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Transportation equipment industry

Toyota Takes Top Honors in Vehicle Dependability Study

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Vehicle owners reported an average of 227 problems per 100 vehicles in the latest study, a 10-point improvement from last year. Toyota, the top-ranked automaker, won eight out of 19 categories, with its luxury brand Lexus taking the top spot for the 12th consecutive year. Meanwhile, mainstream brands like Ford and General Motors are closing in on luxury nameplates in terms of dependability. The study also noted a narrowing gap between premium and non-premium brands.

Key Takeaways:

  • Toyota won eight out of 19 categories in the vehicle dependability study, more than any other company.
  • Lexus, Toyota's luxury brand, was ranked as the top nameplate for the 12th consecutive year.
  • Mainstream brands like Ford and General Motors are closing in on luxury nameplates in terms of dependability.
  • The gap between premium and non-premium brands narrowed, with a 15-point reduction in problems per 100 vehicles for premium brands compared to non-premium brands.
  • The Toyota Kentucky-made Corolla was a runner-up in the compact category, and the Toyota Prius also ranked as a runner-up.
  • Honda and GM each took four segments, while Ford had two winners and Mazda had one.
  • Land Rover, owned by Ford, ranked last with 438 problems per 100 vehicles, while Saab, owned by GM, ranked second-to-last.

Statistics:

  • Total number of problems reported per 100 vehicles: 227
  • Improvement in problems per 100 vehicles from last year: 10
  • Number of problems reported per 100 vehicles for premium brands: 213
  • Gap between premium and non-premium brands: 15 points
  • Total number of vehicles surveyed: 47,620
  • Model year of vehicles surveyed: 2003
  • Percentage of wind noise and loud brakes reported in the survey: (No specific percentage mentioned)

Sources:

  • J.D. Power and Associates
  • Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis for J.D. Power
  • Associated Press: "Toyota wins top honors in vehicle dependability study"
  • Toyota Motor Corp.
  • Lexus
  • Ford Motor Co.
  • General Motors Corp.
  • Mazda Motor Corp.

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