TSX69

Buick Ties Lexus for 1st Place
For the first time in 12 years, Lexus will have to share its perch at the top of J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study with another manufacturer, Buick. J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study looks at three-year-old cars (the 2004 model year) owned by the original owner and outputs a figure based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles. Lexus and Buick topped the list with 165 problems per 100 vehicles.

Lexus still topped more individual vehicle categories than Buick - with five segment award winners, the GS-Series, GX470, LS430, LX470 and SC430. Toyota won four segment categories (RAV4, Tundra, Sequoia, Tacoma) and Honda and the now-defunct Oldsmobile each won two categories. Buick won just one category, but consistent scores in the other categories helped the automaker perform so well overall.
The most improved automaker was Hummer, but its problems per 100 vehicles still falls below the average mark.

The results are as follows (problems per 100 vehicles)
Buick: 145
Lexus: 145
Cadillac: 162
Mercury: 168
Honda: 169
Toyota: 178
BMW: 182
Lincoln: 182
Subaru: 192
Oldsmobile: 196
Jaguar: 197
Acura: 207
Mercedes-Benz: 212
Infiniti: 215

Industry Average 216

Jeep: 219
Pontiac: 220
Scion: 220
Ford: 221
GMC: 222
Chevrolet: 226
Hyundai: 228
Mitsubishi: 228
Volvo: 230
Audi: 234
Dodge: 236
Hummer: 242
Mini: 247
Chrysler: 249
Porsche: 252
Nissan: 274
Saturn: 274
Kia: 288
Mazda: 289
Volkswagen: 298
Saab: 319
Isuzu: 322
Suzuki: 324
Land Rover: 398

And below are the top three vehicles per segment:
Sub-Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Scion xA
Hyundai Accent
Chevrolet Aveo

Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Honda Civic
Toyota Prius
Toyota Corolla

Compact Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Mazda Miata
Mitsubishi Lancer/Lancer Sportback
Toyota Celica

Midsize Sporty Car
Highest Ranked:Chevrolet SSR (tie), Ford Mustang (tie)
Toyota Solara

Midsize Car
Highest Ranked: Buick Century
Buick Regal
Mercury Sable

Large Car
Highest Ranked: Ford Crown Victoria
Mercury Grand Marquis
Buick Park Avenue

Compact Premium Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Honda S2000
BMW Z4
Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

Entry Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Infiniti I35
Cadillac CTS
Lexus IS 300/IS 300 SportCross

Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus GS 300/GS 430
Acura RL
Lexus ES 330

Large Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus LS 430
Lincoln Town Car
Cadillac DeVille

Premium Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus SC 430
Ford Thunderbird
Chevrolet Corvette

Compact MAV
Highest Ranked: Toyota RAV4
Honda CR-V
Honda Element

Midsize MAV
Highest Ranked: Oldsmobile Bravada
Buick Rainier
Toyota 4Runner

Large MAV
Highest Ranked: Toyota Sequoia
GMC Yukon
Chevrolet Suburban

Large Pickup
Highest Ranked: Toyota Tundra
Ford F-150 Heritage/F-150 Lightning
Ford F-150 LD

Midsize Pickup
Highest Ranked: Toyota Tacoma
Ford Ranger
Mazda B-Series

Van
Highest Ranked: Oldsmobile Silhouette
Mercury Monterey
Honda Odyssey

Midsize Premium MAV
Highest Ranked: Lexus GX 470
Lexus RX 300
Infiniti FX-Series

Large Premium MAV
Highest Ranked: Lexus LX 470
Toyota Land Cruiser
Cadillac Escalade EXT

SpicyMikey

I read that this morning also. Acura had a respectible rating but nothing to celebrate. One slot above MB. That's not saying much.

