A recent J.D. Power study has highlighted a growing issue in the auto industry. Vehicles are becoming less reliable after three years of ownership. The 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study reveals an unsettling trend. There is an uptick in the number of problems reported by vehicle owners. According to the study, the average number of issues has jumped to 190 problems per 100 vehicles. This marks a significant increase from the previous year.
Frank Hanley, Senior Director of Auto Benchmarking at J.D. Power, expressed concern over this trend. “Historically, VDS model results mirror the results of the respective model year in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, so a deterioration of vehicle dependability is unusual,” he stated.
“This can likely be attributed to the tumultuous time during which these vehicles were built, and owners are keeping their vehicles for much longer. In fact, the average age of vehicles on American roads today is approximately 12.5 years, which underscores the importance of building a vehicle designed to stand the test of time. Automakers must ensure new vehicle technology introduced today will still meet the customer’s needs years down the road,” he explained.
Now in its 35th year, the study examines 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories. It highlights infotainment systems as a primary source of owner complaints. Especially, issues related to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Frustration with driver assistance system alerts has also grown over time. This contradicts the expectation that owners would become accustomed to these features.
The study also points out that owners of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) face more problems than those owning gas-powered or hybrid vehicles. BEV owners experience the most issues especially. Tires, in particular, have been a significant concern for BEV owners. Many have had to replace them within the last year.
Toyota emerges as a standout in this year’s study. It claims the most segment awards of any automaker, highlighting its dedication to quality and reliability. Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, was named the top brand for dependability among premium brands for the second year in a row. Toyota also led the mass market segment, closely followed by Buick and Chevrolet.
The insights from the 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study are drawn from responses from over 30,000 original owners of 2021 model-year vehicles. They underline the challenges facing automakers today. As vehicles are growing more complex, maintaining their reliability over time is becoming difficult. This points to a need for a renewed focus on building cars that can stand the test of time.
