By Diana T. Kurylko of AutoWeek
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For the 2008 model year, Lincoln marketed five models — the MKX, pictured, and the MKZ, LT, Navigator and Town Car. The brand topped J.D. Power's newest vehicle dependability study.
Lincoln now leads the industry with the most reliable vehicles, according to a closely watched annual survey, marking the first time Ford Motor Co.'s premium brand has captured the crown.
Lincoln unseated Porsche in J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study released today. Lincoln was followed by Lexus, Jaguar, Porsche, Toyota, Acura, Buick, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Hyundai and Honda.
Overall vehicle dependability continues to improve, though the gains are slowing as automakers conquer traditional mechanical problems but struggle with newer, electronic-based features, Power said.
Power's annual study looks at how well vehicles hold up after three years of ownership by measuring how many problems original owners experienced during the past 12 months with 2008 models.
The study looks at 202 problem areas and scores are based on problems reported per 100 vehicles.
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The study found import brands still outperform U.S. automakers in long-term dependability despite closing the gap in recent years in a separate survey that measures initial quality.
The industry posted the highest rate of dependability since the study was launched in 1990, with an average of 151 problems reported per 100 vehicles in 2011, down from 155 problems in 2010.
Dependability Gains Slow
In recent years, between 2009 and 2011, automakers have improved dependability at an annual rate of 6 percent. That is lower than the 8-percent annual improvement rate of the last decade, Power said.
Cars made by Detroit automakers are more dependable than those made by import brands. But the light trucks, vans, SUVs and crossovers sold by Asian and European automakers have fewer problems than domestic models, the study said.
"The renaissance by the domestics was largely led by cars — like mid-size and the large vehicles that were very strong," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power, citing the Ford Fusion, Mustang, and Taurus as well as the Buick Lucerne. "These were all first or second in their segments."
The imports continue to lead in light truck dependability with small crossovers, including the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, and in the mid-size truck segment with the Toyota 4Runner, Hyundai Sante Fe, BMW X3 and the Lexus RX and GX, Sargent said.
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Lincoln placed No. 2 last year. Lexus moved into second place in the 2011 study, up from fourth a year earlier. Jaguar was the third highest rated, catapulting up from below average in 2010.
Buick, Cadillac and Ford were all rated above average with fewer than 151 problems per 100 vehicles. Six Asian brands — Lexus, Toyota, Acura, Hyundai, Honda and Infiniti — were also above average.
The Porsche 911 sports car had the fewest problems in the industry, with 68 per 100 vehicles.
BMW's MINI brand finished at the bottom with 221 problems per 100 vehicles. Jeep, Land Rover, Dodge and Chrysler also had more than 200 problems per 100 models surveyed.
High-tech, Electronics New Problem Area
Power said scores are being dragged down by increased problems with electrical features such as audio, entertainment and navigation systems, as well as safety features such as tire pressure monitoring systems.
In contrast, automakers have made improvements in the long-term durability of vehicle interiors, engines and transmissions, as well as steering and braking.
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Sargent said problems with electronics and high-technology features primarily affected premium brands — which tend to be the first to adopt such features.
"As manufacturers add new features and technologies to satisfy customer demand and new legislation, they face the potential for introducing new problems," he said.