Buick ranked near the top for reliability in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (or VDS), at the same time as problems in vehicles are reaching their highest level in 16 years.
J.D. Power reveals that Buick owners report 143 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), while the top brand, Lexus, was only slightly more dependable with a score of 140 PP100.
Buick reliability is far above the auto industry average. Its 143 problems per 100 score is much better than the 202 PP100 rating for the average vehicle in the U.S. auto market. This means that Buick vehicles have more than 29 percent fewer problems than the typical competing vehicle being sold in the U.S. today.
Vehicles from Buick have been among the best for reliability for years now. The Tri-Shield brand took third place in 2024, while its fourth place in 2023 still put it eleven places above the automotive sector average. It achieved second place for U.S. dependability in 2022 as well, with only two more problems than the year’s winner, Kia.
Looking at the mass-market vehicle segment specifically and leaving out luxury brands like Lexus, Buick is in first place. Its 143 PP100 rating gives it a solid lead over second-place Mazda with 161 problems and Toyota with 162 problems. Two of its individual models, the Buick Encore GX and the Buick Enclave, placed in the top three for dependability in the Small SUV and Upper Midsize SUV categories.
The study collects data on reported problems across nine different areas of vehicle reliability. The fewer the problems, the higher a vehicle ranks in the VDS. The largest number of problems concerned software and tech features, with the number of issues rising by 6 percent overall.
The VDS looks at problems after three years of ownership, so the 2025 VDS measures the dependability of vehicles bought new for the 2022 model year. As benchmarking director Jason Norton points out, “it’s important to remember that today’s three-year-old vehicles were built during a time when the industry was grappling with major disruptions.”
He added that “supply chain issues, record-high vehicle prices, and personnel disruption in the wake of the pandemic were problematic,” making the uptick in PP100 overall unsurprising – though it does perhaps make Buick’s relatively low number of problems more notable.
Comments
Buick continues its reputation for reliability and dependability!
But but the little turbo motors are weak, underpower and unreliable and don’t last…
I can’t figure out why people still think Honda is #1. They have been average for a long time now.
Acura is even worse. They’re down at the bottom. And the tree huggers think Subaru is good; they’re also near the bottom most of the time.
Because Consumer Reports highly recommends both Honda and Subaru and those folks read CR like a bible.
Because GM doesn’t have hybrids.
Why has Buick been at the top of the list? What does Buick do differently that gives them a superior product?
J.D. Power is a paid marketing company.
Is this an average of total problems by make, or is it weighted by severity?
“The Bluetooth is glitchy sometimes” is leagues different from “The motor blew at 4,000 miles and it took six months to get parts”.
average of total problems.
Surprised that the article didn’t mention that four of the top seven were GM brands. Pretty impressive.
Barry I own a 2019 Chevy Equinox with the 1.5 liter 4 cylinder that I love with 48,000 miles on it I love it and my wife owns a 2019 Buick Enclave both are excellent vehicles we would buy GM again. 👍👍
It’s a shame that the Buick offerings are all butt ugly hideous looking vehicles.
The Buick enclave needs to be a hybrid, in my opinion.