Korean automakers shine in quality study
Hyundai, Kia average 90 problems per 100 vehicles in first three months of ownership
Kia and Hyundai widened their lead in U.S. new-vehicle quality as Japanese automakers fell below the industry average for the first time, according to a J.D. Power & Associates survey.
The two South Korean companies averaged 90 problems per 100 vehicles in the Initial Quality Study, outpacing European, U.S. and Japanese competitors. Porsche was the top brand for the third year in a row, followed by Kia, Jaguar and Hyundai. The survey is based on consumer reports from the first 90 days of ownership.
“For decades, the mantle of quality belonged to the Japanese,” John Humphrey, the research firm’s senior vicepresident of automotive operations, said in an interview before results were released. “That Hyundai and Kia, as mass-market brands, were able to surpass the quality stalwarts and the luxury brands is a considerable achievement.”
The survey, in its 29th year, is an industry benchmark that in recent years has shown a closing of the gap among automakers from different regions. General Motors this year tied for the lead in vehicle-category winners, after ranking first by that measure in the previous two years.
By region, European companies were second behind the South Koreans, averaging 113 problems per 100 vehicles, while Japanese and U.S. automakers were at 114 each. The overall industry average was 112, an improvement from 116 last year, the California-based firm said.
For the third straight year, entertainment systems and connectivity technology such as voice-recognition systems were the top complaint, J.D. Power said. More drivers have smartphone-style functionality in their vehicles and they want it to work as well as an iPhone, whether it’s setting up directions or making hands-free phone calls.
Automakers are managing that transition with mixed success, and it’s obscuring gains in fit and finish, and engine and transmission quality, Humphrey said. “Assembly quality continues to improve, but the main sticking points are issues related to the technology in the car. It’s a combination of it not working well and being difficult to get used to. But what’s important in the consumers’ eyes is that it’s a problem.”
The second-largest category of complaints was related to the vehicle exteriors, with issues such as hard-to-open doors, latches, hoods, wind noise, paint chips and scratches.
Rounding out the top 10 in average number of complaints were Infiniti in fifth, followed by BMW, Chevrolet, Lincoln, Toyota and Lexus. GM, Hyundai and Kia, Volkswagen and Nissan each had winners in four vehicle categories, followed by BMW and Toyota with three apiece. Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles both had two and Mazda had one.
J.D. Power, a unit of McGraw Hill Financial Inc., collected responses from February to May from more than 84,000 buyers and lessors of new 2015-model vehicles.