New-vehicle high quality improved at 12 of 33 manufacturers ranked within the examine: Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Maserati, Jaguar, Subaru, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Audi, Chrysler and Volvo.
“It is not one factor that is deteriorating within the trade,” mentioned Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Energy. “There’s simply plenty of little issues going flawed, and it is including as much as huge issues for patrons.”
The variety of issues tracked per 100 automobiles rose 6.5 % from 2022 to 2023, following an 11 % rise from 2021 to 2022, Hanley mentioned. Earlier than then, the most important enhance in issues in a given 12 months was 3 %, excluding years when the examine was redesigned.
“I do not see this altering anytime quickly,” Hanley mentioned. “With what they’re doing and the way they’re dealing with all these conditions, we’re nonetheless taking place a really bumpy path.”
Dodge rose from second place to No. 1 with 140 issues per 100 automobiles, adopted by Ram with 141. Ram ranked 18th in 2022. Alfa Romeo improved to No. 3, with 143 issues per 100 automobiles, 68 fewer than a 12 months in the past; it additionally topped the rankings of premium manufacturers.
Maserati was the most-improved model, with 182 issues per 100 automobiles, 73 fewer than a 12 months earlier.
Stellantis made vital good points, partly, as a result of many automobiles carried over from the earlier mannequin 12 months have been largely unchanged, which tends to provide fewer issues than new launches and permits for enchancment of current options, Hanley mentioned. A number of the automaker’s manufacturers posted double-digit enhancements with audio and security techniques.
“The work they put in positively has introduced them to the highest of the rank chart, and so they earned the place they’re at,” he mentioned.
Buick and Chevrolet rounded out the highest 5, whereas GMC and Cadillac completed among the many prime 10. The General Motors manufacturers additionally had plenty of automobiles carry over from the earlier mannequin 12 months, Hanley mentioned.
“That is the third time in 4 years we’ve had the very best preliminary high quality amongst all automakers, and that type of consistency exhibits a customer-first tradition,” Juan Carlos Jimenez, vice chairman of high quality for GM North America, mentioned in a press release. “It additionally says lots concerning the efforts of all the GM group to design, construct, promote and repair a various number of gasoline and electrical automobiles.”
Ford Motor Co.’s manufacturers had the most important year-over-year decline in preliminary high quality, led by Lincoln with 208 issues per 100 automobiles, 41 greater than final 12 months. Ford had 201 issues per 100 automobiles, up 34, based on J.D. Energy. Each manufacturers had late automobile launches, together with the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair compact crossovers, that missed the survey window and affected the gross sales combine studied, Hanley mentioned. The Escape and Corsair typically have much less expertise and content material, which may imply fewer high quality points, he mentioned.
“We’re dedicated to delivering high quality experiences that prospects count on and deserve from us, and we won’t relaxation till we do exactly that,” Ford mentioned in a ready assertion Thursday.
“Whereas 2023 Lincoln Corsair, Ford Escape and Ford Tremendous Responsibility weren’t included on this 12 months’s examine, we’re assured we’re making progress to enhance high quality in newer fashions. 4 fashions have been within the prime three of their segments together with Bronco Sport, Maverick, Nautilus and Ranger. Buyer suggestions from sources like J.D. Energy and our personal inner measures are serving to us pinpoint the place to enhance on the way in which to reaching best-in-class high quality efficiency in high-volume segments and being among the many leaders in all segments by 2025.”
Toyota fell eight spots to No. 22, dropping under the trade common at 194 issues per 100 automobiles. Hanley mentioned Toyota launched a brand new audio system final 12 months on the Tundra full-size pickup and has since added it to different automobiles.
New applied sciences “are usually extra problematic,” Hanley mentioned. He mentioned Toyota “did repair a bunch of the issues” on the Tundra this 12 months, so scores associated to the truck did enhance.
“However they acquired these points on the brand new fashions that they rolled it out to,” he added. “You attempt to introduce new applied sciences to replace your automobiles, and it is arduous to get proper on the primary move.”
A spokesman for Toyota mentioned the Japanese automaker was “nonetheless learning” the outcomes and did not have a remark at the moment.
