Toyota In Front in Benchmark Study

Automotive research specialist J.D. Power & Associates has announced its completion of the first long-term vehicle quality study conducted in Japan. Toyota ranks highest in vehicle dependability for vehicles purchased in all three years covered - 2000, 2001 and 2002.

The J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2004 Japan Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) identifies problems experienced during the last year and divides them into 147 problem types in nine major performance categories - these are then scored in terms of 'problems per 100 vehicles' (PP100), with a lower score indicating higher quality. The nine are ride, handling, and braking; features and controls; seats; heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC); sound system; vehicle exterior; vehicle interior; engine; and transmission.

Toyota receives an overall VDS score of 89 PP100 for vehicles purchased in 2002 (15 to 26 months of ownership), 110 PP100 for vehicles purchased in 2001 (27 to 38 months of ownership), and 133 PP100 for vehicles purchased in 2000 (39 to 50 months of ownership) - ranking first in all three purchase periods and with fewer problems than industry averages in all nine categories. Toyota performs particularly well in the ride, handling and braking category.

Honda, second for vehicles purchased in 2002 with 91 PP100, performs well for all three years as does Nissan. Subaru ranks fourth for vehicles purchased in 2002 (122 PP100) but less well for those purchased in 2001 and 2000. Mitsubishi, with 134 PP100 for vehicles purchased in 2002 and 180 PP100 for 2001, is the lowest-ranked Japanese manufacturer for both years, 'though better placed for year 2000 purchases.

Among the nine problem categories, the number of problems in the area of ride, handling and braking tends to increase more than for any other category as the duration of ownership increases. Among the 147 problem items, users complain most about noisy brakes and mouldy and/or stale smells in the heater and air conditioner. This tendency is the same for vehicles in each of the purchase years (2002, 2001 and 2000). The report says that as the duration of vehicle ownership is increasing, long-term vehicle dependability becomes a more and more important challenge for manufacturers.

Respondents were 18,251 customers who purchased new vehicles during the 36-month period between January 2000 and December 2002, nationwide in Japan. Vehicles Included in the Study were domestic vehicles from all manufacturers / approximately 150 models) and foreign vehicles (major manufacturers / approximately 50 models).

J.D. Power Asia Pacific is online at www.jdpower.co.jp

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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