Buick is at the top of the list in the recent J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), leading all other brands studied with the least number of reported problems per 100 vehicles.
Now in its 36th year, the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. IQS measures vehicle quality based on responses collected from 84,165 purchasers and lessees of new 2022 model-year vehicles, each of whom was surveyed early on in the ownership period. Each respondent was given a 223-question survey that breaks down vehicle quality into nine categories, including infotainment, features, controls and displays, exterior, driving assistance, interior, powertrain, seats, driving experience, and climate. The survey was fielded between February and May of the 2022 calendar year.
From these responses, J.D. Power calculated the average number of problems per 100 vehicles, or PP100, with a lower PP100 indicating a higher initial quality. Of all the brands studied, Buick had the lowest PP100 at 139, a substantial 17 PP100 improvement as compared to 2021, elevating it from a 12th-place finish last year.
The first-place finish for 2022 places Buick above second-placed Dodge, which was given a score of 143 PP100, and third-placed Chevrolet, which was given a score of 147 PP100. Rounding out the top five is Genesis in fourth and Kia in fifth, both of which received a score of 156 PP100.
Despite an industry-wide decline in initial vehicle quality, GM managed to reverse the trend and improve on initial vehicle quality, placing it in the highest rank position among automotive corporations. Only nine of the 33 brands studied improved in initial vehicle quality as compared to 2021 scores.
Notably, the Buick Encore GX was the highest ranked vehicle in the J.D. Power Small SUV segment. Other notable vehicles in the segment include the Buick Encore (which is in fact unrelated to the Buick Encore GX), as well as the Ford Bronco Sport.
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Source: J.D. Power
Comments
GM needs sustained efforts like this (years) to change perception. Good job GM.
Said it before and will continue to say it. Buick is and has been one of the best brands for so many years. When I got into sales back in 1988, Buick was already high up in the JD Power surveys. They have consistently stayed there where many makes have gone up and down more than Buick. The point is that this has been a steady road for Buick and even Chevrolet for the past 10 years now. I also find it quite interesting how some “other” brands have fallen so far over the years and yet we get the cheerleaders on here waving the pom poms as if those brands are still magical. They are not and really never were.
I do have one head scratcher however. How does Dodge get so high on the list and Chrysler so low? Don’t take me wrong. I feel Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep make some very good vehicles. But the disparity is beyond comprehension. Oh well. Go Buick go!! Now just get us those EV’s and some sedans.
Dan B.
Dodge only sells three models: Charger, Challenger, and Durango. Chrysler only sells two: Pacifica and 300. The overlapping model is 300/Charger so my guess is that those two sedans are pretty reliable. It’s also likely that the coupe version (Dodge Challanger) of the same platform is good too as they’ve all been in production for a while unchanged. Since Dodge’s numbers are high, the Durango must be pretty good too. All of Dodge’s products are old-tech RWD with mostly V8s so those should be bulletproof and apparently are. That leaves us with the FWD Pacifica which is sold in regular and hybrid forms. Since it’s the model only sold by Chrysler, it would be logical to conclude it’s the product bringing the Chrysler numbers down. It’s the only one that uses a hybrid drivetrain and FWD. Hybrids are obviously more complex and newer technology so it’s plausible to pin the blame on the van.
Although not typically released to the public, JD Power does have a model-by-model list in addition to the list with just the brands and it’s quite interesting. A brand like Chevrolet and GMC might have mostly identical trucks so it would be expected that they’d perform the same but maybe GMC also sells the Hummer EV and it’s terrible and brings GMC down while Chevrolet, without that single product, is high. When I read the itemized list a few years ago, it was surprising that a few Toyota models were very bad and at the bottom of the list. Their big volume sellers like Camry and Corolla were excellent though and that hid how bad the much lower volume but troublesome Yaris was.
They have numbers on the Hummer EV already? There aren’t that many out in the wild.
