tio

sorry, the average owner of a buick drives few miles and at slow speeds. It's not enough to be reliable for the first 80 thousand miles anymore. JD powers is meaningless.

August 10 2007 at 8:04 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

FriendsOfBuick

This is an excellent, and expected, result. Buick has generally clung to proven technology (3800 V6, 4-speed Hydramatic) for use over a larger percentage of its line-up than have most automakers and, moreover, than has any other GM brand. Not without continuous improvement, of course; this study, among others, does give Buick some kudos for bolting a supercharger to an engine without suffering reliability woes. That's a success story in itself.

This study goes back 3 years but, even then, a higher percentage of Buick models were being built with the 3800 V6 than were models of any sister brand.

Plus, one must consider that Buick has a relatively small line-up, vis a vis even Cadillac, not to mention Chevrolet and Pontiac, which dabble in many segments with a rather more dizzying array of engines; transmissions, and architectures, etc.

Buick also has two of GM's best plants (highest ranked for both quality and productivity) building two (previously, three) of its models: Lucernes/ LeSabres/ Park Avenues are/ were built at Hamtramck, shared with Cadillac, while LaCrosses/ Regals are/ were produced at Oshawa.

It could be suggested that the Caddy plant has had a major impact on Buick quality over the years, but this J.D. Power trend began at Buick back in 1989, when the Flint-built LeSabre was ranked best in its class. That Flint plant had enjoyed some serious investment in the '80s, and it built Buicks and only Buicks. It's a real pity they shut Buick City. When former Buick General Manager Ed Mertz left, there was no one to give one of GM's more quality-oriented assets the support it needed.

Either way, the transfer to Hamtramck seems to have gone well.

Without starting a pushrod/ OHC debate, a Buick with a 3800 under the hood has to rank among one of the most solid used-car buys on the market (Series II plastic-intake-manifold issue notwithstanding). This isn't the first study to bear that out, and it won't be the last.

No, using an engine that has its roots in 1961 is not going to garner wows from the press (although Ward's 10 Best featured the motor at least twice in the late '90s).

Yet, if we're honest, much has changed since the first block was cast, and the motor has certainly proven its durability and efficiency time and time again.

Flint Engine #2 will produce the 3800 for another year or so. Much though all the reasons for the decision to can it are clear enough, there are no doubt those who will be sad to see it go.
________________________
http://www.friendsofbuick.com

August 10 2007 at 5:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jsjs

Obviously, Bryan isnâ€™t too bright.

First of all, kudos to Buick, Caddy, Mercury and Lincoln for doing well in the survey, but one has to look at the figures in the proper context.

All of these makes are considerably smaller players (in comparison to Chevy, Pontiac, Ford and Dodge - as well as Toyota and Honda) and most of them havenâ€™t exactly been putting out new versions of their product line (even the much maligned Cavalier did pretty well with regard to reliability after Chevy had years to tweak the production of the vehicle).

For 2004, aside from the Rendevous which was introduced as a 2002 year model and a Buick version of the Trailblazer (which Iâ€™m sure was a â€œbig seller"), Buick pretty much offered vehicles which had been in production for years (Century, Le Sabre, Park Avenue).

As for Hyundai and Kia â€“ each year they are creeping up the rankings (Hyundai more so, since it was the first to undergo the emphasis on quality control).

Iâ€™d say that having roughly 10 more problems (than the industry average) per every 100 vehicles hardly makes a case for â€œsuckingâ€ â€“ and this applies to Chevy and Ford, as well as to Hyundai (the large American makes do alright).

It would appear to me that the makes that truly suck are the ones which have 100+ more problems per every 100 vehicles.

August 10 2007 at 1:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

alexer

finally buick is at the top. america rulez!!!!!!

August 10 2007 at 12:00 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

esprit

Hey man, its America's time to shine.

August 09 2007 at 10:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply