Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Never mind the problems, car buyers still happier with hands-free tech]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/04/never-mind-the-problems-car-buyers-still-happier-with-hands-fre/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/04/never-mind-the-problems-car-buyers-still-happier-with-hands-fre/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/04/never-mind-the-problems-car-buyers-still-happier-with-hands-fre/#commentsFiled under: , ,

JD PowerYou've seen the opening to Annie Hall, right? Where Woody Allen tells the classic joke about two women grumbling about their dinner? The one complains that the food is terrible, while the other, agreeing, says the portions are too small. That's the automotive infotainment business in a nutshell.

JD Power spells this out in a new analysis of its 2012 APEAL survey. To put it simply, having some infotainment system is better than none, even if the technology occasionally makes you want to push your car into a deep lake.

Power says infotainment, which it calls "audio/entertainment/navigation (AEN) systems" and includes hands-free technology, had the highest average problem count in its 2012 Initial Quality Study. But those owners who had systems of this sort that included hands-free communication were some 12-percent more likely to recommend their vehicles to others. These owners were also "slightly more likely" to repurchase the same vehicle brand, according to Power.

Scroll down to watch the aforementioned clip from the 1978 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture.

Continue reading Never mind the problems, car buyers still happier with hands-free tech

Never mind the problems, car buyers still happier with hands-free tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annie hallapealapeal studyinfotainmentInitial Quality Studyiqsjd powerwoody allenSat, 04 Aug 2012 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20292909/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/04/never-mind-the-problems-car-buyers-still-happier-with-hands-fre/20292909/article-detail.xml 20292909 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/jdpower-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/jdpower-250.jpg <![CDATA[What's the right way to read an automotive quality report?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/whats-the-right-way-to-read-an-automotive-quality-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/whats-the-right-way-to-read-an-automotive-quality-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/whats-the-right-way-to-read-an-automotive-quality-report/#commentsFiled under:

Why No One Quality Report Tells The Whole Story

Auto mechanic turning a wrench under a vehicle

Quality remains one of the most significant factors for folks buying a new car.

There's no question that fuel economy has become a critical consideration for most folks looking to buy a new car. But quality remains one of the single most significant factors in closing the deal.

Once upon a time, word of mouth was the only way to differentiate between one brand and another, an important yet oftentimes unreliable approach. Then, back in the 1970s, a one-time Ford analyst by the name of J. David Power revolutionized the industry with his first quantitative studies of vehicle quality and reliability. Today, J.D. Power and Associates is the quality field heavyweight, with all sorts of wannabes chasing for a piece of its multi-million-dollar consulting business.

Earlier this month, Power released its 26th annual Initial Quality Study, perhaps the single-most widely quoted survey of its kind, which tallies up the results of a lengthy questionnaire filled out by tens of thousands of recent vehicle buyers. To understand the significance of the IQS, consider that Ford held a separate news conference a day earlier to address the likelihood of its downward slide in the survey. Makers who did well blitzed the media with news releases trumpeting their performance.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading What's the right way to read an automotive quality report?

What's the right way to read an automotive quality report? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eisensteineisenstein on autoblogInitial Quality Studyiqsj.d. powerjd powerpaul eisensteinqualitythedetroitbureau.comvdsvehicle dependability studyFri, 29 Jun 2012 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20269019/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/29/whats-the-right-way-to-read-an-automotive-quality-report/20269019/article-detail.xml 20269019 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/auto-mechanic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/auto-mechanic.jpg <![CDATA[J.D. Power Initial Quality Study highlights infotainment woes, puts Lexus on top]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/j-d-power-initial-quality-study-highlights-infotainment-woes-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/j-d-power-initial-quality-study-highlights-infotainment-woes-p/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/j-d-power-initial-quality-study-highlights-infotainment-woes-p/#commentsFiled under: , ,

J.D. Power Initial Quality Study 2012

Despite an overall increase in overall quality of five percent, automakers are continuing to struggle with in-car technologies, says J.D. Power in its annual Initial Quality Study. Owners reports of problems with factory-installed hands-free communication devices has increased 137 percent since 2009, when such infotainment solutions were offered mostly in high-end models only.

