JDPower Dependability Study

[ANTAUS]

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2016-jd-power-dependability-study/

[rmc523]

Ford's rating improved from 205 last year to 183 this year, increasing 5 spots, while Lincoln dropped from 132 to 150, dropping 2 spots.

 

 

I've thought for a while now that they should have two separate categories of issues....and if they want to combine them into a single overall rating that's fine, but break the problems down into two categories - something like "catastrophic problems" and "minor issues"......or "powertrain issues" and "electronic issues." The point being to differentiate between issues that render the vehicle unusable or some part snaps off or whatnot vs. issues that are more of an inconvenience (i.e. "my phone connects slowly").

[Kev-Mo]

Someone please help me understand the statistical relevance of Honda's 1.43 problems per vehicle vs Ford's 1.83 problems per vehicle. Since it it impossible to have actually 4 tenths of a problem with your vehicle, would this not be a statistical tie? Since the rankings have to be so granular to include a problem you actually cannot have, would it not be statistically correct to say everyone under 2 problems per vehicle is essentially tied for first place?

 

Interesting though that when you look at the green dots, Ford's weakness is powertrain, not the sync stuff. So it has to be the Focus/Fiesta dual clutch that continues to haunt.

Edited February 24, 2017 by Kev-Mo

[akirby]

I look at it this way - on average you're going to have 1 or 2 problems in the first 3 years which would translate to 1 or 2 dealer visits. Nobody averages less than 1 and even if you have 2 problems you might only need one dealer visit for both.

 

Fiat is the only outlier.

 

The statistical conclusion is there is very little difference in dependability within the first 3 years of ownership.

 

Compare that with 2002 where the average was 3.5 and all but two brands was over 2. Huge difference.

 

Edited February 24, 2017 by akirby

[rmc523]

Interesting though that when you look at the green dots, Ford's weakness is powertrain, not the sync stuff. So it has to be the Focus/Fiesta dual clutch that continues to haunt.

 

What green dots are you referring to?

[Kev-Mo]

http://www.jdpower.com/ratings/study/Vehicle-Dependability-Study-%28VDS%29-by-Make/1881ENG

 

 

Yellow dots - sorry

Edited February 25, 2017 by Kev-Mo

[Ron W.]

^{Lots of people have read this post with only a few replies.}

^{Look at this a different way, can any person that has read this post state they know a person that has purchased a vehicle because of the J.D. Powers rating?}

[MKX1960]

I've never looked at it or Consumer Reports either. When I buy, I know exactly what I want to buy and don't worry about stuff like that.

[rmc523]

http://www.jdpower.com/ratings/study/Vehicle-Dependability-Study-%28VDS%29-by-Make/1881ENG

 

 

Yellow dots - sorry

Ah I hadn't seen that.

[Anthony]

^{Lots of people have read this post with only a few replies.}

^{Look at this a different way, can any person that has read this post state they know a person that has purchased a vehicle because of the J.D. Powers rating?}

 

 

Unfortunately, no.

 

 

[ANTAUS]

I know a few people who did, the keyboard warriors went on in a hunting mission. I have heard Edmunds.com has become very tedious to look things up. Some said JDPower was a bit easier. Only 2 looked at Consumer Reports only because they were already a member. But they didn't go with the top ranking vehicle (which was a Toyota), they went with something near the top. One said that the 2 Toyota dealerships they went to had obnoxious sales people who right off the bat weren't wanting to negotiate so they left.

[akirby]

You should be much more concerned with 4-8 year dependability which I suppose is what CR tries to measure. First 3 years are under warranty with almost every vehicle. Even the worst cars today don't fall apart after 100K miles and most can easily go 150K with no major problems and only minor maintenance.

[AlRozzi]

How reliable are these studies?

 

I recall reading some time ago that people who buy a vehicle which they perceive

as among the best don't report problems honestly.

[ANTAUS]

Well, like a typical Buick driver that might not realize there's a noise in the vehicle, because they can't hear it? Or a radio knob that's broken but it's on something they never touch ? Or like a friend of mine that would climb sidewalks with her Taurus, then had the audacity to say she had car problems because she had to replace some suspension parts. LOL Sometimes I say its about what you attract and how it's reported.