For 30 years, J.D. Power and Associates has published an annual study that details the average number of vehicle problems that every 100 new vehicle owners experience in the first 90 days of ownership. On June 22, 2016, J.D. Power and Associates released its latest study – http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2016-us-initial-quality-study-iqs. Remarkably, 21 of 33 brands studied improved their quality rankings from 2015. As noticed by Renee Stephens, Vice President of U.S. Automotive Quality at J.D. Power, “Manufacturers are currently making some of the highest quality products we’ve ever seen.” What’s more, for the first time in 27 years, a non-premium model, Kia, ranked the best of all new vehicles with 83 vehicle problems per 100 vehicles. Rounding out the top 5 best vehicle models were Porsche (84 vehicle problems), Hyundai (92 vehicle problems), Toyota (93 vehicle problems), and BMW (94 vehicle problems). In contrast, Smart Cars ranked the lowest with 216 vehicle problems per 100 vehicles. Although every model in the study experienced some type of vehicle defect, nonconformity, and/or problem, popular brands such as Mercedes, Honda, Acura, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mazda, Volvo, Cadillac, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, Dodge, and Land Rover all received below average marks with all models having more than 105 vehicle problems for every 100 new vehicles.
Kia’s capturing of the top spot was not an anomaly by non-premium brands. In fact, non-premium brands averaged 104 problems per 100 vehicles in comparison to 108 for premium vehicles. Improvements by domestic models contributed greatly to this recent trend with General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford improving its numbers by 10 percent from 2015 to collectively average only 103 vehicle problems per 100 vehicles in comparison to 106 vehicle problems for import vehicles.
J.D. Power’s new vehicle reliability ratings are a useful tool for new vehicle purchasers to consider when shopping for a new vehicle. However, selecting even the most reliable model does not guarantee that a new vehicle purchaser will have a trouble-free experience. Even the best model, Kia, experienced 83 problems per 100 vehicle owners in the first 90 days of ownership. Undoubtedly, the average motor vehicle contains tens of thousands of parts and some will simply break requiring repair. It is for this reason that every new motor vehicle sold today comes with a factory warranty containing a promise to repair vehicle defects over a designated period of time. Therefore, if you experience a vehicle defect, nonconformity, or problem, immediately tender it for repair to your automobile dealer. If the vehicle defect, nonconformity, or problem cannot be repaired within a reasonable number of attempts (typically 3-4 times per most state lemon laws) or a reasonable time (typically 30 days per most state lemon laws) then you may own a lemon and you may be entitled to lemon law relief.
Even if you purchased one of the most reliable new vehicle models on J.D. Power and Associates recent study, you may still have a lemon vehicle. If you think you own a lemon vehicle, gather all of your repair receipts or get copies of them from your automobile dealer and contact an experienced lemon law attorney who will be able to assess your case and let you know if you are entitled to recover lemon law relief for your lemon vehicle.
The experienced attorneys at Krohn and Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center ® have successfully represented over 45,000 consumers who have purchased lemon vehicles since 1995. We offer a FREE CASE REVIEW for you to assess whether we can assist you with your lemon car, truck, SUV, or other vehicle and a free and quick Lemon Law case evaluator. Please do not hesitate to contact us toll-free at 1-800-875-3666 or visit our website at https://www.yourlemonlawrights.com.
About the Author
Scott M. Cohen has been employed as an attorney at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. since 1996. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana in 1993 and his law degree from Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law in 1996. While at Ohio Northern University, he was an Associate Editor of the Ohio Northern University Law Review. Mr. Cohen has successfully handled thousands of consumer actions by means of settlement, court ordered arbitration, mediation, trial, or appeal.