Two Japan-based auto makers lead the annual vehicle dependability study compiled by consulting firm J.D. Power and Associates, but the three Detroit-based manufacturers improved their performances from 2003 levels.
Toyota Motor Corp. led the way with seven of its models ranking first in the 17 segments measured by Power, a consulting and market research firm whose surveys are closely watched in the industry.
Toyota's luxury Lexus division led the rankings for the 10th consecutive year.
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. placed second in the Power study, which ranks vehicles based on the number of problems for every 100 vehicles.
Several divisions of the
Chrysler group,
Ford Motor Co. and
General Motors Corp. made dramatic improvements in dependability, including Ford's Lincoln luxury brand, GM's Cadillac division and the Dodge unit of Chrysler.
"The domestics are putting their money where their mouths are in terms of consistent long-term quality improvement," said Joe Ivers, Power's executive director of quality and customer satisfaction.
Big Three vehicles grabbed laurels in seven of the 17 segments.
Some vehicles that are made in Canada led the rankings.
Among them were the Toyota Corolla in the compact segment, Chrysler Concorde in the full-sized car segment, the Ford F-series pickup in the full-sized pickup category and the Honda Odyssey in the minivan category.
The results are based on data received from 48,000 Americans who bought 2001 model year passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles.
They were asked to report problems on their three-year-old vehicles such as drivability, safety, dependability and noise, vibration and harshness.
