Buying a new car is exciting, but the shine wears off over time, and the once-new vehicle starts to show its true colors. After a few years, most owners will have identified at least a handful of gripes with their car, ranging from how well the infotainment system works to how much maintenance the car requires.
Each year, JD Power surveys thousands of original owners three years after their new car, truck, SUV, or van purchase to determine which vehicle makes and models hold up the best. According to the company’s research, the 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) shows an overall industry improvement from the prior year, coming in at 186 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2023—a gain of 6 PP100 from 2022. The study also identifies a widening gap in vehicle dependability for mass-market and premium brand vehicles.
In conducting the 2023 VDS, JD Power surveyed more than 30,000 original owners of 2020 model-year vehicles. The company quantifies trouble spots using PP100, wherein a lower PP100 score means fewer problems and more reliable cars.
JD Power revised its testing methodology in 2022 with a closer eye on new technologies. As a result, the VDS now includes 184 problem areas across nine categories, including:
Automakers are rolling out new features and tech at a dizzying pace, so it’s not surprising to see problems with all the bells and whistles. In the 2023 VDS, JD Power sees an average of 49.9 PP100 for infotainment-related items, including issues with voice-recognition systems, smartphone connectivity, and Bluetooth connection difficulties. “…If the Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity trend continues, this area could take over the least-coveted top spot for problems in long-term durability,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking.
At the same time, JD Power identifies software updates as an opportunity for automakers to improve the ownership experience. Satisfaction scores improve when a software update addresses out-of-date features and fixes bugs.
Some of the usual suspects make the top of the list in vehicle dependability for 2023, including Lexus in the overall top spot with a score of 133 PP100. Kia is the top-performing mass-market brand with 152 PP100. The Toyota C-HR and the Lexus RX tie for the most reliable model overall with 111 PP 100. In the “most improved” category, Ram, Volvo, and Nissan make the most significant leaps in reliability, with improvements of 77, 41, and 35 PP100, respectively.
According to the 2023 VDS, the following mass-market brands provide the best dependability after three years of ownership:
Top-ranked premium brands performing above the industry average include:
The most dependable cars include:
These are the best mass-market SUV, minivan, and truck models in each category for dependability:
These are the best premium SUV, minivan, and truck models in each category for dependability:
If you’re interested in learning more about the most dependable models from the 2023 VDS, head to the Shopping Guides section of the website. You can also read expert reviews and view ratings for each.
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