heyholetsgogrant Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 CONTACT: John Tews (East Coast) (248) 267-6800 Peter Dadlani (West Coast) (805) 418-8103 http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2006082 J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Redesigned Initial Quality Study Shows That Vehicle Design Plays As Critical a Role in Consumer Perceptions of Quality as Defects and Malfunctions Lexus and Toyota Together Capture 11 of 19 Initial Quality Model Awards WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 7 June 2006 — The way in which technology is integrated into new-vehicle design, particularly interior features and controls, is considered by consumers to be as important to quality as are defects and malfunctions, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today. The study is in its 20th year. The Initial Quality Study, which serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership, has been completely redesigned for 2006 to capture problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories—quality of design and quality of production (defects and malfunctions). “New vehicles today are often packed with new technologies that unfortunately can be complicated and frustrating for the average consumer when their integration is not well executed,” said Joe Ivers, executive director of quality and customer satisfaction research for J.D. Power and Associates. “In the eyes of consumers, design flaws can have as much of an impact on their perceptions of quality as can a defect. Yet, many manufacturers have tended to address quality solely on the plant floor without considering design factors.” Based on both design quality and production quality considerations, the study finds that automakers can vary widely in their performance on these two components. Brands with the fewest defects and malfunctions include BMW, Chrysler, Hyundai, Lexus, Porsche and Toyota. Brands with the fewest design problems include GMC, Hyundai, Jaguar, Lexus, Nissan and Porsche. “Without considering both quality factors, one might fail to recognize vehicles that are, in fact, excellent in certain ways,” said Ivers. “For example, BMW vehicles have among the fewest defects and malfunctions, along with Toyota. But BMW approaches controls and displays in a way that creates some problems for customers, leading to more design-related problems overall than Toyota incurs. Automakers differ significantly in how they define quality and what parts of the organization they hold accountable for it. Clearing both critical quality hurdles is an accomplishment experienced by only a limited number of brands.” 2006 IQS Ranking Highlights Lexus and Toyota models continue to dominate initial quality rankings, capturing 11 out of 19 segment awards in 2006. Lexus models rank highest in every segment in which they compete. In addition, the LS 430 ties the Porsche Cayman for having the fewest quality problems in the industry. Other top-ranking Lexus models include: IS 250/IS 350, ES 330, SC 430, GX 470 and LX 470. Toyota remains a quality benchmark, capturing five model-level awards—for the Corolla, Solara, Camry, Highlander and Sequoia—more than any other non-luxury brand. Porsche and Lexus lead the luxury brands, while Hyundai, Toyota and Honda set the pace among non-luxury brands. Averaging just 91 problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles, Porsche tops the overall nameplate rankings. Porsche’s success can be partly attributed to the all-new Cayman, which tops the compact premium sporty car segment. Porsche is followed in the rankings by Lexus, Hyundai, Toyota and Jaguar, respectively. Hyundai ranks among the top three nameplates in the study for the first time in the history of IQS. Highlights include a top ranking for the Hyundai Tucson in the compact multi-activity vehicle (MAV) segment, and top-three segment performances for the redesigned Sonata and all-new Azera, as well as the Elantra and Tiburon. Honda also maintains its position as a quality leader. Although Honda does not receive any awards outright, five Honda models rank among the top three of their respective segments. Other nameplates receiving model awards in 2006 include Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Kia, Mazda, Pontiac and Suzuki. Assembly Plant Awards Toyota receives a total of four assembly plant quality awards for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects, including the Platinum Plant Quality Award for its Iwate, Japan, plant, producer of the Lexus ES 330. The Iwate plant averages just 32 PP100. Plant awards are based solely on scores for defects. Among North and South American plants, the General Motors Oshawa #2 plant in Ontario, Canada, which produces the Buick LaCrosse and Pontiac Grand Prix, receives the Gold Plant Quality Award for a second consecutive year. Toyota’s Georgetown, Ky., plant, which produces the Avalon, Camry and Solara Coupe/Convertible, and DaimlerChrysler’s Windsor, Ontario, Canada plant, which produces the Pacifica, Town & Country, Caravan and Grand Caravan, tie for the Silver Plant Quality Award. In the Asia Pacific region, Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji, Japan, plant, which produces the Lexus SC 430, receives the Silver Plant Quality Award. Toyota’s Kyushu, Japan, plant, which produces the Lexus IS 250/IS 350, Lexus RX 330/400h and Toyota Highlander/Highlander Hybrid, and