rjm

Here is a link to the 2006 J.D. Powers Vehicle Initial Quality Study that has just been released.
Lexus is still on top with Mercedes remaining low in the ratings and BMW Intial Quality plummeting.


http://www.jdpa.com/news/releases/pr...asp?ID=2006082


Here is a link to the PDF file posted on another forum that is easier to read:

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?act=...=post&id=25430

TunedRX300

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/06/07/...iqs/index.html

JapTrapLex

The JDPower IQS survey is misleading. Despite being called the "Initial Quality Survey" it measures both defects/malfunctions AND design issues (e.g. how easy to use is the navigation system). The later is subjective and has nothing to do with quality as far as i'm concerned.

According to the article "...BMW vehicles have among the fewest defects and malfunctions, along with Toyota. But BMW approaches controls and displays in a way that creates some problems for customers, leading to more design-related problems overall than Toyota incurs."

In other words, both Toyota and BMW have among the fewest initial defects, but Toyota has designed its stereo/navigation/HVAC systems to be easier for the mentally challenged and/or computer illiterate among us to comprehend.

Good thing JDPower doesn't have Style/Performance/Safety/Innovation ratings or surveys... LexusToyota would plumet right to the bottom next to Suzuki and Kia.

For only having one card to play, reliabilty, ToyotaLexus sure does a good job bluffing...

rjm

Here's the breakdown of the J.D. Powers Initial Quality Study. It shows the differences between "Design Defects" and "Manufacturing Defects."

It may.....or may not make you feel better!


http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...ESS01/60607024

rjm

If the link doesn't work, here is the report:

Auto news
More rankings

June 8, 2006

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• J.D. POWER SURVEY: Hyundai leapfrogs Toyota in quality
Overall quality
The number of quality problems reported by buyers of new cars and trucks continues to fall. PP100 % change
1998 176
1999 167 9.00 5.11%
2000 154 13.00 7.78%
2001 147 7.00 4.55%
2002 133 14.00 9.52%
2003 133 0.00 0.00%
2004 119 14.00 10.53%
2005 118 1.00 0.84%
2006 109 9.44 8.00%


Pickup quality
Pickups remain one of the last strongholds for Detroit automakers. General Motors Corp. trucks ruled the roost on quality, followed closely by Toyota.


Pickup truck PP100
Chevrolet Silverado LD 98
Chevrolet Silverado HD/GMC Sierra HD (tie) 101
Toyota Tundra 103
GMC Sierra LD 104
Ford F-150 107
Dodge Ram LD 117
Pickup average 118
Ford F250/350 127
Chevrolet Avalanche 132
Nissan Titan 145
Dodge Ram HD 147

Design defects
The annual report by J.D. Power and Associates separated manufacturing and quality defects for the first time. This is how many design defects, such as difficult-to-use navigation systems or door locks, were reported per 100 vehicles. DESIGN SORT Design PP100
1 Porsche 35
2 Hyundai 41
3 GMC 43
4 Jaguar 44
5 Lexus 45
6 Nissan 45
7 Honda 46
8 Toyota 47
9 Chevrolet 49
10 Lincoln 50
11 Ford 50
12 Acura 51
13 Dodge 51
14 Mitsubishi 51
15 Infiniti 52
16 Industry Average 52
17 Saturn 54
18 Pontiac 55
19 Mercury 56
20 Jeep 56
21 Cadillac 57
22 Kia 58
23 Chrysler 59
24 Volvo 61
25 Audi 62
26 Scion 62
27 Saab 63
28 Mazda 64
29 Suzuki 66
30 Buick 68
31 Mercedes 68
32 Subaru 69
33 Isuzu 70
34 VW 73
35 Mini 77
36 Hummer 80
37 BMW 82
38 Land Rover 89


Manufacturing defects
The annual report by J.D. Power and Associates separated manufacturing and quality defects for the first time. This is how many manufacturing defects, such as engine or paint problems, were reported per 100 vehicles. Brands Defects PP100
1 Lexus 42
2 Porsche 49
3 Toyota 52
4 BMW 52
5 Hyundai 53
6 Chrysler 53
7 Cadillac 54
8 Buick 55
9 Honda 57
10 Infiniti 57
11 Jaguar 59
12 Audi 60
13 Acura 63
14 Lincoln 63
15 Industry Average 64
16 Volvo 64
17 Mercury 65
18 Mercedes 65
19 Mini 65
20 Subaru 67
21 Chevrolet 69
22 Ford 69
23 GMC 70
24 Nissan 70
25 Saturn 70
26 Pontiac 70
27 Scion 71
28 Dodge 72
29 Kia 72
30 Mitsubishi 78
31 Mazda 79
32 Hummer 79
33 Jeep 87
34 VW 87
35 Saab 91
36 Suzuki 93
37 Land Rover 106
38 Isuzu 110


2006 Nameplate rankings
Consumers reported the following number of quality problems -- including manufacturing defects and design flaws -- per 100 vehicles in J.D. Power and Associates' annual quality survey: Brands PP100
1 Porsche 91
2 Lexus 93
3 Hyundai 102
4 Toyota 106
5 Jaguar 109
6 Honda 110
7 Cadillac 117
8 Infiniti 117
9 GMC 119
10 Acura 120
11 Chrysler 120
12 Lincoln 121
13 Nissan 121
14 Chevrolet 124
15 Industry Average 124
16 Ford 127
17 Mercury 129
18 Saturn 129
19 Audi 130
20 Dodge 132
21 Pontiac 133
22 Volvo 133
23 Buick 134
24 Mitsubishi 135
25 Kia 136
26 Mercedes 139
27 Scion 140
28 BMW 142
29 Subaru 146
30 Mazda 150
31 Mini 150
32 Jeep 153
33 Saab 163
34 Suzuki 169
35 Hummer 171
36 VW 171
37 Isuzu 191
38 Land Rover 204