2011 J.D. Power IQS (Initial Quality Study) Results

Here are the JDPA 2011 IQS (Initial Quality Study) Results from a mail out survey of 228 questions in 8 categories that drew 73,000 customer responses for vehicles representing 32 brands in service for 3 months in the Nov. 2010 to Feb. 2011 time frame.

Overall initial quality improves to an average of 107 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2011 from 109 PP100 in 2010. However, the initial quality of launch models—those that are all-new or have had major redesigns—worsens by 10 percent to an average of 122 PP100 in 2011 from 111 PP100 in 2010. Conversely, carryover models—those that have had no significant redesign in the past year—have better initial quality than ever before. Owners of these vehicles report an average of just 103 PP100 in 2011, compared with 108 PP100 in 2010. Lower PP100 scores indicate a lower rate of problem incidences and therefore higher initial quality.

Highlights:
Ford tumbles from 5th to 23rd, Toyota bounces back from 21st to 7th, Land Rover cuts problems per 100 (pp/100) by an industry-best 47, next most-improved Jaguar & Toyota by 16pp/100, industry average flat. Most improved by ranking: GMC to #10 from #25 (15 places) and Mazda to #5 from #18 (13 places).

Nameplate      PP100      Comments      
1. Lexus               73  improved from 88pp/100 & #4 last year, beats 2010 #1 by 10pp/100
2. Honda              86  improved from 95pp/100 & #6 last year
3. Acura              89  holding steady after 86pp/100 and #2 last year
4. Mercedes         94  was 87pp/100 & #3 last year
5tie. Mazda         100  improved from 114 & #18tie last year
5tie. Porsche       100  was #1 ranked last year, new Cayenne had impact
7. Toyota            101  improved from 117pp/100 & #21 so big recovery from its bad publicity
8. Infiniti             102  improved from 107pp/100 & #9 last year
9. Cadillac           103  improved from 111pp/100 & #12tie last year
10. GMC             104  improved from 126pp/100 & #25tie last year
Average           107  was 109 last year so essentially flat
11. Hyundai        108  fell from 102pp/100 & #7 last year, two-thirds of sales volume were new vehicles
12. Subaru          108  improved from 121pp/100 & #22 last year
13tie. BMW         109  improved from 113pp/100 & #16 last year
13tie. Chevrolet   109  improved slightly from 111pp/100 & was #12tie last year
13tie. Volvo         109  stayed at 109pp/100 & ranked fell from #10 last year
16. Chrysler        110  improved from 122pp/100 & #23 last year
17. Lincoln          111  was 106pp/100 & #8 last year, added technology features made a difference
18. Audi             113  was 111pp/100 & #12tie last year
18tie. Kia            113  improved from 126pp/100 & #25tie last year, 60% of sales volume were new launches
20tie. Buick         114  stayed at 114pp/100 & ranked slipped from #18tie last year
20tie. Jaguar        114  improved from 130pp/100 & #28tie last year
20tie. Ram           114  was 110pp/100 & #11 last year
23. Ford             116  was 93pp/100 & #5 last year, MyFordTouch difficulties a big culprit: JDPA
24. Nissan          117  was 111pp/100 & #12tie last year
25. Jeep             122  was 129pp/100 & #27 last year
26tie. Land Rover 123  biggest improvement in the industry - by 47pp/100, #33 last year
26tie. Scion         123    was 114pp/100 & #18tie last year
28tie. MINI          131   was 133pp/100 & #30 last year
28tie. Volkswagen 131  was 135 & #31 last year
30. Mitsubishi      133   improved from 146pp/100 & #32 last year
31. Suzuki          136   was 122pp/100 & #23tie last year
32. Dodge          137   was 130pp/100 & #28tie last year but many older vehicles dragged average down. Durango was best launch vehicle ever and Challenger did well.

Note: 2010 #17 ranked Mercury brand is gone.

Top Three Models per Segment
Sub-Compact Car: Highest Ranked: Honda Fit then Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent
Compact Car: Highest Ranked: Honda Civic & Honda Insight (tie), then Toyota Prius
Compact Sporty Car: Highest Ranked: Mazda MX-5 Miata then Volkswagen Eos, Volkswagen GTI
Compact Premium Sporty Car: Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet/Coupe
Entry Premium Car: Highest Ranked: Lexus ES then Acura TSX, Lexus IS
Midsize Premium Car: Highest Ranked: Lexus GS, then Jaguar XF, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan/Wagon
Midsize Sporty Car: Highest Ranked: Dodge Challenger then Chevrolet Camaro
Large Premium Car: Highest Ranked: Lexus LS then Hyundai Equus, Porsche Panamera
Midsize Car: Highest Ranked: Honda Accord then Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry
Large Car: Highest Ranked: Ford Taurus then Buick Lucerne, Nissan Maxima
Compact Crossover/SUV: Highest Ranked: Honda Element, then Honda CR-V, Toyota FJ Cruiser
Compact MPV: Highest Ranked: Chevrolet HHR
Entry Premium Crossover/SUV: Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class then Acura RDX, Volvo XC60
Midsize Crossover/SUV: Highest Ranked: Honda Accord Crosstour then Dodge Durango (tie) & Subaru Outback Wagon (tie)
Large Crossover/SUV: Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Tahoe then GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban
Midsize Premium Crossover/SUV: Highest Ranked: Lexus GX then Lexus RX, BMW X6 (tie) & Infiniti FX-Series (tie) & Volvo XC70 (tie)
Large Premium Crossover/SUV: Highest Ranked: Cadillac Escalade then Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Lincoln Navigator
Large Pickup: Highest Ranked: Ford F-150 LD then Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Avalanche
Midsize Pickup: Highest Ranked: Honda Ridgeline then Nissan Frontier, Ram Dakota
Minivan: Highest Ranked: Chrysler Town & Country then Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan

Source: J.D. Power and Associates