J.D. Power has released its U.S. Initial Quality Study for 2022 and the prognosis could be better. Automobiles are reportedly becoming less reliable and more expensive. While there are certainly valid reasons for this — ongoing supply chain problems, companies transitioning to novel electric powertrains, and remote working environments making it hard to collaborate on engineering — the bottom line is that the whole industry is blowing it.

The study sampled the opinions of 84,165 car buyers (including lessors) between February and May of 2022 to get a sense of how they were finding their new ride. J.D. Power determined that problems rose to a record high for the period, up 11 percent from 2021. That boiled down to an average of 180 problems per every 100 vehicles sampled within the first 90 days of ownership and is the most the outlet has encountered within 36 years.

Breaking things down by manufacturer, Buick took top honors with just 139 reported issues per 100 vehicles. It was followed by Dodge, Chevrolet, Genesis, Kia, and Lexus — all of whom managed under 160 problems per 100 cars.

However, it’s the automakers at the bottom that are the most impressive. Porsche, Infiniti, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Audi, Maserati, and Volvo all averaged at least 200 issues per 100 units — with Chrysler at the very bottom with a score of 265. Polestar and Tesla also averaged some fairly heinous numbers at 226 and 328, respectively. But those two were “not officially ranked” by J.D. Power because they did not meet the study award criteria for sample size.

Truth be told, the sample size probably has a lot to do with some of the big disparities seen between years. I was frankly surprised to see General Motors performing this well after having driven around in some of their recent products. But then I remembered what it’s like to motor in some of the other brands and that U.S. product recalls are already on pace to set a record for 2022.

That said, we usually take the Initial Quality Study with an extra-large grain of salt and are hardly alone in that practice. It’s often a better tool for taking the industry’s temperature as a whole than deciding which individual brands/vehicles will actually be problem-free.

This year, J.D. Power determined that initial quality improved on just nine of the 33 brands surveyed. Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Acura, Land Rover, and Audi were the only marques to move up. But I would still argue that the latter half of that list still doesn’t have much reason to celebrate. It’s a lackluster year for just about everyone building cars, with GM being the only brand J.D. Power’s data saw fit to offer any real praise.

So what gives? Well, like last year, the outlet believes that it’s the modern tech going into cars causing a lot of the problems — specifically infotainment systems. This syncs with the claims made in 2021, where a shockingly high percentage of issues were tied to vehicles’ multimedia interface, and also matches the kind of reporting we’re seeing from the latest recall campaigns.

“Automakers continue to launch vehicles that are more and more technologically complex in an era in which there have been many shortages of critical components to support them,” said David Amodeo, director of global automotive at J.D. Power, before adding that the global semiconductor chip shortage is undoubtedly playing a role here.

Companies have effectively been building unfinished vehicles in an effort to keep dealers supplied and asked that stores install the absent chips or some other minor component before sale. But it’s looking like that’s not always happening before the vehicle ends up being adopted. While not a good look for dealers, the industry scapegoating them for effectively failing to deliver a completed automobile isn’t going to fly here. Your author sympathizes with the sad state of the economy and ongoing supply chain hardships. But it’s time to start solving those problems if there’s any hope of 2023 being any better.

Amodeo suggested that improved communication for when missing features or absent components will become available would help with customer satisfaction. But a more apt solution might be for the industry to — and get ready to be blown away with this crazy theory — actually finish the damn cars before putting them on the delivery truck and to stop running with cheap, failure-prone touchscreens.

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While initial quality can be related to reliability, IQS is not synonymous with reliability either.

However, unlike basically everyone else on TTAC, I do consider IQS to be a worthwhile metric.

There is value to an IQS score. A dealership that takes the time to explain features will improve that score. Various options need to be intuitive. A complex infotainment system might be extremely “reliable” but shouldn’t score well if most people can’t figure out how to use it. I’m still blown away by seeing people talking on their cell phones while driving. Link it up and use it that way. I have yet to take possession of my new ZR2 but a search through video’s online shows that all of the “driver modes” are simple and straight foreword. I won’t need to wade through multiple “windows” to go into offroad mode or turn off stabilitrac.

That’s part of the problem, Lou—people can’t, don’t, or won’t, RTFM! I usually know more of the features and how they work than the average salesperson, and the ones at my Honda dealer admit it as such! I happen to think they’re better than what the average person on the street would be in that regard — fanbois and readers of sites like this are probably going to go out of their way to do their homework before a car purchase more than the average bear!

As far as reliability studies: 90 days?! Pffft! If possible, I want to know what I can expect three YEARS hence, if I want to have a car that will be superseded by the new generation of that same vehicle in a year or two!

