US owners complain about more problems with their automobile. (Photo: Freepik, Seniv Petro)
Troy – cars cause more problems – a particularly large number of German brands! The market researchers from JD Power determined this. For the Study on vehicle reliability They interviewed 34,175 first owner of cars of the 2022 model year in the United States. Brand light is a German industrial end.
The problems per 100 vehicles are decisive – they have risen to 202, an increase of 6 percent compared to 2024. According to JD Power, there were so many vehicle deficiencies after 3 years of possession. Mass market brands are particularly affected, the main problem is software errors.
Software problems increase-cell phone connection often hooks
In the meantime, cars have moving computers-accordingly, the importance of software problems is growing. The problem child is the connection of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to the vehicle. Bluetooth systems and WLAN connections often do not work as intended.
Overall, the smartphone integration remains a problem: 5 of the 10 most common defects are related to the connection, use or integration of cell phones. Software updates bring only a limited better performance: 56 percent of the respondents say that updates have not changed anything.
Corona crisis has pressed quality-proven models better
One reason for the increase in the defects, especially in the 2022 year: the Corona crisis with disturbed supply chains and personnel bottlenecks. “Today’s three-year-olds come from a time of massive turbulence in the industry,” says benchmarking specialist Jason Norton from JD Power.
In addition, newly introduced models are often more unreliable than proven vehicles. Of the 27 new models of the 2022 vintage, only 4 over the average of their car class. Newcomers come to 241 problems per 100 vehicles, established models at 196.
German top brands far below-the exception is the premium division
According to JD Power, many German cars do not convince in terms of reliability. Mercedes Benz only made it to 24th place out of 31 in the brand ranking, Audi in 28th place and of all things Volkswagen If the red lantern wears 31st position. After all: BMW fetches a good 8th place.
German top performer is Porsche (7th place): The sports car manufacturer even takes 3rd place among the Premium brands-behind Cadillac and the leader Lexus (Toyota). The US brand Buick (General Motors) is located in the mass market segment, followed by Mazda and Toyota.
2 carmakers from Japan and the USA-pure electric cars are picking up
In the models, Toyota and GM with 6 awards are clearing: The Japanese group convinces with Lexus GX, Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna and Tacoma, while the US company with Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XT6, Silverado, Silverado HD, GMC ACADIA and Tahoe scores.
Pure battery cars increased their reliability-but plug-in hybrid cut off weaker. The electrical vehicles (BEVS) improved by minus 33 to 223 problems per 100 vehicle, for plug-ins, the number rose to 242. Top are hybrids with 199 and petrol engine with 200 problems per 100 vehicle.