American Honda’s Saitama, Japan, plant, which produces the Acura RL, Acura TSX and Honda CR-V, tie for the Bronze Plant Quality Award. Magna Steyr, the Graz, Austria, plant that assembles under contract for traditional manufacturers, receives the Gold Plant Quality Award for Europe. Magna Steyr produces the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz E-Class/Wagon and the Saab 9-3 Convertible. BMW’s Dingolfing, Germany, plant, which produces the BMW 5, 6 and 7 Series, receives the Silver Plant Quality Award, and Porsche’s Valmet, Finland, plant, which produces the Cayman and Boxster, receives the Bronze Plant Quality Award. The 2006 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from 63,607 purchasers and lessees of new 2006 model-year cars and trucks surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The redesigned IQS is based on a new 217-question battery—up from 135 in previous years—to provide manufacturers with richer information to improve problem determination and drive product improvement. The study also groups models in a revised J.D. Power and Associates vehicle segmentation list. The 2006 study has been redesigned for the first time since 1998. Improvements to the study include: * An enhanced questionnaire for owners to aid in identification of both defect and design problems * Expanded coverage of new technologies * Additional details about the problems reported to help OEMs better identify how to address them For more detailed findings on new-vehicle quality performance as well as model photos and specs, visit the J.D. Power Consumer Center. www.jdpower.com About J.D. Power and Associates Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies. About The McGraw-Hill Companies Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 290 offices in 38 countries. Sales in 2005 were $6.0 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com. Media Relations Contacts: John Tews Director, Media Relations J.D. Power and Associates 5435 Corporate Drive, Suite 300 Troy, MI, 48098 (248) 312-4119, or cell (248) 321-5109 john.tews@jdpa.com Peter Dadlani Supervisor, Media Relations J.D. Power and Associates 2625 Townsgate Road, Suite 100 Westlake Village, CA 91361 (805) 418-8103 peter.dadlani@jdpa.com No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com # # # ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I saw the 2005 jd power study posted in a search, but I did not see the 2006 posted...So heres the 2006 jd power study on car quality, it looks as if american cars are making some gains, but are still behind the asian car makers...Hopefully by the time I buy a car out of college, American cars will be on par with asian cars.. -Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70th Week Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 I cant believe bmw and land rover marked so low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Judges Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 More evidence that Land Rover's suck beyond their inherent uglyness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyholetsgogrant Posted July 17, 2006 Author Share Posted July 17, 2006 Oh the good old jeep.. Man that car is a piece of crap...I remember I was hammered by jeep loyalist as saying my mom dosent take care of her 1999 jeep chreekee limited, after two transmission replaces, replaced ABS, entire AC rebuild and numerious other computer problems..I have been backed by many jeep owners and people in the industry that say the same thing... -Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Judges Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 Oh the good old jeep.. Man that car is a piece of crap...I remember i was hammer by jeep loyalist as saying my mom dosent take care of her 1999 jeep chreekee limited, after two transmission replaces, replaced ABS, entire AC rebuild and numerious other computer problems..-Grant Jeep has not improved. My Girlfriend's folks just got stranded in Kentucky because their 2005 Cherokee needed a transmission rebuild at 25,000 miles. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 hyundai and kia are making some noise. it seems like they are finally bribing the right people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyholetsgogrant Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 hyundai and kia are making some noise. it seems like they are finally bribing the right people. Hyundai's now have offically have ridden themselves of being a serial POS.. -Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyholetsgogrant Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 Jeep has not improved. My Girlfriend's folks just got stranded in Kentucky because their 2005 Cherokee needed a transmission rebuild at 25,000 miles. :doh: Most mechanics say that Jeep have complex electical problems, like what my mom is experiencing now..not to mention bad transmissions.. -Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_totti10 Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 Most mechanics say that Jeep have complex electical problems, like what my mom is experiencing now..not to mention bad transmissions..-Grant my first car was a 93 grand cherokee drove it past 200k miles....i now drive a 2003 grand cherokee and havent experienced anything wrong now at about 60k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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