Does JD Power track the class/category of the complaint? I think it’s more meaningful to know what the complaint was (head unit doesn’t connect with CarPlay vs hey my door handle fell off vs my door latch is sticking).

They do but they make you pay out the a$$ to see the dataset.

This has always been the problem with the survey. Years ago Ford got hammered because of MS Sync related problems. There is a big difference between infotainment glitches and transmissions that wouldn’t shift properly.

I would not be surprised to hear many complaints are simply “car doesn’t get the MPG advertised” due to drivers I follow that are either racing away or slamming on the brakes because they don’t seem to understand the concept of coasting.

“There is a big difference between infotainment glitches and transmissions that wouldn’t shift properly.”

Thankfully for Ford buyers, you can have both problems!

“here is a big difference between infotainment glitches and transmissions that wouldn’t shift properly.”

How so? Jerky shifts vs. half the time your dialing into a conference call on the road it looses the connection are both pretty big pain the ass.

JMII (- the c7 guy right? Love C7. Hate C8)

EPA MPG Might have something to do with how the GOVT does the test. 100% real gas them 90% real – 10 % water crap that gets you 8% less MPG for us. Try it some time. Fill up with 100% recreation real gas.

ethanol is crap. Wells to wheels energy destroyer.

They didn’t ask me, but no problems after 90 days with the Santa Fe we got in March.

I sometimes wish the infotainment screen would boot up faster when the car starts. Does that qualify as a problem?

Absolutely, and it makes the car utterly unreliable.

“ I sometimes wish the infotainment screen would boot up faster when the car starts. Does that qualify as a problem?”

I don’t believe so, but for the sake of argument, if it was considered an issue, it would be weighted the same as if your engine literally have itself a new hole in the block.

And that’s the problem with JD IQS

“it would be weighted the same as if your engine literally have itself a new hole in the block”

As it is a Hyundai, one may have that problem too!

Hmm..a five-cylinder powerplant, or at least some provisions for it!

Reliability follows several years behind innovation. In the last decade, they’ve introduced technology to squeeze out MPGs from ICE cars while at the same time turning car radios into IPads. Something’s going to break!

Complex systems continue to multiply. More expensive, less reliable and more difficult to work on.

I’d buy a used soup can if it had a iPad on the dash.

Since J.D. Power isn’t breaking this data out by brand and model, it’s hard to tell what the root of these “reliability” issues really is, and who the offenders are. Does Brand A do a better job with its’ infotainment than Brand B? Unknown.

(I’m sure a check with a sufficient number of zeros on it might produce the desired data, though.)

And how is Chrysler that much worse than Dodge or Jeep?

It does show that GMT things suffer from reliability woes, since Buick is up top and has an identical portfolio to the rest of GM, minus a GMT.

“Automobiles are reportedly becoming less reliable and more expensive.”

Are they sure about the “more expensive” part?

Adjusted for inflation, most vehicles have gotten less expensive.

Adjusted for inflation, Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio might appear less daunting:

https://www.usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html

USA’s debt-to-GDP ratio is 108.8 %. Canada is 87.16 %.

Lowest: Hong Kong at 0.27% Worst: Japan at 236.14%

Since 2019? And net of incentives?

In the fall of 2020 we leased a mid-sized SUV. Zero down. 48 months. Just over $300 per month plus tax. If we could get the same vehicle (currently a long wait list), the current lease ‘ask’ is well over $400 with the same terms.

I turned our other leased vehicle in, during the spring of 2021. The buyout was approximately $13k plus tax. I see dealers asking about $22k for the same model with higher mileage. Yeah, I am kicking myself over not buying it out.

Now I am currently trying to find a new vehicle, as my long time mechanic just retired. Don’t have the time or energy to try and find another ‘honest’ mechanic to keep our 2 older vehicles on the road. And since combined they have been driven labout than 5,000 kms since the summer of 2020, sitting unused is not good for them. And we don’t need 3 vehicles for only 2 drivers.

But there is next to no inventory available. Most vehicles have a 3 to 6 month wait list. Zero vehicles in the showrooms. Few if any demos. And the sales staff at the dealerships has been cut significantly. Where there used to be 6 to 8 sales reps, many dealers now have only 2 or 3 still employed, taking orders.

And asking prices reflect this. Expect to pay full MSRP, plus up to $2,500 ‘dealer fees’. And if you finance forget the 0% offers.

