J.D. Power Reliability ratings are a combination of J.D. Power Quality and Dependability scores. Quality scores are based on initial owner response and feedback of their new purchase whereas Dependability scores focus on longer-term ownership experiences of 3 years.

A major contributor to J.D. Power ratings is not only quality and dependability, but consumer's feedback on specific performance attributes and features of their car.

J.D. Power not only collects consumer input based on the cars they have purchased and owned for several years, but also their opinions of the car buying process and repair and maintenance service experience at their dealerships. Dealership sales and service is ranked by car manufacturer with the top dealership for new car sales and the top dealership for service winning the annual awards.

Cars lose some of their value each year through typical aging and daily wear and tear. This loss in value is known as vehicle depreciation and varies depending on the year, make and model of the car. To gauge this, J.D. Power Depreciation ratings reflect the rate at which a vehicle will retain its value over time. The higher the J.D. Power rating, the slower the rate of declining vehicle value from year to year. The J.D. Power Depreciation rating is shown on a 10-point scale within the Red Blade Ratings and also contributes to a model's 100-Point Score.