Vehicle issues reported after three years of ownership have reached the highest levels since 2009, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. The study reveals a six percent increase in problems per 100 vehicles compared to 2024, resulting in an industry average of 202 problems per 100 vehicles. This increase is largely attributed to mass market brands, which have seen a rise of 16 problems per 100 vehicles, partly due to software defects. For this study, a lower score signifies higher vehicle quality.
The findings align with the J.D. Power 2022 Initial Quality Study, which indicated a decline in initial vehicle quality among 2022 models. The persistence of these issues three years later suggests ongoing challenges for vehicle owners. Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, noted that the increase in problems reflects the industry’s struggles with supply chain disruptions, high vehicle prices, and workforce challenges stemming from the pandemic.
The study, now in its 36th year, evaluates 184 specific problem areas across nine vehicle categories, including climate control, driving assistance, and infotainment systems. Notable findings include a significant rise in software-related problems, particularly with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, which remains the most common issue. Although software defects account for only nine percent of total problems, their prevalence is increasing as vehicles become more dependent on software.
Smartphone integration issues are prominent, with half of the top ten problems linked to this area. Over-the-air updates have been utilized by 36 percent of owners, yet only 30 percent reported noticeable improvements post-update.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have shown improvement, with a reduction of 33 problems per 100 vehicles, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have worsened, now ranking as the most problematic of all vehicle fuel types. Among the various types, hybrid vehicles report the fewest problems, followed by gas-powered vehicles, BEVs, diesel, and PHEVs.
New model launches from the 2022 model year have generally underperformed, with only four out of 27 models exceeding their segment averages in dependability. These new models average 241 problems per 100 vehicles, compared to 196 for carryover models.
In terms of brand rankings, Lexus leads overall in vehicle dependability for the third consecutive year, followed by Cadillac and Porsche in the premium segment. In the mass market category, Buick ranks highest, with Mazda and Toyota following. Toyota also has the top overall model, the Toyota Avalon, and both Toyota Motor Corporation and General Motors Company received six model-level awards each.
The 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from 34,175 original owners of 2022 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership, conducted between August and November 2024.
