(Page 1 of 3)
J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Overall Initial Quality Improves Considerably, with Gains Shared Across Most Manufacturers
American Honda, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation and Toyota Motor Sales
Each Capture Three Initial Quality Model Awards
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 4 June 2008 — Initial quality in the automotive industry has improved
significantly in 2008, with substantial gains demonstrated by nearly three-fourths of the 36 ranked nameplates,
according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today. Overall quality
improves to 118 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2008, down from 125 PP100 in 2007.
“Due to some strong new-vehicle launches, in addition to a continued reduction in the level of defects and
malfunctions, overall quality improves by 6 percent in 2008, compared with 2007,” said David Sargent, vice
president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. “This gain is driven not only by strong
advances from many of the high-volume brands such as Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, but also by very
significant improvements by many other automakers. This industry-wide improvement is a testament to the
effort that automakers are putting into listening to the voice of the customer, and the hard work they have
undertaken to integrate that feedback to design, engineer and manufacture better-quality vehicles. From
working closely with the industry, we see the importance that is placed on initial quality. Vehicle
manufacturers and consumers alike are reaping the rewards of this effort.”
The Initial Quality Study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of
ownership. The study is used extensively by vehicle manufacturers worldwide to help them design and build
better vehicles and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions. Initial quality has been
shown over the years to be an excellent predictor of long-term durability, which can significantly impact
consumer purchase decisions. The study captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories—
quality of design and defects and malfunctions.
The study finds that 86 percent of the overall improvement is due to advances in eliminating defects and
malfunctions. Minimizing design problems remains a major challenge for the industry, particularly since new
technology, such as navigation and entertainment devices, is becoming increasingly common in today’s new
vehicles.
“As consumer demand for new and more advanced wireless communication, navigation and audio technology
continues to grow, manufacturers face challenges related to how well these systems are integrated into their
vehicles,” said Sargent. “In particular, issues with difficult-to-use audio and entertainment controls and voice
command recognition failure are among the top ten problems most frequently reported by customers. Since
hands-free communication for drivers will become a mandate in more and more areas throughout the U.S., this
will need to be an area of continued focus for automakers.”
The study also finds that new-vehicle sales patterns in 2008 have shifted away from the largest models and
toward smaller models.
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“This shift in sales preferences among new-vehicle buyers is in part a response to rapidly increasing fuel
prices,” said Sargent. “The good news for consumers in this difficult environment is that they can downsize
with confidence, as there are many models with high initial quality in the smaller-vehicle segments.
J.D. Power and Associates forecasts that 28 new compact-vehicle models will launch by 2010, and it will be
particularly important for manufacturers to ensure high initial quality in these launches.”
2008 IQS Ranking Highlights
Honda models capture three segment awards—more than any other nameplate in the 2008 study—for the
Civic, CR-V and Fit. Garnering two segment awards each are: Chevrolet (Malibu and Silverado LD); Dodge
(Dakota and Durango); Infiniti (EX-Series and M-Series); Lexus (LS and RX); and Mercedes-Benz (CLKClass
and E-Class). The Porsche 911 has the fewest quality problems in the industry, with just 67 problems per
100 vehicles. Also receiving segment awards are the Ford E-Series, Lincoln Navigator, Mazda MX-5 Miata,
Pontiac Grand Prix Sedan and Toyota Sequoia.
“In past years, automakers have frequently struggled to achieve very high initial quality with new models,”
said Sargent. “With product launches and redesigns often being problematic for manufacturers from a quality
standpoint, it is particularly impressive that the Chevrolet Malibu and Infiniti EX-Series achieve such high
levels of quality that they receive awards in their launch year.”
For a third consecutive year, Porsche tops the overall nameplate rankings, averaging 87 PP100. Following in
the rankings are Infiniti (which improves from 9th rank position in 2007), Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota,
respectively. Audi posts the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 26th place in 2007 to 10th in 2008.
“Porsche continues its steady improvement and has succeeded in distancing itself from the second-ranked
nameplate to a greater degree in 2008—by a gap of 11 PP100—compared with 3 PP100 in 2007,” said
Sargent.
Assembly Plant Awards
The Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, receives the Platinum Plant Quality Award for
producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects and malfunctions. Averaging just 33 PP100, the plant produces
the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, CLS-Class, E-Class Sedan, E-Class Wagon and S-Class. Plant awards are based
solely on defect and malfunction counts.
Among North and South American plants, the Toyota plant in Baja California, Mexico, which produces the
Toyota Tacoma, achieves the Gold Plant Quality Award.
In the Asia Pacific region, Toyota’s Fujimatsu, Japan, plant, which produces the Toyota Prius, receives the
Gold Plant Quality Award.
The 2008 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 81,500 purchasers and lessees of new
2008 model-year cars and trucks surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study is based on a 228-question
battery designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate problem determination and drive
product improvement. The study was fielded between February and April 2008.
Find more detailed findings on new-vehicle quality performance as well as model photos and specs by
watching a video, reading an article and reviewing quality ratings at JDPower.com.
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information
services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance
improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are
based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car
insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and
Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services
provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets
through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and
Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion.
Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.
J.D. Power and Associates Media Relations Contacts:
John Tews Syvetril Perryman
Director, Media Relations Media Relations Specialist
Troy, Mich. Westlake Village, Calif.