But first, some good statistics: 26 out of 34 brands represented in the study posted improvements this year over their 2011 scores, with 65 percent of the 185 individual models boasting higher scores than last year. Even brand-new nameplates are performing well in 2012 - 11 all-new or redesigned models scored better than average, equaling a 12-percent improvement from 2011.

Coming in first place for 2012 is Lexus, the second year in a row Toyota's luxury brand has taken top honors. Second place is shared by Jaguar and Porsche, with the former leaping an impressive 18 positions over its 2011 score. Fourth and fifth are grabbed by Cadillac and Honda, respectively. Fourteen different brands earned accolades for individual models, "A positive indication of how widespread high quality is among automakers," says David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates.

Ford, which was hit hard in 2011 due to problems with its MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch systems, came in at a lowly 28 out of 35. Bennie Fowler, Ford's group vice president of global quality, had said the automaker expected to "be about the same or slightly better" than last year's 23rd. Not quite... but it could be worse: Last place is shared by Fiat and Smart.

Continuing with the frequently heard technology gripes, Sargent says, "Automakers and suppliers are working hard to ... make the driving experience safer, more convenient and more entertaining. However, the most innovative technology in the world will quickly create dissatisfaction if owners can't get it to work."

We would add, though, that this study polls users after just 90 days with a new car. We wonder if the scores might improve once owners get more familiar with their in-car technology. In any case, feel free to peruse the press blast below, which includes graphs comparing each individual automaker.

Continue reading J.D. Power Initial Quality Study highlights infotainment woes, puts Lexus on top

J.D. Power Initial Quality Study highlights infotainment woes, puts Lexus on top originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordInitial Quality Studyiqsj.d. powerJ.D. Power and Associatesj.d. power initial qualityjd powerlexusWed, 20 Jun 2012 14:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20262684/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/20/j-d-power-initial-quality-study-highlights-infotainment-woes-p/20262684/article-detail.xml 20262684 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/jd-power-iqs-2012_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/jd-power-iqs-2012.jpg <![CDATA[Ford tempers expectations of improvement in J.D. Power quality survey]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/ford-tempers-expectations-of-improvement-in-j-d-power-quality-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/ford-tempers-expectations-of-improvement-in-j-d-power-quality-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/ford-tempers-expectations-of-improvement-in-j-d-power-quality-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Technology can be a fickle thing for automotive companies. Done right, tech can help sell cars. Done badly, and tech can sink a whole company's image.

Ford is battling just that problem. Its Sync tech has certainly contributed to healthy sales recently, but customers started to complain with the buggy advent of the MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch systems.

An update for the system back in March promised to fix the annoying restarts, the slow responses and the underwhelming voice control. The user interface also got cleaner, easier to read menus and iPad compatibility was improved.

Unfortunately, Ford is now saying the improvements probably came too late to be reflected in the J.D. Power quality survey to be announced today.

"We'll be about the same or slightly better," Bennie Fowler, Ford's group vice president of global quality, told Automotive News Tuesday. "The dramatic improvement we're expecting will come in the third quarter..."

Ford fell from fifth place to 23rd place in last year's new-car quality survey. At least part of the reason, if not most, was due to customer dissatisfaction with the two Touch systems. That ranked Ford and Lincoln below the industry average for the number of problems per new vehicle.

Consumer Reports told Automotive News that since the Touch upgrades, complaints about Ford products are down. The magazine's auto-test chief David Champion says "Ford's basic quality remains good."

Ford tempers expectations of improvement in J.D. Power quality survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordinitial quality studyinitial quality surveyj.d. powerlincolnmyford touchmylincoln touchmytouchnavigationqualityquality surveysyncWed, 20 Jun 2012 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20262522/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/20/ford-tempers-expectations-of-improvement-in-j-d-power-quality-s/20262522/article-detail.xml 20262522 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/01-myford-touch-2013-update-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/01-myford-touch-2013-update-628.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Car and Driver</i> calls out J.D. Power IQS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/car-and-driver-calls-out-j-d-power-iqs/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/car-and-driver-calls-out-j-d-power-iqs/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/car-and-driver-calls-out-j-d-power-iqs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2012 Ford Explorer

