Overall motor vehicle dependability improved four percent from last year, according to the 2019 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, but it’s not all good news.
“Vehicles are more reliable than ever, but automakers are wrestling with problems such as voice recognition, transmission shifts and battery failures,” said Dave Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power.
The study found that vehicle dependability improved, but at a slower rate than last year. Mass market brands outperformed luxury brands for the first time.
On the used-vehicle front, the J. D. Power analysis showed that residual values can be significantly affected by long-term quality.
“The used-vehicle market is where dealers can see increased profits this year,” said Jonathan Banks, vice president of vehicle analysis and analytics at J.D. Power (and formerly with the NADA Used Car Guide). “Stocking dealership lots with vehicles having strong dependability scores will help support new-vehicle sales in the future, create a positive brand perception and drive foot traffic,” he said.
For more information about high scorers in the study, click here.
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