Imagine buying a $40,000 new car only to face peeling steering wheel leather in 6 months and warning lights flashing by month three—even Toyota tumbled to 18th place. Skip this “225 Blacklist,” or risk becoming the next victim.
J.D. Power’s latest U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) ranks brands by PP100 (Problems Per 100 Vehicles)—lower scores mean fewer issues.
Industry Shockers
With the industry average at 192 PP100, several “safe-bet” brands crashed hard:
🥇 Lexus (166 PP100)
🥈 Nissan (169 PP100)
🥉 Hyundai (173 PP100)
At least Japanese brands salvaged partial pride.
Biggest Surprises
- Toyota (202 PP100) fell below average for the first time ever, ranking 18th—its worst showing.
- Honda (179 PP100) slid to 6th.
- Korean brands soared: Kia (181), Genesis (183). Their secret? High parts commonality cutting failure rates.
- Detroit’s quiet win: Chevrolet (178, 4th), Buick (183, 5th).
European Meltdown
- Porsche (188 PP100) was the only German brand above average.
- BMW (196), Mercedes (201) struggled.
- Bottom dwellers: Volkswagen (225), Audi (269)—explaining why European dealers now push extended warranties.
Tesla (202) and Rivian (274) were excluded due to low survey eligibility but posted dismal scores privately. Software updates can’t fix panel gaps!
Key Takeaways
💰 Budget shoppers: Prioritize American/Korean brands.
💎 Luxury seekers: Stick with Lexus (but check part availability).
🔧 German fans: Triple your repair budget.
Final warning: Ignore these rankings, and your wallet will teach you a lesson.