Peter Lyon
February 21, 2025
JD Power’s results for 2025 are here and there are a few surprises. Lexus stayed on top with Buick hot on their heels, but perhaps the biggest shock of this year’s numbers showed that Mazda climbed some four positions to finish in third place.
Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability for a third consecutive year, with a score of 140 PP100. Among premium brands, Cadillac (169 PP100) ranks second and Porsche (186 PP100) ranks third.
Buick picks up 2rd while Mazda climbs four sports to 3rd place
Capturing the overall second top spot, Buick ranks highest in the mass market segment, with a score of 143 PP100 as Mazda (161 PP100) ranks a second second and Toyota (162 PP100) ranks third.
Toyota has the top overall model in the study, Toyota Avalon. Toyota and General Motors receive the most model-level awards with six each. Model-level award recipients for Toyota are Lexus GX, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Sienna, and Toyota Tacoma. Model-level award recipients for General Motors are Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Acadia. Nissan,receives two model-level awards for Nissan Kicks and Nissan Murano but of course we need to remember that Nissan is is dire straits having just canceled merger negotiations with Honda.
Vehicle problems after three years of ownership have reached the highest level since 2009, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), released today. Compared with 2024 results, the industry experienced a 6% increase in problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which is 12 PP100 worse than a year ago, resulting in an industry average of 202 PP100. The rise in issues is attributable to mass market brands experiencing a 16 PP100 increase related in part to software defects. A lower score indicates higher vehicle quality.
The results of this year’s study are not unexpected given the results of the J.D. Power 2022 Initial Quality Study, which tracked problems early in the ownership period of 2022 model-year vehicles. That year, initial vehicle quality notably declined from 2021, and problems also reached a record high. Three years later, the issues continue to be problematic for owners, according to findings of the 2025 VDS.
“While the increase in problems this year may be a thorn in the side of automakers and owners, it’s important to remember that today’s three-year-old vehicles were built during a time when the industry was grappling with major disruptions,” said Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power.“Supply chain and chip issues, record-high vehicle prices, and personnel disruption in the wake of the pandemic were problematic.”
The study, now in its 36th year, covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories including climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features/controls/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats.
Following are some key findings of the 2025 study. Problems related to software defects persisted with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity remaining the top problem in the industry for a second consecutive year as problems increased to 8.4 PP100 from 6.3 PP100 in 2024.
In a connected issue to the first, personal device integration falls short. Of the top 10 problems industry-wide, half are related to smartphone integration, usage or connectivity. Keeping pace with the rate of change in smartphone technology is a challenge for the auto industry. Over-the-air (OTA) updates provide automakers the opportunity to overcome out-of-date software, with 36% of owners indicating they performed an OTA on their vehicle during the first three years of ownership.
This next one may sound subjective but is actually based on fact. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are getting better as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) get worse. BEVs have improved 33 PP100 year over year, while PHEVs have declined 26 PP100, making PHEVs the most problematic of all vehicle fuel types.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
As expected Lexus hung on to its No 1 spot as Buick shows its mettle and maintains No 2 with Mazda improving a lot to finish in 3rd place. The 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from 34,175 original owners of 2022 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study was fielded from August through November 2024.
To learn more about the U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/automotive/us-vehicle-dependability-study.