Ford has taken it on the chin from J.D. Power since the carmaker rolled out its new MyFord Touch system in the 2011 Explorer. Ford's ranking in the influential Initial Quality Survey dropped from fifth last year all the way down to 23rd, in large measure because of customer dissatisfaction with the new technology and its voice recognition interface, but also because of refinement complaints about the PowerShift dual-clutch transmission in the Fiesta. But unlike, say, the Houston Cougars, who plummeted in the Bowl Championship Series rankings after getting blown out in the Conference USA title game this weekend, Ford can make a pretty good case that it's getting jobbed.

The traditional definition of quality when it comes to new cars and trucks has been based on those vehicles being free of defects. But in the last few years, the tide has been turning, in large measure because J.D. Power is increasingly weighing customer complaints related to design and, in particular, new electronic technology. Car and Driver paints the complaints that have dogged Ford among the latter, suggesting that these are less valid quality metrics than something like a poorly assembled door panel.

The venerable buff book doesn't stop at defending Ford, however, cautioning against what it sees as a trend "toward the lowest-common-denominator solutions to reduce design 'problems.'" Citing examples like BMW moving its cruise control from a separate stalk to buttons on the steering wheel to appease whining customers and Porsche getting dinged on IQS for using brake pads that generate too much dust, C/D doesn't say it outright, but certainly implies that J.D. Power is no longer pushing automakers in the right direction.

Car and Driver calls out J.D. Power IQS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apealapeal studycar and driverexplorerfiestafordinitial quality studyiqsj.d. powerjd powermyford touchmylincoln touchpowershiftqualityMon, 05 Dec 2011 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20120747/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/05/car-and-driver-calls-out-j-d-power-iqs/20120747/article-detail.xml 20120747 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/2012-ford-explorer-ecoboost-fd-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/2012-ford-explorer-ecoboost-fd-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality report praises Lexus, Honda, pans Ford]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/24/2011-j-d-power-initial-quality-report-praises-lexus-honda-pan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/24/2011-j-d-power-initial-quality-report-praises-lexus-honda-pan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/24/2011-j-d-power-initial-quality-report-praises-lexus-honda-pan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

J.D. Power IQS study graph

The calendar has kicked over to summer, and that means J.D. Power has just updated its Initial Quality report. The 2011 edition of the IQS is a bit surprising, mostly because the quality of new model launches has been trending upward since 2007 for the entire industry on average. The tune has changed for 2011, as J.D. Power notes the first quality decline in four years, though it notes that carryover models performed better than ever - it's the new models that are drawing complaints. It's not all bad news, though, as a few automakers have managed to stand out from the competition:

According to the study, which tracks buyer satisfaction after 90 days of ownership, Honda is a notable leader in quality, and its lineup shares seven awards for specific models. The Accord, Accord Crosstour, Civic, Element, Fit, Insight and Ridgeline all receive recognition from J.D. Power. Lexus isn't too far behind Honda, with four models getting the 2011 IQS thumbs up. Lexus also leads automakers in across-the-line quality, with Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Mazda chugging along right behind. Toyota showed strong signs of a comeback, motoring all the way from 21st place in 2010 back up to 7th place. Another item of note, is that Land Rover made a major leap in quality, and has reduced quality issues by 47 problem per every 100 vehicles.

According to JDP, the leading reasons noted for a drop in quality includes growing consumer dissatisfaction with engine/transmission issues and audio/navigation matters. Chief among those who were dinged by both factors is Ford, which drew black marks for its complex MyFordTouch/Sync technologies, along with its PowerShift dual clutch transmission behavior. The technology updates saw Ford plummet from 5th place overall (first among non-premium marques) to 23rd place out of 32 brands.

Read the full report by clicking past the jump.

