Washington, June 22 (EFE) – The quality of new cars in the United States has once again deteriorated in 2023, marking the second consecutive year of decline, according to the findings of the annual Initial Quality Study (ECI) conducted by JD Power.
The study, which surveyed 93,380 owners of new vehicles in 2023, revealed that the average number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) increased to 192, a rise of 12 compared to the previous year and 30 compared to 2021.
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The data indicates that among mass-market manufacturers, Dodge emerged as the brand with the highest initial quality, registering an average of 140 PP100s. It was followed by Ram, the van and pickup specialist of the Stellantis group, with 141 PP100s, and Buick, the high-end brand of GM, with 162 problems per 100 vehicles.
Among luxury brands, Alfa Romeo had 143 PP100s, Porsche had 167 PP100s, and Cadillac, GM’s luxury brand, had 170 PP100s.
Tesla Among the Most Problematic
On the other hand, the electric companies Polestar and Tesla were identified as the most problematic brands, with 313 and 257 problems per hundred vehicles, respectively. However, they are not officially included in the JD Power classification as they do not allow surveys of car owners in certain states without company authorization.
When it comes to models and segments, the cars with the highest initial quality were the Kia Rio, Audi 3, Kia Forte, Lexus IS, Mini Cooper, BMW 8 Series, Toyota Camry, Kia Stinger, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, and Genesis G80.
In a statement, Frank Hanley, a representative for JD Power, expressed concern over the unprecedented decline in the quality of new vehicles after decades of continuous improvement in the industry.
“The automotive industry is facing a wide range of quality issues, a phenomenon that we have not witnessed in the 37-year history of ECI,” Hanley said.
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Hanley acknowledged that new cars are becoming more complex, with exciting new technologies, but this increased complexity and technology do not always meet customer satisfaction.
The JD Power study revealed that the biggest increase in the number of problems is concentrated in the category of screens, controls, and functions, with a rate of 3.2 PP100. The second highest increase was observed in “infotainment” system problems, with a rise of 2.3 PP100.
Furthermore, the study found that opening car doors is increasingly challenging due to manufacturers redesigning equipment that was previously considered one of the least problematic aspects of vehicles.
However, the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in door handles has resulted in a growing problem. Seven out of the ten most problematic models in this regard are electric vehicles.
(c) EFE Agency
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The quality of new cars in the United States has continued to decline for the second consecutive year, according to the annual Initial Quality Study conducted by JD Power. The study surveyed 93,380 owners of new vehicles in 2023 and found that the average number of problems per 100 vehicles increased to 192, a rise of 12 compared to the previous year and 30 compared to 2021. Dodge emerged as the mass-market brand with the highest initial quality, followed by Ram and Buick. Among luxury brands, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, and Cadillac had the lowest number of problems. On the other hand, Tesla and Polestar were identified as the most problematic brands, with Tesla having 257 problems per 100 vehicles.
How has the quality of new cars in the United States changed over the past two years according to JD Power’s Initial Quality Study?
According to JD Power’s Initial Quality Study, the quality of new cars in the United States has improved over the past two years. The study measures the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) in the first 90 days of ownership. Lower PP100 scores indicate higher quality.
In 2020, the industry average PP100 score was 166, a 10% improvement compared to the previous year. This improvement was driven by advancements in technology and better manufacturing processes. The study highlighted that new vehicles launched in 2020 had significantly fewer quality issues compared to the previous year.
Major manufacturers such as Dodge, Kia, Ram, and Genesis performed exceptionally well in the study, receiving lower PP100 scores and thus indicating higher initial quality. Dodge ranked highest with a score of 136 PP100, while Kia and Ram tied for second place with a score of 136 PP100.
It is essential to note that JD Power’s Initial Quality Study focuses on the initial ownership experience, mainly assessing problems and issues encountered within the first 90 days of owning a new vehicle. Therefore, this study provides insights into the initial quality of cars rather than long-term reliability.
It’s disheartening to see the quality of new cars declining for two years in a row. Manufacturers should prioritize addressing these issues to regain consumer trust and drive the industry forward.