No, no! I was just using that as an example. Hypothetically it might be something like this:
Chevrolet Sivlerado: 144
GMC Sierra: 142
Chevrolet Colorado: 139
GMC Canyon: 137
Chevrolet Express: 126
GMC Savannah: 126
GMC Hummer EV: 273
Therefore when averaged, GMC’s score would be much worse (170) when in reality their products are the same or slightly better than comparable Chevrolets (133) but it’s only the Hummer that’ hurts the GMC score.
All of that is made up though for illustrative purposes to show how two brands with mostly the same lineup can have overall scores quite different. At this point, I think no one knows how reliable the Hummer EV will be. Given how completely new everything about it is though, I would expect it to be more problematic than the ancient Savanna van, for instance.
Ci2Eye: Good points. I guess using logic, I would think that Chrysler (having less models) would be the higher ranking brand. But I see and agree it must be the Pacifica dragging them down. I know from Volvo that the plug in hybrids can be very problematic. Maybe that’s what Chrysler is having.
Yes, Dan B.
Of course I don’t actually know but it’s logical to conclude that it’s the hybrid.
Another factor is the expectations of the owner. Years ago I read that models like the late 80’s Pontiac Bonneville SE, Oldsmobile Eighty Eight, and Buick LeSabre essentially performed the same mechanically and were all equally reliable as they were all tried-and-true 3800 V6s with the same transmission but Pontiac’s younger, and more picky, buyers had a tendency to report considerably more perceived issues and ding them on JD Power than Buick’s older clientele.
I drive a 2002 Buick Century, beautiful cat,great mileage, very reliable, and almost everything still works as intended, EVEN MY AC IS AWESOME…truly an understated car… the kicker is I paid $500 for it almost 8 years ago,too…
Go Buick… We own a 2019 Buick Enclave and and a 2010 Chevy Equinox LTZ V6 both are excellent vehicles… Would I buy GM again? Yes I would! Good Job Buick no keep it up
Four of the top eight – GM vehicles…….don’t tell Consumer Reports
Loving my 2007.
If Dodge and Kia rank in the top five…it just makes me wonder.
Yates it makes me wonder to… But we owned a 2012 Dodge journey R/T for 10 years it was a solid reliable vehicle… Kia has moved up in quality since the 90’s and 2000’s junk machines they used to build. My friend is a mechanic on the side he does mechanic work on the weekends and he always tells me that no matter what brand car you buy to keep up with the maintenance on your vehicle I have had good luck listening to him so far. In the end JD power can do all tests they want you’ll never beat brand loyalty.
Now a nice comfortable sedan would be great..
What does ” of all the brands studied…” mean?
I’m hoping it means all brands’ problems were reported but only some were disected, as opposed to only some brands problems were reported in the survey.
Rsgardless it doesn’t surprise that Buick ranked high. It always makes me laugh how Europeans stick their noses up at American brands as though they are garbage yet Buick, Dodge, and Chevrolet lead the rankings. Ha. Ha.
My Buick Encore GX is made in South Korea. After a year and a half it has been flawless.
Dusty: I had a 2018 Encore. That may be one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. I normally keep a car about 2 years and then trade. But that Encore stayed with me for just under 3 years. There’s really zero reason for me to trade that much, but I just love cars and figure since I don’t drink, smoke, do drugs, gamble or spend my time/money in bars or clubs, the car thing is my “vice”. Anyhow, if I had to go back and pick one car in the past 15 years to drive and keep for a long time, it would be that Encore.
Buick #1????? Queen maryb & her clueless Court have devastated the Brand in America & sold it off to the Communists in China for the almighty dollar. My local Buick dealer is decimated. Empty except for some GMC trucks. Did Queen maryb pay off or buy out JD Power???
I believe it. In my time where I was privileged to work for GM this is what it was all about; Safety was highly-ranked too. I worked with an engineering team that went around competitively shopping other brands. Interesting stuff. What resulted from one foray in-the-field were the jewellike headlamps on the early-model Buick Enclaves. Buick and GM have always been about upping their game even as I’m biased in my opinion here.
We have a 2021 Buick GX it has 7.000 miles on it and has been a perfect ! except for 3 minor not at fault fender benders ….the Buick Moran body fixed it perfectly ….GM keep up the good work