Continue reading 2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality report praises Lexus, Honda, pans Ford

2011 J.D. Power Initial Quality report praises Lexus, Honda, pans Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford qualityhondahonda qualityinitial quality studyiqsj.d. powerj.d. power initial quality reportjd powerjd power iqsjdplexustoyota qualityFri, 24 Jun 2011 10:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19975680/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/24/2011-j-d-power-initial-quality-report-praises-lexus-honda-pan/19975680/article-detail.xml 19975680 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/jdp-iqs-2007-2011_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/jdp-iqs-2007-2011.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #183 - Odyssey, IQS, UAW, CR-Z, CTS Coupe and Grand Cherokee]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/22/autoblog-podcast-183-odyssey-iqs-uaw-cr-z-cts-coupe-and-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/22/autoblog-podcast-183-odyssey-iqs-uaw-cr-z-cts-coupe-and-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/22/autoblog-podcast-183-odyssey-iqs-uaw-cr-z-cts-coupe-and-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

This week's podcast team is Sam Abuelsamid, Alex Nunez and Dan Roth. We dive right in after a quick garage overview and take on the 2011 Honda Odyssey, JD Power's Initial Quality Study results, action suggested by the new United Auto Workers president, and a whole bunch of first drives. The 2011 Grand Cherokee, Honda CR-Z and Cadillac CTS Coupe were all sampled by our wheelmen, and we discuss. We work in your feedback and wrap up with a question at the 80-minute mark. See you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #183 - Odyssey, IQS, UAW, CR-Z, CTS Coupe and Grand Cherokee



In the Autoblog Garage:

BMW X6 M
BMW 335i
Kia Sorento

News:



 Hosts:
Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid, Alex Nunez

Runtime: 54:32

 Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #183 - Odyssey, IQS, UAW, CR-Z, CTS Coupe and Grand Cherokee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe2011 honda cr-z2011 honda odyssey2011 jeep grand cherokee2011CadillacCtsCoupe2011HondaCr-z2011HondaOdyssey2011JeepGrandCherokeeautoblog podcastAutoblogPodcastclassic car apprecation dayclassic carsClassicCarApprecationDayClassicCarsInitial Quality Studyinitial quality study 2011Initial Quality SurveyInitialQualityStudyInitialQualityStudy2011InitialQualitySurveyJD POwerjd power and associa...JD Power and AssociatesJD Power associatesjd power initial quality studyJD Power rankingsJdPowerJdPowerAndAssocia...JdPowerAndAssociatesJdPowerAssociatesJdPowerInitialQualityStudyJdPowerRankingspicket toyotaPicketToyotapodcast 183Podcast183toyotauawuaw presidentUawPresidentUnited Auto Workersunited autoworkers unionUnitedAutoWorkersUnitedAutoworkersUnionTue, 22 Jun 2010 16:45:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #183Autoblog1:16:07 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19526764/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/22/autoblog-podcast-183-odyssey-iqs-uaw-cr-z-cts-coupe-and-g/19526764/article-detail.xml 19526764 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/autoblog-podcast-3.jpg <![CDATA[TheDetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/18/thedetroitbureau-com-on-autoblog-with-paul-eisenstein/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/18/thedetroitbureau-com-on-autoblog-with-paul-eisenstein/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/18/thedetroitbureau-com-on-autoblog-with-paul-eisenstein/#commentsFiled under:



J.D. Power Initial Quality Study analysis

When I bought my first new car, back in 1973, I'd been warned by friends to expect a good half dozen defects that would need to be straightened out by the dealer. It turned out there were only five, I quickly counted, before taking my little sedan back to the shop for repairs. I was lucky. The worst problem I had to deal with was a loose mirror. A college chum, meanwhile, got stuck with a bad transmission on the new Chevrolet he bought about the same time. But he took it in stride, as long as it got fixed right. And so did just about everyone else. Dealing with defects was a part of buying a car back then.

One could argue surveys like IQS made Toyota and Honda by quantifying the quality gap.
But things started to change even before I was ready to trade in. The twin oil shocks of the '70s initially put the focus on fuel economy - more specifically on high-mileage imports. But as memories of gas lines faded, the emphasis shifted to the unexpectedly high quality the best of the Asians were delivering.

One could argue - as an NPR talk show host did during my appearance this morning - that J.D. Power and Associates, with surveys like the Initial Quality Study, made Toyota and Honda by quantifying that quality gap. And it was a big one, domestic makers routinely suffered twice the number of "problems" of the top foreign makers. Of course, even the imports had their issues back then, but as quality became a watchword, even the worst manufacturers suddenly started to make it a top priority, and, year-after-year, the defect count for the typical car rolling off the assembly line has steadily shrunk.

