- Toyota Avalon tops J.D. Power’s dependability study as the most reliable model of 2022.
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity issues remain the biggest headache for drivers.
- Top-performing brands included Lexus, Buick, Mazda, Toyota, Cadillac, and Chevrolet.
While the world has largely moved on from the Covid-19 era, the automotive industry is still grappling with its lingering effects, particularly when it comes to reliability. Supply chain disruptions, semiconductor shortages, and workforce upheavals from that period continue to haunt automakers, and a new study suggests that vehicle dependability has taken a serious hit.
According to J.D. Power, the number of reported problems in three-year-old vehicles has climbed to its highest level since 2009.
Read: Just 5% Of Americans Surveyed Want An EV As Their Next Car, But Is That Really True?
The latest study analyzed 2022 model-year vehicles across the United States, measuring reliability based on problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). On average, the industry hit 202 PP100, which represent a 6% decline in reliability compared to last year’s study of 2021MY vehicles.
Infotainment Systems Remain a Major Headache
For the second year in a row, connectivity issues with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay topped the list of complaints. Problems related to these systems increased from 6.3 PP100 in 2023 to 8.4 PP100 this year. More broadly, smartphone-related issues accounted for half of the study’s top 10 most common problems, reinforcing the notion that most automakers are still struggling to integrate modern tech seamlessly.
J.D. Power also pointed out that many of these 2022MY vehicles were built during a time of severe supply chain strain and personnel shortages, which likely contributed to the rise in reported issues. This aligns with findings from the company’s Initial Quality Study, which tracks problems early in a vehicle’s life and has also shown a decline in reliability.
As always, some companies performed better than others, and some powertrain types proved more reliable. Issues experienced by battery-electric vehicles have improved 33 PP100, positioning them only behind hybrid vehicles (199 PP100), and gas-powered vehicles (200 PP100) as the third-most reliable powertrain type, at least from the 2022MY. PHEVs on the other hand proved to be the most problematic of the lot, offering the worst of both worlds.
Which Cars Held Up Best and Worst?
The best-ranked brands were Lexus and Buick, with average problems per 100 vehicles of 140 and 143, respectively. Other car manufacturers performing better than the industry average of 202 PP100 included Mazda, Toyota, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Porsche, BMW, Mini, Kia, and Honda. The single most dependable individual model in the study was the Toyota Avalon.
On the other end of the spectrum, several major brands struggled with above-average problem rates. The single worst performer was Volkswagen, with 285 PP100, followed closely by Chrysler (282 PP100), Jeep (275 PP100), Audi (273 PP100), and Land Rover (270 PP100), which just can’t seem to shake its reputation.
Despite the downturn in dependability, J.D. Power’s director of auto benchmarking, Jason Norton, reminded consumers to take these results in context: “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.”
In other words, don’t expect a flawless experience from cars that rolled off the assembly line in the middle of a logistical nightmare.
