New JD Power Dependability Survey Results

JD Power and Associates' new auto dependability study is just in. This is the long-term reliablity study, not the 90-day initial quality study that comes out at a different time.

As expected, Lexus (a Toyota brand) comes out as the brand with the fewest problems, as it has for the past 11 years. In fact, Toyota claimed top position in eight of the 19 vehicle categories, and runner-up in nine categories.

Honda and General Motors were next in line with the fewest problems. Ford has a couple of top positions and Mazda had one with it's compact sports car, the Miata MX-5.

Other winners are:

Subcompact - Toyota Echo
Compact - Honda Civic
Compact Premium Sporty - Honda S2000
Midsize Sporty - Chevy Monte Carlo
Midsize - Buick Century
Large - Mercury Grand Marquis
Entry Premium - Acura CL
Midsize Premium - Lexus GS300 and GS430
Large Premium - Lexus LS430
Sporty Premium - Lexus SC430
Compact SUV - Toyota RAV4
Midsize SUV - Toyota Highlander
Large SUV - GMC Yukon
Midsize Premium SUV - Lexus GX470
Van - Honda Odyssey
Large Premium SUV - Cadillac Escalade EXT

Land Rover and Saab placed last in this long-term reliability study. By comparison, Lexus had 136 problems per 100 vehicles, compared to Land Rover with 438 problems per 100 vehicles.