According to Power's latest survey, the average buyer of a 2010 car, truck or crossover is experiencing about 1.08 problems during the first 90 days of ownership. More precisely, in the language of the Initial Quality Survey, there are an average of 108 "problems" per 100 vehicles.

The products produced by the worst manufacturer on the list, Land Rover, suffered 170 problems per 100, or 170 PP100 - less than two glitches for every vehicle. Put another way, that's less than half what the best makers could deliver in the early years of the IQS. The best individual model, the Lexus LS, racked up just 55 PP100 on the latest study, which translates into just one complaint ticked off on the Power survey form by every other buyer.

Continue reading TheDetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein

TheDetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car defectscar problemsCarDefectsCarProblemseisensteinfeaturedinitial quality studyinitial quality study 2011InitialQualityStudyInitialQualityStudy2011iQSiqs 2011Iqs2011J.D. PowerJ.d.Powerjd powerJdPowerPaul EisensteinPaulEisensteinquality surveyQualitySurveyTheDetroitBureauthedetroitbureau.comFri, 18 Jun 2010 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19521975/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/18/thedetroitbureau-com-on-autoblog-with-paul-eisenstein/19521975/article-detail.xml 19521975 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/2010iqslead2-short_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/2010iqslead2-short.jpg <![CDATA[J.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/17/jd-power-2010-initial-quality-study-domestics-lead-imports/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/17/jd-power-2010-initial-quality-study-domestics-lead-imports/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/17/jd-power-2010-initial-quality-study-domestics-lead-imports/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Click above for a gallery of graphtastic images from J.D. Power and Associates

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and Porsche has earned back the top spot that was occupied by Lexus in last year's study. The annual J.D. Power study measures IQS based on problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100) - a lower score means a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.

Domestic brands, as a whole, demonstrated higher initial quality than import brands for the first time in an IQS (impressive, as the company has been conducting the study for 24 years). "Domestic automakers have made impressive strides in steadily improving vehicle quality, particularly since 2007," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. "This year may mark a key turning point for U.S. brands as they continue to fight the battle against lingering negative perceptions of their quality." According to J.D. Power, the industry average for initial quality is 109 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2010 (that is a slight increase from 108 PP100 in 2009). However, initial quality for domestic brands as a whole has improved to an average of 108 PP100, slightly better than the initial quality of import brands, which average 109 PP100 in 2010.

Acura made an impressive improvement in the 2010 study. The automaker climbed from 111 PP100 in 2009 to just 86 PP100 in 2010, earning second spot just under Porsche (83 PP100). Mercedes-Benz (87 PP100) earned third position with Lexus (88 PP100) immediately following. Ford (93 PP100) and Lincoln (106 PP100) also earned Top 10 positions. Interestingly enough, Toyota (117 PP100) fell from its seventh position in 2009 to 21st in the 2010 study. The complete J.D. Power press release and charts can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.


Gallery: 2010 J.D. Power and Associates IQS


[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading J.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports

J.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 IQS2010IqsAcuraFordInitial Quality StudyInitial Quality Study 2010InitialQualityStudyInitialQualityStudy2010intial qualityIntialQualityIQSj.d. powerj.d. power and assoc...J.D. Power ratingsJ.D. Power SurveyJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssoc...J.d.PowerRatingsJ.d.PowerSurveyjd powerjd power 2010 initial quality studyjd power initial quality studyJDPAJdPowerJdPower2010InitialQualityStudyJdPowerInitialQualityStudyLincolnMercedes-BenzPorschequalityreliabilityToyotaThu, 17 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19519684/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/17/jd-power-2010-initial-quality-study-domestics-lead-imports/19519684/article-detail.xml 19519684 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/2010iqslead2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/2010iqslead2.jpg <![CDATA[Lexus leads, Hyundai improves, while Infiniti drops in J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/lexus-leads-hyundai-improves-while-infiniti-drops-in-j-d-powe/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/lexus-leads-hyundai-improves-while-infiniti-drops-in-j-d-powe/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/lexus-leads-hyundai-improves-while-infiniti-drops-in-j-d-powe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Click above for a gallery of the graphtastic images from J.D. Power and Associates

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and Lexus has taken the top spot away from Porsche, the initial quality leader for the past three years. The annual J.D. Power study measures IQS based on problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100) -- a lower score means a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.