(248) 312-4119 (805) 418-8103
john.tews@jdpa.com syvetril.perryman@jdpa.com
No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express
prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate.
# # #
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NOTE: Four charts follow.
2008 Nameplate IQS Ranking
Problems Per 100 Vehicles
J.D. Power and Associates
2008 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM
87
98
99
104
104
109
110
112
112
113
113
113
114
114
115
118
118
119
119
124
124
126
127
127
128
132
133
138
141
142
149
149
152
157
161
163
167
Porsche
Infiniti
Lexus
Mercedes-Benz
Toyota
Mercury
Honda
Ford
Jaguar
Audi
Cadillac
Chevrolet
Hyundai
Pontiac
Lincoln
Buick
Industry Average
Acura
Kia
Nissan
Volvo
BMW
GMC
Mazda
Volkswagen
HUMMER
Subaru
Scion
Dodge
Chrysler
Mitsubishi
Saab
Suzuki
Saturn
Land Rover
MINI
Jeep
Charts and graphs extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power and
Associates as the publisher and the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM as the source. Rankings are
based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be
made of the information in this release or J.D. Power and Associates survey results without the express prior written
consent of J.D. Power and Associates.
Isuzu and smart are included in the study, but not ranked due to small sample size.
Top Three Models per Segment
Car Segments
Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM
Charts and graphs extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power
and Associates as the publisher and the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM as the source.
Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other
promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power and Associates study results without
the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates.
Sub-Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Honda Fit
Kia Rio
Hyundai Accent
Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Honda Civic
Toyota Prius
Hyundai Elantra Sedan
Compact Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Subaru Impreza
Pontiac Solstice
Compact Premium Sporty Car
Highest Ranked:
Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
Porsche Cayman
Volvo C70
Entry Premium Vehicle
Highest Ranked: Infiniti EX-Series
Infiniti G-Series
Acura TSX (tie)
Volvo S40 (tie)
Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked:
Infiniti M-Series (tie)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (tie)
Audi A6 (tie)
Lexus ES 350 (tie)
Large Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Lexus LS
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Cadillac DTS
Midsize Car
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Malibu
Mitsubishi Galant
Ford Fusion
Large Car
Highest Ranked:
Pontiac Grand Prix Sedan
Mercury Sable
Mercury Grand Marquis
J.D. Power and Associates
2008 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
For more detailed findings on new-vehicle quality performance,
visit www.jdpower.com
NOTE: There must be at least four models with sufficient sample in any given award segment for an award to be issued. In
2008, there are only two premium sporty models and three midsize sporty models with sufficient sample, thus no premium
sporty and midsize sporty awards are issued.
Top Three Models per Segment
Truck/Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) Segments
Compact MAV
Highest Ranked: Honda CR-V
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Ford Escape
Midsize MAV
Highest Ranked: Dodge Durango
Hyundai Santa Fe
Toyota Highlander
Large MAV
Highest Ranked: Toyota Sequoia
Chevrolet Tahoe
GMC Yukon
Midsize Premium MAV
Highest Ranked:
Lexus RX
Lexus GX 470
Porsche Cayenne
J.D. Power and Associates
2008 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
Large Premium MAV
Highest Ranked:
Lincoln Navigator
Infiniti QX56
Cadillac Escalade
Large Pickup
Highest Ranked:
Chevrolet Silverado LD
Toyota Tundra
Chevrolet Avalanche
Midsize Pickup
Highest Ranked: Dodge Dakota
Ford Ranger
Toyota Tacoma
Van
Highest Ranked: Ford E-Series
Nissan Quest
Chevrolet Express
Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM
Charts and graphs extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power
and Associates as the publisher and the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM as the source.
Rankings are based on numerical scores and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other
promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power and Associates study results without
the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates.
For more detailed findings on new-vehicle quality performance,
visit www.jdpower.com
2008 Assembly Plant Quality Award Recipients
Based on Vehicles Produced for U.S. Market
Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM
Platinum Award Mercedes-Benz—
Sindelfingen, Germany
Asia Pacific
Porsche—Stuttgart, Germany
Silver
Charts and graphs extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power
and Associates as the publisher and the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality StudySM as the source.
Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other
promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power and Associates study results without
the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates.
PP100
(defects/malfunctions only)
33
42
43
45
38
43
44
37
39
J.D. Power and Associates
2008 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
CL-Class, CLS-Class, E-Class
Sedan and Wagon and
S-Class
Model(s) Produced
at Plant
Europe
BMW—Regensburg, Germany
Bronze
Porsche 911 Cabriolet and Coupe
BMW 3 Series Convertible, Coupe and
Sedan
Nissan Motor Company—Tochigi, Japan
Silver
Infiniti EX Series, G35 Sedan, G37
Coupe, M35, M45; Nissan 350Z
Coupe and Roadster
Toyota Motor Corporation—Tahara, Japan
Bronze
Toyota Prius
Lexus GS 350/GS 460/GS 450h,
GX 470, IS 250/IS 350/IS-F,
LS 460/LS 600h; Toyota 4Runner,
Land Cruiser, and RAV4
Toyota—Fujimatsu, Japan
Gold
Toyota—Baja California, Mexico
Gold
North/South America
Toyota—San Antonio, Texas
Silver
Toyota Tacoma
Chevrolet Malibu and
Saturn AURA
Toyota Tundra
General Motors Corporation—Fairfax II, Kansas
Bronze
