Newest J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Reinforces CPO Value Proposition

If the certified pre-owned market needed any more fuel to keep record-breaking sales soaring, Raffi Festekjian explained how the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study might have provided the very thing.

The study showed the long-term dependability of three-year-old models improved year-over-year, and Festekjian connected how these units are primary candidates to fill dealers’ CPO inventory.

“It’s good news for consumers looking for a used vehicle or a certified pre-owned vehicle because there’s a good selection in the marketplace,” said Festekjian, J.D. Power’s director of automotive research. “If you look at the top 10 list, there are several non-premium brands that are there. You don’t necessarily have to break your wallet and buy an expensive premium car.”

While the study’s top 10 performing brands did include badges such as Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Ram, the leader for the second year in a row was, in fact, a premium nameplate — Lexus.

Lexus ranked highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a second consecutive year. The study, now in its 24th year, measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (those that were introduced for the 2010 model year). Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.

Among models, the Lexus RX had the fewest reported problems in the industry at just 57 PP100. This is the first time in the history of the VDS that a crossover or SUV has achieved this distinction.

“There are many analyses conducted throughout the year, but VDS remains one of the most significant gauges of long-term vehicle quality and reliability,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “This award not only reflects real-world, long-term quality and dependability, it shows Lexus’ dedication and commitment to our customers.”

Rounding out the five highest-ranked nameplates were Porsche, Lincoln, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. Ram posted the greatest year-over-year improvement from 2012 — by 52 PP100.

More Details of Overall Study Results

In 2013, the dependability of models that were new or substantially redesigned for the 2010 model-year averaged 116 PP100, compared with 133 PP100 for models that were unchanged from the 2009 model-year — also referred to as carryover models.

J.D. Power indicated this is the first year that there are fewer reported problems for all-new or redesigned models than for carryover models since the study was redesigned in 2009. Models that were refreshed in 2010 — those with generally minor changes to the interior or exterior — average 111 PP100 in the 2013 VDS.

Festekjian told Auto Remarketing that excessive wind noise was the top reported problem for the third consecutive year, followed by noisy brakes and exterior paint peeling, fading or chipping.

Among the top 10 problems reported, Festekjian mentioned that issues with navigation systems as well as hands-free capabilities appeared for the first time in study history.