Vehicle Dependability at Record High

Cars and light trucks produced during the 2010 model year and sold in the U.S. averaged a record-low 126 problems per 100 units three years later, according to the latest vehicle dependability study by J.D. Power and Associates.

The firm notes that the average for three-year-old vehicles in the 2012 study was 132. The 24-year-old study measures problems reported during the past 12 months by owners of three-year-old vehicles.

Surprisingly, 2010 models that had been substantially redesigned that year scored better (116) than those that were unchanged carryovers (133). Vehicles that underwent a mild refresh from 2009 to 2010 scored best of all (110).

Foreign brands outscored domestic brands 123 to 133 this year. The five top-scoring nameplates this year are Lexus (71), Porsche (94), Lincoln and Toyota (112 each) and Toyota (112). The five worst brands are Land Rover (220), Dodge (190), Mitsubishi and Jeep (178 each) and Volkswagen (174).

The best-scoring model this year was the 2010 model Lexus RX crossover with 57 problems per 100 units.

Power's analysis finds that 54% of owners who experienced no problems with their three-year-old vehicles buy the same brand. That compares with a 41% repurchase rate for owners who had three or more problems with their vehicles.

Owners of luxury models are more loyal than those with non-premium makes, the firm says. But it notes that loyalty falls faster among luxury-car owners if they experience problems with their aging cars.