@Arthur since I am moving I will have to find a new mechanic as well. Easier to find a new doctor than a good mechanic. The electronics on many new vehicles is a reason reliability scores have gone down along with more complex multi geared automatic transmissions and turbo engines. Some of the issues are teething problems and will eventually be resolved.

I don’t want a turbo. Or AWD. Or a pushbutton start. Or a computer screen stuck on the instrument panel. And would prefer not to have a CVT.

Dealers are now pushing ‘mandatory’ add ons for any in-stock vehicles. In order to maximize their profit, since they are selling fewer vehicles. So expect rustproofing, VIN etching, paint treatments, etc to be tacked on to the cost of any in-stock vehicle.

Arthur: I too hate pushbutton start. Thought I was the only one. It creates multiple problems.

-What if the battery dies when you are in downtown at 2 AM. -Cant stash a key in a magnet box to ‘drop’ the car for someone else. -I come home. wifey has to go somewhere. Takes car as I get out. Forget to give her the fob.

And problems i have not even thought of

“-What if the battery dies when you are in downtown at 2 AM.”

Gosh…it’s like they’ve already thought of that. It amazes me how people don’t understand their automobiles.

As for 2 and 3…..that’s a you issue, not a function of the push button.

For the second scenario, have a regular (non-immobilizer) key cut at the dealer (a “training” key) matching the one on the inside of the fob. Then when you leave the car, hide the fob under the driver’s mat and manually lock the car with that key, then give that key to whoever is picking up the car. (Or take the key from the inside of the fob and lock the fob itself inside the car with that key, then give the key to the person picking up the car. I’ve got one of those leather cases for the fob which is a quick-disconnect from my key ring, so I just would leave the entire thing in the car.)

I use that same key to manually operate the windows in order to keep them cracked open on a sunny summer day.

@Arthur–You can avoid most of the items listed except the computer screen which is on every new vehicle. I am glad I got the Maverick, I did really didn’t want the turbo Ecoboost 2.0 the hybrid is exactly what I wanted and I am getting somewhere between 40 and 50 mpgs but that is driving the speed limit and no jackrabbit starts. You might be better off waiting and if you want to order a Maverick the 2023 MY orders open on Aug 15. If you decide to order a Maverick be patient its worth the wait.

Here’s a thought – makers should just cut out all the infotainment crap and stick to stuff related to driving. Who needs it?

How will I listen to Van Halen? I’m not carrying around cassettes again and the radio is full of car dealers yelling in ads and politicians trying to get my vote.

I’m not going back to tapes in the console or CD’s in the visor.

I agree. And the folks who blame crashes on infotainment distraction probably haven’t had to drag a 100-cassette case into the front seat and then fishing around it for a Motley Crue tape, or try to navigate with a road atlas. Sometimes progress is a good thing.

I’m pretty sure cars have been able to play MP3 or stream off a device since at least 2000 and the first factory Bluetooth radio came out in 2001.

Indeed. A car that is a car, rather than a computer that just happens to be a car. I suspect that it is all marketing motivated. Gimmicks and features to create excitement. Apple does that with their software. Every fall I find myself adapting to new Apple OS features. Most of them are useless and I turn them off. Some are literally forced on me, but they still are no improvement and uselss.

Indeed. A car that is a car, rather than a computer that just happens to be a car. I suspect that it is all marketing motivated. Gimmicks and features to create excitement. Apple does that with their software. Every fall I find myself adapting to new Apple OS features. Most of them are useless and I turn them off. Some are literally forced on me, but they still are no improvement and useless.

Given how difficult it has become in the post-COVID environment to assemble a complex product it would be shocking if there were any other result. OEMs are improvising from day to day and sometimes those improvisations don’t work out.

It’s been a bit dizzying to watch features appear and disappear from various models almost week by week, but also completely understandable.

Real tranny. CD player No Turbo no pushbutton start. No TV screen with everything run thru it (A/C, Radio band, seat heat ….etc)

Thing is, as they say, this is an Initial Quality Study. It is more of a rating of a particiular model’s assembly process rather than its long term reliability. Consumer’s Reports reliability ratings are a better measure in my opinion. Their data comes from owner’s experiences, and over many miles of actual service. Both are useful for their process and intents. Look at their data and consider the source. I certainly related this experience here before. I got a 2020 RAV4 hybrid 12/2019. It had zero “initial quality” issues when I got it. Only over the brief 23,000 miles I drove it did a litany of six designed in annoyances and malfunctions manifest.

No they’re just getting better at having them die as they cross the warranty “finish line”. Most will make it but many will fall short. That’s got to happening and I’m sure they hate leaving meat on the bone.

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