J.D. Power drops Chrysler, Ford quality ratings

[atlaw4u]

JD Powers top 3 models per segment: Subcompact car -- Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Mazda Mazda2.

Jaclyn Trop - DETROITNEWS - June 20, 2012

Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC's namesake brand, plagued by quality and technology problems, fell several notches in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Initial Quality Study released Wednesday.

Automakers on the whole improved quality at the fastest rate since 2009, despite ongoing problems with in-vehicle technology. The average number of problems per 100 vehicles fell 5 percent, to 102 from 107. Collectively, automakers posted their best results in three years.

Chrysler brand had the steepest drop, falling nine rankings to 25, despite a successful launch of the Chrysler 300 sedan. Chrysler Group LLC's other brands, Jeep, Dodge and Ram, climbed two, three and eight spots respectively to help the automaker post a 6.6 percent improvement over its results in last year's study. Fiat tied with Daimler AG's Smart brand for last place at No. 33.

Ford ranked behind Chrysler, falling four spots to 27.

"Technology is becoming increasingly important as a quality differentiator," said Dave Sargent, vice president of J.D. Power's global automotive division. "This is quickly becoming the battleground of the future."... [Read More]

[brick]

I never understood their rankings, anyway. They never seem to correlate with cars that I would consider buying.

[RichXKU]

I still greatly disagree, if they base any of their ratings on a particular system (sync) being difficult to use instead of actually broken. That shouldn't count as a problem.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

Who is actually influenced by an award that is given freely (well,not totally free) to almost every vehicle for sale today ? I've actually gotten pretty good at avoiding any article or advertising that quotes these chumps. I wasn't aware that they were still peddling their crap.

[Jay]

The J.D. Power auto awards have some validity, but the awards that garner the news attention are the "initial quality" awards--which are simultaneously the least important to me. The initial quality awards cover only defects right off the showroom floor. Much more important is how the car holds up after 5 years or more. I think JD Power stops tracking after a year, and the 1-year survey is industry proprietary--that is, you must pay big money to get the data.

In my opinion (based on much personal experience) Japanese cars, in general, own all when it comes to quality and reliability, and Honda and Toyota own the other Japanese brands.

[WriConsult]

I've always considered JD Power a joke. Their "Long term reliability" survey only covers cars up to 3 years old.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by RichXKU

I still greatly disagree, if they base any of their ratings on a particular system (sync) being difficult to use instead of actually broken. That shouldn't count as a problem.

Given that you're paying money for it, if it's difficult to use it is a problem. It's no different to saying that the seat's uncomfortable, the buttons are too small or ingress and egress are difficult.

Bad software engineering is still bad engineering.

[AshenGrey]

I am not surprised that Smart finished last. It is a coffin with 4 wheels.

[WriConsult]

Originally Posted by AshenGrey

I am not surprised that Smart finished last. It is a coffin with 4 wheels.

What does that have to do with quality surveys? Also, if you're convinced the Smart is a deathtrap, you obviously haven't watched the Top Gear episode where they rammed one into a concrete barrier at 70mph.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

Some people say a Civic is a coffin with 4 wheels. Are they wrong ? And don't we know you by another name ?