JD Power '07 vehicle dependibilty study: Buick ties for 1st

[Ma Deuce]

The results of J.D. Power's long term (3-years of ownership) dependability survey, listing the number of problems per 100 vehicles per brand.



I suppose part of Buick's rating could be because their average owner (who is 65) tends to take excellent care of their vehicles and not push them too hard (though the average Lexus owner is less than a decade younger), though on the other hand Lexuses tend to incorporate Toyota's latest technological goodies, while Buicks tend to use GM's older, more proven hardware. Then again, Cadillacs tend to get GM's latest hardware, and they made it to second place.

On the subject of how cars are driven affecting reliability, note how low Toyota's Scion brand is compared to Toyota and Lexus: I don't think it's too hard to guess why. Also note Porsche: They do very well in the Initial Quality studies, but fall to the middle in the 3-year study: Mercedes is just the opposite.

[Uraniun235]

Jaguar is above the average? This flies in the face of nearly every stereotype and anecdote I've heard about them.

[Phantasee]

I find it amusing that Land Rover is at the bottom. My cousin's Range Rover has had so many problems, it's retarded. Always back to the dealership with that one.

Partly it's because they are retarded and don't know that when the brakes squeal, it's time to replace the pads. They had to replace the rotors last time (probably could have just resurfaced them, but they aren't bright enough to know that, I guess).

[Ma Deuce]

Jaguar is above the average? This flies in the face of nearly every stereotype and anecdote I've heard about them.

Jaguar seems to have improved quite dramatically during their ownership by Ford; I'm curious why the same didn't happen with Land Rover. I also wonder if this improvement will hold after Ford cuts Jaguar loose.

[aerius]

Then again, Cadillacs tend to get GM's latest hardware, and they made it to second place.

This surprises me, Cadillacs, especially the V models are stuffed full of goodies and get driven pretty hard. I expected a pretty good showing from them since they're GM's flagship brand, but I still have to say 2nd place was a pretty happy surprise.

[Netko]

It would be interesting to see a similar comparison, but with the European market in mind (thus incorporating brands and manufacturers available in Europe but not apparently in NA like Renault, Citroen and so on). I wonder if the rankings would change for some of those based on different driving styles, lesser car culture etc.

[Bounty]

I wonder if the rankings would change for some of those based on different driving styles, lesser car culture etc.

Comparing to the Top Gear Survey, the German brands do a bit better, the Americans worse (though they're hardly represented), the Asians own the top-ten and the French trail at the bottom. Which is a bit confusing since I don't know anyone with a Frenchie who has reliability issues.

That said, you don't even have to try to sell a Buick in Europe. And the last time I saw a Caddilac drive by, people were pointing and laughing about how he'd never make it through half the streets in the city.

[Ma Deuce]

Comparing to the Top Gear Survey, the German brands do a bit better, the Americans worse (though they're hardly represented),

Bear in mind though, even though the same American brands might be sold in Europe (i.e Chevrolet and Ford), these brands' car lineups on each continent often bear little in common with each other.

And are you counting Opel as American or German, seeing how it's a wholly-owned subsiduary of GM, but engineers most of it's own vehicles (though Opel's engineering is starting to show up in some GMNA cars)

the French trail at the bottom. Which is a bit confusing since I don't know anyone with a Frenchie who has reliability issues.

Not to people in North America: Each of the French automakers tried selling their cars here in the '70s and '80s and failed miserably (ever heard the "Citroën = Citron" joke?). Renault certainly won't try again since the only car they tried to sell here (the Renault 5, sold here as the Le Car) is remembered only slightly more fondly than the Yugo, and since they now own nearly half of Nissan they can reap their cut of Nissan's profits here rather than going to the trouble of trying to set up their own sales network. This is probably more profitable for them, since they cannot hope to achieve control more than, say, 2% of the North American market (which is Volkswagen/Audi's share, and look where they are on that survey), compared to Nissan's current 6%.

[Bounty]

Bear in mind though, even though the same American brands might be sold in Europe (i.e Chevrolet and Ford), these brands' car lineups on each continent often bear little in common with each other.

I was thinking of the straight imports. In Europe, this is a Chevrolet, so I know the comparison doesn't always work.

As for Opel, aren't their cars designed in Europe for a primarily European market - Vauxhall and Opel? In that case, I'd say they're European, even though they've been GM-woned since..the thirties, wasn't it?

[Ma Deuce]

In Europe, this is a Chevrolet, so I know the comparison doesn't always work.

Indeed: In Europe, Chevrolets are actually Korean cars (every car on that site originated from GM Daewoo).

As for Opel, aren't their cars designed in Europe for a primarily European market - Vauxhall and Opel?

This is true, though like I said, they're starting to share parts and engineering with GM's other regions (i.e, the Vectra shares it's basic chassis with the North American Chevrolet Malibu, and the 2.8L Opel V6 is the same engine used by the Cadillac CTS, for two examples). though this recent tech sharing certainly isn't a one-way street (the new Opel GT roadster was in fact engineered and built in the US, and was available here first as the Saturn Sky)