Lexus back on top in quality survey
June 23, 2009 by David Twomey
Lexus has reclaimed the top spot in JD Power and Associates’ annual ranking of initial quality, while the Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota brands ranked virtually even in the benchmark survey.
Porsche slipped to second after holding the title for three years in the market research firm’s Initial Quality Study, released today.
Ford improved to 102 reported problems per 100 vehicles and Chevrolet to 103, just behind Toyota’s sixth place score of 101.
That put the three top-selling brands in the United States in the same league when it comes to complaints during the first 90 days of ownership.
“There is no statistical difference between a 101 and a 102 or, for that matter, between a 101 and a 103,” said David Sargent, JD Power’s vice president of automotive research, in a presentation to the Automotive Press Association.
Overall industry quality improved to its best level in the study’s 23 years, and domestic brands continued to close the gap between their performance and the industry average.
That average was 108 reported problems per 100 vehicles, down from 118 in 2008. Owners of US domestic brands recorded an average of 112 problems per 100 vehicles.
A year earlier, the US domestics had 124 reported problems, or six more than the average.
Print it: 
*****PRIMO!*****
*****LEXUS = PRIMO!*****
Lexus back where it belongs……On Pole.
Best built, & best quality on the planet, end of story.
benzbmwvw etc…..back-in-ya-box!
Cheers
F-0
These surveys are stupid, they all contradict each other and there are far too many variables to determine which brand is most reliable, as within a brand it can depend solely on each vehicle. Proof of this is Jaguar and Buick, both were on top at the start of the year and now both are below the industry average.
Myke, that’s why i think if a brand tops the chart a year or two should not be taken seriously as having good quality. What is important though is consistently strong performance in the survey like what Lexus has achieved.
Oh FrugalOne, you crack me up.
I imagine with your acute sense of smug you must drive some form of Hybrid. Remember, it hurts more to fall from the top. And you will :D.
Interesting side note: Jaguar back down the bottom? What happened? Maybe their new stuff is just as bad as the old?
I guess it all depends on who JD power surveys.
If they get a fussy customer or bad customer sevice it reflects on the survey.
But as said in the article there is no real difference in 100 compared to 110.
When are Australian sold cars going to be subjected to JD Power surveys. Like to see our scores!
The declaration that American cars are narrowing the gap is somewhat misleading: While it is true, as a whole, they are making gains — the real numbers that matter to consumers is the individual cars in certain a particular class. For example, the top three classes of cars are: Truck, Mid-sized sedan, and SUV. Toyota dominates in these classes. Just because Americans can do cars that few people drive better — isn’t exactly the best accomplishment.
I tell all my friends to buy foreign still. And to use the power of competition to get a good price (ignore clever marketing). This is the best process to use when you are ready for a car:
http://excarsalesman.typepad.com/
No surprise, good for them. I still don’t want a Lexus though. I’ve gone from hating them to liking them, mainly because I got the impression from a whole lot of commenters on this website that they were re-bodied Camrys when in fact they are RWD like the best of them, but I still would pick just about any competitor before a Lexus. Including many FWD cars. Especially considering that hey, it’s 2009, you can pretty much guarantee that any car you buy will be generally reliable and well built. You can now buy an Alfa Romeo and have a good ownership experience.
I say ignore the surveys, buy what ever the hell you want. If your basing what you buy on surveys your probably not getting what you really want anyway.
That LS 600 hL photo above…
Wow!
♥
My heart is melting again :P
toyota make reliable cars but just decent in quality and build ,lexus is higher lever of toyota. So it should be very reliable and much better build than toyota also all the parts is generally are from toyota, it should be cheaped.
No wonder Lexus is the top quality surveys..(Just compare btw toyota brand and other brand in the sense of reliability)
I feel sorry for people who base a purchasing decision solely on a survey result. I’ll bet they have neutral cream decor at home.
*Waits for BM to come in and say something about Lexus = Toyota and that BMW is better*
^ Tim, I’ve got a funny feeling BM & Wheelnut were temporarily banned from commenting, but I may be wrong. Thought it was only for 48hrs though – who knows, maybe they’ve decided to kick their Car Advice habit :-)
Golfschwein Says:”I feel sorry for people who base a purchasing decision solely on a survey result”
Do you actully know someone like that?? Or did just pull that one out of your ….?
Because I doubt anyone would?!
Please avoid personal atacks, Tomas79. Unsophisticated.
Golfschwein,
How is that a personal attack?!
And yes, judging by your dodge of the question, you don’t know anyone like that either?! …Just making stuff up, huh?!!
And for the record, YEs I’m not sophisticated (Pretencious and issue ridden)….
Golfschwein emits gentle sigh. Always fightin’, Tomas79, always fightin’…..why?
I will answer the question directly. Yes, I do know people like that, and they amuse me without realising it.
On another matter, it looks like people with cream walls have spoken; 6 thumbs down and counting… :)
Golfschwein says
“I will answer the question directly. Yes, I do know people like that, and they amuse me without realising it.”
Call me a “doubting Tomas”, but i find that a rather hard to believe….
Also, i doubt there is too many people on this site with queer eye for a wall colour!
Anyway back on topic, If anyone is interested here is the link to the survey…
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/a.....dy-Results
No actuall list as such…
You’ve so, so much to learn about life.
If I paid that much for a tarted up Camry I’d give them a good rap too.
Isn’t your Prado built in a Lexus factory Tomas69?LOL
Realcars, yes the Tahara Plant..
That’s like Sahara but with a T!
Who cares about the survey. Audi quality is better then Lexus.
Mumble Duck,
By saying that, I am quite sure you never owned an Audi…
HAL, Tim,
I think BM is already back isn’t she??
I think I saw her commenting under the ’super car makes men more attractive’ article. LOL.
Pretentious has got two “ts” by the way. I never liked the old Lexuses, is that the correct spelling, thought they were very boring and not desirable. But the new IS and LS now give me a desire, something I didn’t think was possible only a few years ago with the Lexus brand.
I think the Lexus brand is more hungry for luxury market share than some other luxury brands, being on the top generates some complacency you know, just like the Microsoft and Apple difference.
No surprise’s there for me lexus all the way!audi are not even in the same league!
If only Lexus could make a decent looking car, there is no doubting they can build a good car but an attractive one definitely not.I can`t name one Lexus that I would want to own, they have absolutely no sense of style.
Lexus Belong At The Top For Quality Produced Cars, well done! Where Is BMW???
Figjam….BMW=16.Among those brands falling below the industry average were BMW, Acura, Buick, Audi, Volvo, Saturn, Lincoln, Jaguar, Jeep, Saab, Smart and Land Rover. Mini finished at the bottom of the IQS rankings.
There is news on this but there isn’t any news on Mazda winning J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Australia Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study. You know Australia, the country we live in?????
Still waiting for the mazda 3 review btw
No offence but you guys have been slacking off on many things lately. This site isn’t the same as it use to be :(
Thanks for that “the fact” bmw 16th well how the mighty HAVE FALLEN, AND FALLEN, AND FALLEN!