2010 Vehicle Dependability Study Results

Understandably, long-term dependability—the trend measured by VDS—has a strong effect on owners when they are considering whether or not to repurchase a vehicle from the same brand (known as “repurchase intent”). Owners who did not experience problems with their vehicles were much more likely to indicate that they would repurchase a vehicle of the same brand. Regardless of any individual preferences for sleek styling or fun driving dynamics, consumers still seek problem-free vehicles.
In conducting the 2010 VDS, original vehicle owners were asked to report the type and number of problems they experienced during the preceding 12 months with their 3-year-old vehicle. This is measured as “problems per 100 vehicles” (or PP100, a straight average of the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles). A lower PP100 score reflects higher quality. The problems were grouped into the following eight categories:

• Vehicle Exterior
• The Driving Experience
• Features, Controls and Displays
• Audio, Entertainment and Navigation
• Seats
• Heating, Ventilation and Cooling
• Vehicle Interior
• Engine and Transmission

Following are some of the study highlights:
• Twenty-five of 36 brands have improved in long-term dependability in 2010, compared with their performance in 2009, which continues a steady trend of industry-wide improvement.

• Toyota continues to perform well in long-term dependability and garners four segment awards—more than any other nameplate in 2010 for this study—for the Highlander, Prius, Sequoia, and Tundra. Honda receives three segment awards for the CR-V, Fit, and Ridgeline. Lincoln captures two awards for the Mark LT and MKZ. In addition, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, and Mercury each receive a model segment award.

• Among owners who say they did not experience problems with their vehicle, 43% indicate they “definitely will” repurchase their current brand. This figure declines to 28% among owners who say they experienced at least one problem with their vehicle.

• Due to a 38 PP100 improvement, Porsche moves up 10 rank positions from its performance in the 2009 study to rank highest among all nameplates in the 2010 study—which is consistent with the brand’s performance in the 2007 Initial Quality Study.

• Lincoln, by way of a 30 PP100 improvement, moves up six rank positions from 2009 to follow Porsche in the nameplate rankings. Rounding out the top five nameplates are Buick, Lexus and Mercury.

• Seven of the 10 models with the lowest incidence of problems in the industry are from Ford and General Motors, including the 2007 model-year Buick LaCrosse, Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Ford Five Hundred, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan, and Mercury Montego.

• Overall vehicle dependability has improved by 7% in 2010 to an average of 155 PP100, compared with 167 PP100 in 2009—a rate that is consistent with historical industry gains.

About the Study
The 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 52,000 original owners of 2007 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded between October and December 2009. The study includes 198 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle.

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