This year, the industry average is 108 PP100, demonstrating a steady improvement from 118 PP100 in 2008, and 125 PP100 in 2007. In addition to the marked improvement by the industry overall, many brands continued to perform well in 2009. Following Lexus and Porsche is Cadillac (which moves from 10th rank position in 2008 to third in 2009), Hyundai (jumping from 13th rank position in 2008 to 4th in 2009) and Honda (up from 7th in 2008 to 5th in 2009). Infiniti, second in last year's study, drops to 11th overall, while Suzuki posts the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 32nd place in 2008 to 9th in 2009. The complete J.D. Power press release and charts can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.


Gallery: 2009 J.D. Power IQS Results



[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading Lexus leads, Hyundai improves, while Infiniti drops in J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study

Lexus leads, Hyundai improves, while Infiniti drops in J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingCadillacInitial QualityInitial Quality StudyInitialQualityInitialQualityStudyIQSJ.D. PowerJ.D. Power and AssociatesJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesJDPALexusPorscheQuality RankingQualityRankingMon, 22 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19074249/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/06/22/lexus-leads-hyundai-improves-while-infiniti-drops-in-j-d-powe/19074249/article-detail.xml 19074249 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/2009_jdpa_iqs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/06/2009_jdpa_iqs.jpg <![CDATA[Ford dominates J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/06/ford-dominates-j-d-power-and-associates-2007-initial-quality-st/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/06/ford-dominates-j-d-power-and-associates-2007-initial-quality-st/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/06/ford-dominates-j-d-power-and-associates-2007-initial-quality-st/#commentsFiled under: ,



Hot on the heels of the 2007 Strategic Vision Total Quality Awards, J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2007 Initial Quality Study. You'll no doubt be hearing about how well Ford has done in this year's IQS, as J.D. Power reports the Blue Oval has garnered five top model segment awards, more than any other automaker. Those models include the Ford Mustang, Lincoln Mark LT, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan and the Mazda MX-5.

Indeed, Ford did very well this year, with the Lincoln brand improving from 12th place to 3rd, Mercury from 17th to 8th and Ford jumping from 16th to 10th. We take umbrage, however, with J.D. Power choosing to include the Mazda MX-5 in Ford's list of segment leaders. Ford owns a controlling 33% stake in Mazda, but doesn't include the Japanese brand's sales among its own at the end of the month, and neither does the Japanese-built MX-5 share its plaform with any other Ford models. And, while rattling off how well each Ford brand ranked, J.D. Power doesn't mention that Mazda ranked 35th, second to last ahead of Land Rover, another Ford brand. Still, even without including the MX-5, Ford's four segment leaders is still more than any other automaker. Mercedes-Benz and Toyota each had three.

J.D. Power also gives out Assembly Plant Awards, and in a surprising twist of fate, Ford's Wixom assembly plant that shut its doors forever this past week became the first North American assembly plant to earn the Platinum Plant Quality award for producing vehicles with the fewest defects. We suppose that means 2007 Lincoln Town Car owners are in for some trouble-free times with their cars.

You can check out the complete rankings in the gallery below and read the official press release from J.D. Power and Associates after the jump.

[Source: J.D. Power & Associates]

Gallery: JD Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study

Continue reading Ford dominates J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study

Ford dominates J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Initial Quality StudyInitialQualityStudyIQSJ.D. PowerJ.D. Power and AssociatesJ.d.PowerJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesJD PowerJD Power and AssociatesJdPowerJdPowerAndAssociatesWed, 06 Jun 2007 15:54:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/912118/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/06/06/ford-dominates-j-d-power-and-associates-2007-initial-quality-st/912118/article-detail.xml 912118 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/abgar_an_stangvrt025_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/abgar_an_stangvrt025_450.jpg -1 2