The RL also made the Mildsize Lux list (2nd place). Good for our RL. But I noticed the rest of the Acura's were nowhere to be found . Lexus models were well represented. Acura is slipping in reliability (relatively speaking)

123456SPEED

Remember this is for 2004 cars. I believe Toyota has had the most recalls in their history over the last 2 years, and I think Acura has improved over the 04 TL.
Didn't 04 TLs have some tranny issues and rattles too.

My 03 CLs (6speed) has been extremely reliable. I did need a new headlight a year ago, and the CD changer is being a little psychotic sometimes, but a little poke in the hole always fixes it.

SpicyMikey

Good point. Also, I did say they were slipping "relatively speaking". Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus still are king in my mind. Although, what's up with GM lately. Are they finally starting to find their mojo?

neuronbob

I can't believe Acura is now lagging so far behind Honda and Lexus in reliability--it is barely above average. WTF? Oh wait, the 2004 TL had some reliability problems, as befits a first-year model.

At least the 1G RL is standing tall. Next year it'll be the 2G RL's first showing in this particular JD Power study.

RL06tech

JD Power is bunk. Initial quality has little to do with long term reliability. If you want reliability ratings that mean something go to consumer reports.

mrdeeno

Uh, this is the JD dependability survey, not initial quality.

123456SPEED

Remember this is rating 2004 cars, owned for 3 years by the same owner.
I am shocked to see Jaguar, Mercury, and Cadillac above Acura.
Maybe I'll shop a used Mercury Sable or a Grand Marquis, sweeet!

mrdeeno

if that is the case, then shouldn't this thread be in the FIRST generation RL section?

kenny5

I wonder how reliable is JD Powers reliability study. GM and Ford vehicles are now more reliable than Japanese made cars? That is an unprecedented claim and concept!

JD Powers even rated Oldsmobile quite highly, without any explanation. As we know, the last production date for Oldsmobile was 4/29/2004. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile. Using a small sample and extrapolate it to compare with full year production vehicles is scientifically untenable. Thus, use and interpret these studies with a grain of salt.

TampaRLX-SH

I don't find JDPowers surveys all that consumer friendly. It seems to me they are in bed with the manufacturers / corporations bucking for a marketing kudos to sell more product / services.

Each time a company is suspect to be under JDPowers evaluation there is extra effort in 'grooming' consumers to give the most excellent reviews. Or they make the experience above and beyond the usual complacency so that the buyers' impressions may bleed onto any surveys or evaluations.

There are also some interesting dynamics in surveys. Unfortunately our culture, when offered an opportunity to critique something, we favor offering the negative critique. However if the critique is internalized, or reflects upon a decision WE made, it tends to be positive. In effect, WE make the BEST decisions and THEY do a crappy job.

Although I would give more credibility to the longterm ownership experiences since the new car honeymoon is long over. The 'initial qulity' surveys carry little weight with me. They are clouded by the new car fever so many dealers love to expose themselves to. Who would buy a new car, get a survey weeks later and admit they made the wrong choice, or admit the new car is bad. Not many...most would consider that an embarrasment. A few do however, sound off...and loudly! But most new car buys have ough the best car ever and it was the best decision / deal ever. It is ingrained into our automobile love affair.

Even Acura does this. To a point where some people are fearful if they offer ANY criticism, as mild or constructive it may be, will impact poor 'Fred' back at the dealership (and usually does). But also, some people use it to punish an employee they did not click with or have the most excellent experience with.

I just don't find objective information resulting from subjective situations. If any trend is brought into focus is that the surveys usually reflect how people respond to surveys. Heck, I don't even believe the automotive 'journalists' are all that objective considing their vast knowledge and product exposure. Too bad they too cannot remove their personal filters and think beyond what they value and decidely assume that the mass population concurs .

TampaRLX-SH

Oy....that 5 minute edit rule! *typos*

Well with one arm in a sling...I try!

BlakeV

I thought it was only the Coupe that got the RS treatment... nice!

I have a S5 SB 2019 on order, need winter wheels and would love to find this model as 19" replica in gunmetal.