Lexus tops in auto durability eighth time, M-class disappoints Mercedes

All five of the top brands in the survey of 30,000 owners of 1998 model-year vehicles were Japanese nameplates, with Infiniti, Acura, Honda and Toyota following Lexus respectively in the rankings, JD Power said. Infiniti is the luxury vehicle division of Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Acura is the brand for Honda Motor Co Ltd’s luxury cars and sport utility vehicles.

Toyota, Honda and Nissan have led the industry in long-term dependability for years, and US automakers have failed to close the gap, Brian Walters, director of product research, told Reuters in an interview.

Mercedes, which placed 10th in last year’s study with 296 problems per 100 vehicles, fell 23 per cent to about 364 problems per 100 vehicles, below the industry average. JD Power declined to provide Mercedes’ exact score this year, citing a policy of not releasing data for brands that score below average.

“They struggled with the introduction of the M-Class in 1998,” Walters said. “It does highlight the fact that a new vehicle introduction with a totally new model, in a new plant for that matter, do put a strain on a manufacturer’s ability to maintain their quality.”

The M-Class was launched in 1998 from Mercedes’ brand new plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the first automotive plant in the southern US state. The M-Class was also Mercedes’ first high-volume sport utility vehicle. “They’re not alone,” Walters said. “That happens to a lot of automakers.”

Since the launch, the M-Class has been plagued by quality problems, according to JD Powers benchmark quality study. However, Walters said the quality of the M-Class has improved since the launch, and he expects Mercedes’ durability eventually to climb above the industry average again.

Volkswagen AG’s Audi luxury vehicle brand also suffered a sharp drop, falling 19 per cent this year from 328 problems per 100 vehicles last year to below average this year, Walters said.

Japanese automaker Suzuki showed the strongest gain, improving by 27 per cent, although it also finished below average. Also among the top 10 vehicle nameplates in industry quality were Porsche AG, Buick, Cadillac, Jaguar and BMW AG. Buick and Cadillac are both General Motors Corp brands and Jaguar is a Ford Motor Co division.

Buick and Cadillac were the only two GM brands to score above the industry average, versus four in last year’s report. GM has in recent years improved its score in JD Power’s Initial Quality Survey, which measures consumer complaints during the first 90 days of ownership.

GM vice chairman Bob Lutz said in September he expects to match the initial quality of Toyota and Honda within two to three years.

Automakers often cite their score in the dependability survey in advertisements.

“We know that over half of new vehicle buyers indicate that long-term dependability is a major consideration when they buy a new vehicle,” Walters said.