Ranking of 2011 Vehicles With Fewest Problems
J.D. Power has just released their 2011 Initial Quality Study where they rank cars based on the number of problems reported in the first 90 days of ownership.
The report has delivered some low grades to new models, mainly due to advanced technology systems causing confusion among buyers.
Newly introduced models have 10% more problems than they did last year, which is normal since any new design comes with kinks that need to be worked out during production.
This is one reason why we recommend you not purchase a newly redesigned model during its first year.
Conversely, models that haven't been upgraded from previous model years improved five points this year to their lowest mark ever - 103 problems per 100 vehicles.
Ford, which finished fifth in last year's study, fell to 23rd this year, largely thanks to its roll out of new models like the Fiesta, Edge and Explorer which feature advanced multimedia systems.
Lexus, Honda, and Acura were the brands with the fewest reported problems.
Here is the full list along with the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles:
- Lexus 73
- Honda 86
- Acura 89
- Mercedes-Benz 94
- Mazda 100
- Porsche 100
- Toyota 101
- Infiniti 102
- Cadillac 103
- GMC 104
- Industry Average 107
- Hyundai 108
- Subaru 108
- BMW 109
- Chevrolet 109
- Volvo 109
- Chrysler 110
- Lincoln 111
- Audi 113
- Kia 113
- Buick 114
- Jaguar 114
- Ram 114
- Ford 116
- Nissan 117
- Jeep 122
- Land Rover 123
- Scion 123
- MINI 131
- Volkswagen 131
- Mitsubishi 133
- Suzuki 136
- Dodge 137
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, Edmunds Price Promise, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
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About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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