Published: June 19, 2019, 6:35 AM
Updated: November 21, 2021, 2:53 PM
J.D. Power 2019 Initial Quality Study
The consumer research firm J.D. Power believes a lot can be revealed to the owner of a new car or truck over the first 90 days of ownership, which is the basis for the firm’s annual Initial Quality Study (IQS). According to the 2019 IQS, this year’s crop of vehicles averaged 93 problems per 100 vehicles, the same level as in 2018. In this year’s study 13 automotive brands moved up in the rankings, while 18 slid the other way. The highest-ranking brands in initial quality are all Korean – Genesis, Kia and Hyundai – but here we’ll focus on those at the other end of the spectrum. Following are the 10 lowest-ranked brands, listed from tenth-last to worst, from a list of 32 automotive nameplates, based on the number of reported problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Note that Fiat, Tesla and various exotic brands were not ranked due to insufficient sample sizes.
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10th-from-worst: Mini – 107 PP100
In the face of swelling SUV sales, small cars are getting the bum’s rush these days and Mini is no exception. While earlier Minis suffered from a plethora of mechanical problems often traced to the old Peugeot-sourced engines, the newest Minis use a BMW platform and hardware to great effect, and complaints involving 2019 models largely entail ergonomic issues inside the cabin that rub owners the wrong way, a poor infotainment interface, wind and drivetrain noise, and underwhelming fuel economy.
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9th-from-worst: Acura– 107 PP100
Honda’s premium division hasn’t been enjoying much adoration from former Honda drivers lately. The redesigned RDX sport utility for 2019 uses an unpopular auto start-stop system that activates at traffic lights – a nuisance many motorists view as intrusive and nanny-like, regardless of the brand. Acura’s 10-speed automatic transmission can be jerky in operation and some units have been replaced early on. The RDX’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine may exhibit stalling, and owners felt the crossover’s interface is confusing to use – another common lament.
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8th-from-worst: Chrysler – 113 PP100
Fiat Chrysler’s flagship brand continues to struggle with reliability issues even after jettisoning the notorious Chrysler 200. There are only two models left under the historic brand: the ancient rear-drive 300 sedan and the relatively new Pacifica minivan, both of which are assembled in Ontario. Despite glowing praise from auto journalists, the Pacifica has exhibited considerable drivetrain issues, including engines that stall and ZF transmissions that slip, jerk and clunk. Bizarre electrical issues have also cropped up, reminiscent of the TIPM issues that haunted a number of Chrysler and Jeep products earlier in the decade.
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7th-from-worst: Subaru – 113 PP100
Subaru’s horizontally-opposed engine architecture and all-wheel drive earn much praise but, unfortunately, the brand relies on continuously variable automatic transmissions (CVTs) to meet fuel economy targets – a transmission type that hasn’t always enjoyed a sterling reputation. Subie owners note its tendency to jerk and shudder even while cruising on the highway at a steady pace. Buyers of the all-new Ascent three-row SUV have reported CVT stutter and outright mechanical failure. Other gripes include rapid brake wear, chip-prone windshields, and fussy audio systems and backup cameras. EyeSight driver assist technology can cut out when torrential rain, snowfall and foggy windshields effectively blind the twin cameras.
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6th-from-worst: Volkswagen – 113 PP100
“Dieselgate” may finally be in Volkswagen’s rearview mirror, but fresh model introductions bring mild peril to the brand as new assembly lines work out the teething pains. Buyers of the all-new Atlas and redesigned Tiguan sport utilities complain about stalling, abrupt acceleration, poor assembly quality, rattles, bad Bluetooth connections and poor-shifting automatic transmissions. Owners of the Tennessee-built Atlas have cited its fussy auto start/stop system, poor paint, excessive wind noise, short-lived coolant and fuel pumps, and more. Volkswagen owners also dislike waiting weeks for repair parts to be delivered, which can further degrade VW’s IQS scores.
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5th-from-worst: Volvo – 114 PP100
Volvo is back in the popularity hunt with its Scalable Product Architecture platform that underpins all of its new and fetching models They use various versions of a turbocharged 2.0-L four-cylinder engine, the most powerful of which employs both a turbocharger and a supercharger. Unfortunately, owners have had to contend with electronic glitches, faulty instrument displays and air conditioners, slipping transmissions and non-operative door locks. The Sensus console is slow to respond to commands and navigation is hardly optimal. The car’s automated braking system reportedly may activate at random, which ironically could lead to a collision.
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4th-from worst: Alfa Romeo – 118 PP100
Fiat Chrysler brought back the Alfa Romeo brand to Canada in 2015, after decades of self-imposed exile, but mechanical problems are ubiquitous and buyers should be prepared to use the warranty a lot. In the experience of one major U.S. magazine, in four separate tests, every Giulia sedan managed to light a check-engine lamp, go into limp-home mode or jam the sunroof in the open position. The Stelvio sport-ute similarly lit a fault light for the auto stop-start system during the test drive. Owners likewise have reported engine, transmission and intermittent electrical issues. Perhaps the only surprise here is that the brand did not finish lower in the IQS rankings.
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3rd-from-worst: Mitsubishi – 121 PP100
Mitsubishi is a veteran automaker – its automotive origins date back to 1917 – that hasn’t always scored well in quality measures, yet there aren’t many complaints by Mitsu owners online. The company’s adherence to CVT transmissions has been shaken by some reliability complaints in the past and the updated Outlander did introduce some electronic snafus related to the forward collision mitigation system and other high-tech driving aids, common to other brands, too. A popular gripe describes poor paint that chips easily. The new Eclipse Cross gets a raspberry for the very thing that attracted many buyers: the split-view rear glass tends to become annoying quickly.
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2nd-from worst: Land Rover – 123 PP100
Land Rovers are thick on the ground in Canada’s toniest neighbourhoods these days. Yet they continue in the LR tradition of reliability issues early in the ownership experience. The electronics can present numerous problems from failed instrument displays to malfunctioning cameras. Bluetooth integration can be spotty. Owners report plenty of Check Engine lights to decode and software upgrades to perform. The Evoque was the first model to adopt the ZF 9HP transmission, which is known for its rough, jerky shift action at times. Vehicles can default to limp mode, often requiring a flatbed truck rescue.
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The worst: Jaguar – 130 PP100
Jaguar’s sleek and sinewy sedans and coupes have long had a reputation for being fussy and unreliable. It seems nothing’s changed, even while its lineup of sporty cars, and now the I-Pace and F-Pace sport utilities, has garnered a new and hopeful audience. Interior quality can be lumpy – synthetic “pleather” doesn’t impress at this price point – and the infotainment systems are clunky and slow. Owners complain about unreliable electronic interfaces and displays that have to be reset by shutting off the engine. Random stalling is a turn-off. Air conditioning performance can be subpar, and sunroof mechanisms may jam. J.D. Power notes Jaguar’s IQS score has actually improved markedly, yet it still remains in the basement of the rankings.
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