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Toyota and Lexus Top J.D. Power 2019 Dependability Study

J.D. Power polled nearly 33,000 owners of 2016 model-year vehicles for its annual dependability study and found that Lexus once again ranked highest among all brands with an average of 106 problems per 100 vehicles.

This is the eighth year in a row that Lexus has topped the study, and it was followed closely by Porsche and Toyota, which were tied for second place. Perhaps not coincidentally, Porsche is famous for having successfully turned to Toyota for advice on lean manufacturing in the 1990s, and Lexus is merely Toyota’s luxury sub-brand.

The Toyota Tundra and Camry were also found to be the highest-ranking vehicles for dependability in the midsize car and large light-duty pickup segments, respectively.

The study tracked 177 specific problems across eight major categories and found that the industry average was 136 problems per 100 vehicles. This marked a four percent improvement over last year and made the 2016 model year the best one yet on record.

Nonetheless, J.D. Power’s methodology is one that has been criticized before. Of those 177 specific problems, all are weighted as equally, putting critical mechanical issues on the same level as software glitches.

Consumers are encouraged to balance the J.D. Power results against the findings of other reputable studies such as the Consumer Reports Annual Auto Survey. Though one thing you’re likely to find is that no matter where you look, Toyota and Porsche (and Lexus) are hard to beat when it comes to reliability.

The News Wheel

The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.