SAN RAFAEL, CA – Overall vehicle initial quality declined in the 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality … [+]
They seem to drive just fine but what’s got owners of 2023 model year vehicles rankled ranges from just getting into the things to balky safety systems to unreliable smartphone chargers, according to the J.D. Power 2023 Initial Quality Study released Thursday.
Indeed, the study revealed continuing deterioration of overall vehicle quality with the number of reported problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles rising to an industry average of 192, an increase in 30 PP100 since 2021.
On the upside two brands owned by Stellantis rose to the top of the initial quality rankings.
Brand rankings in the 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study.
The closely-followed annual study surveys new car and truck buyers and lessees about problems and issues they encounter after a few months of ownership. This year’s study surveyed 93,380 of those folks between February and May of this year.
Actual driving experience scores were flat but it’s all that technology stuffed into today’s vehicles that’s causing agita among owners.
“The automotive industry is facing a wide range of quality problems, a phenomenon not seen in the 37-year history of the IQS,” said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, in a statement. “The industry is at a major crossroad and the path each manufacturer chooses is paramount for its future. From persistent problems carrying over from years past to an increase in new types of problems, today’s new vehicles are more complex—offering new and exciting technology—but not always satisfying owners.”
Owners reported issues with wireless smartphone chargers, complaining about poor location, phone overheating and intermittent charging, “if at all”, according to the study.
Those automatic safety systems are also causing dissatisfaction among many owners—forward collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane departure warning and blind spot warning.
Problems owners encounter in the driver assistance category have increased 1.8 PP100 year over year, according to the study with the most problematic areas: lane departure warning/lane keeping assistance (7.2 PP100) and forward collision warning/automatic emergency braking (5.0 PP100) for those that have these features.
Consumers reported issues with operating new high-tech door handles on their 2023 model year … [+]
The most glaring example of balky technology is trouble with what’s usually the least technical—operating the door handles to enter the vehicle.
It appears to be a case of the industry over-engineering what was once a simple device, according to J.D. Power which noted in its release, “The basic touch point of door handles is now a percolating problem area as manufacturers attempt to redesign them. Owners are having issues with high-tech approaches to this basic function; seven of the 10 most problematic models in this area are battery electric vehicles (BEVs).”
Oh yes, problematic battery-electric vehicles, especially from two brands—one the sales champ, another trying hard.
Indianapolis – Circa March 2022: Tesla EV electric vehicles on display. Tesla products include … [+]
EV sales leader Tesla Motors improved to 257 PP100. That’s 30 PP100 better than last year but still leaves it unofficially in next to last place, just above Polestar languishing at the bottom with 313 PP100, 15 better than last year.
Neither brand is in the official rankings because they don’t allow J.D. Power to survey survey its owners in states where authorization is required.
Lucid Motors (340 PP100) and Rivian Motors (282 PP100) are included in the industry calculations for the first time but have too small a sample size to be award eligible.
Stellantis is still a relatively new company but three of its iconic brands showed major improvement, occupying the top three spots.
2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, shown here in TorRed
Dodge was number one overall with 140 PP100 with Ram just one behind with 101. Alfa Romeo was number three overall but led all luxury brands with 143 PP100.
Another Stellantis luxury brand, Maserati was at 182 PP100—a 73 PP100 improvement over last year and the biggest jump of all brands in the study.
Among mass market brands, General Motors Co.’s Buick brand was number three with 162 PP100.
GM led all automakers in vehicle segment awards with seven for Buick Encore GX, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Equinox and Chevrolet Tahoe.
The highest rated single vehicle was the Nissan Maxima with 106 PP100.
The bottom is, based on this year’s study, vehicle quality is improving overall. Drivers just need to have less difficulty entering them.
