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The JD Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) provides automakers and suppliers with an understanding of the specific factors impacting owner satisfaction with long-term vehicle quality by identifying the problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old vehicles.
this chart is not that useful when looking for a NEW car. great if you want to buy a 3 or more year old used car.
the dynamics of 'vehicle dependability' change SO MUCH in 3 years, that the dependability of the same model 3 years newer could be night and day different (better or worse, but if same basic model it's likely to be way better). 3 year old mainstream teslas (3 and Y) were on the now 'old' platform, which had far more problems than juniper and highland new platforms introduced a couple of years ago.
Once again, as with sometimes in the past, it makes little sense why GMC is so much worse than its sister GM divisions.....it uses many of the same parts and drivetrains, and in some cases are built in the same plants. Cadillac seems to jump around quite a bit, from very low to very high and back again....that seems somewhat of a mystery. Buick, at least with JD Power, is often very high....right behind Lexus and Toyota. One theory is that Buick owners are easier on their vehicles than other GM divisions, don't drive them as hard, and service them properly.
Dodge and Chrysler are both missing from this year's list. Chrysler has usually ranked very low.....Dodge used to be very low, but recently got much better, not far from the top.
Last edited by mmarshall; Apr 2, 2026 at 07:20 PM.
Once again, as with sometimes in the past, it makes little sense why GMC is so much worse than its sister GM divisions.....it uses many of the same parts and drivetrains, and in some cases are built in the same plants. Cadillac seems to jump around quite a bit, from very low to very high and back again....that seems somewhat of a mystery.
perception is reality
Buick, at least with JD Power, is often very high....right behind Lexus and Toyota. One theory is that Buick owners are easier on their vehicles than other GM divisions, don't drive them as hard, and service them properly.
owners also don't complain (or care) about features they don't know how to use.
JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. Lexus Tops
Buick, at least with JD Power, is often very high....right behind Lexus and Toyota. One theory is that Buick owners are easier on their vehicles than other GM divisions, don't drive them as hard, and service them properly.
