In late June, the global data analytics company J.D. Power released its “2025 New Car Quality Survey Report.” Lexus, produced by Toyota, topped the list for new car quality. In the high-end segment, Jaguar and Genesis, a division of Hyundai, ranked second and third, respectively. For mainstream brands, Nissan claimed the top spot followed by Hyundai and Chevrolet under General Motors.
The U.S. Initial Quality Study, now in its 39th year, is based on feedback from 92,694 new car buyers and lessees 90 days after purchase. J.D. Power stated that the study also incorporates repair data from authorized dealers based on hundreds of thousands of actual service events to help automakers quickly identify potential issues.
The report categorizes data from June 2024 to May 2025 into 10 groups including infotainment systems, features, controls and displays, appearance, driver assistance, interior, powertrain, seats, driving experience, air conditioning, and unspecified repairs. The assessment is based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles on the road (PP100), with lower values indicating better quality. In 2025, Lexus scored 166, Jaguar 175, Genesis 183 in terms of PP100, while in the mainstream market, Nissan recorded 169, Hyundai 173, and Chevrolet 178.
Despite the increasing complexity of new cars, the number of problems reported by car owners within the initial 90 days has slightly improved compared to last year. Overall, PP100 reduced from 194 to 192. In the luxury brand segment, the number of problems decreased from 230 to 203, thanks to contributions from Tesla vehicles. However, in the mainstream brand segment, the number of problems per 100 vehicles increased from 181 to 187.
Although the number of issues related to infotainment systems decreased by 1.9 PP100, it remains the category with the most problems (42.6 PP100). Moreover, the addition of non-audio functions such as air conditioning controls, garage door openers, and glovebox mechanisms has led to an increase in touchscreen-related issues.
Frank Hanley, the Senior Director of J.D. Power Automotive Benchmark Testing, commented, “While larger touchscreens are visually appealing, their functionality can be frustrating.” He added, “Customers need to click and swipe through multiple screens to access key vehicle functions, such as air conditioning and garage door openers. Owners feel these functions are too complex and can distract from driving.”
The 2025 research findings include:
1) Luxury cars have more defects than mainstream brand vehicles, with defects/failures being more prevalent despite similar design issues. Luxury cars have an average of 4.2 more problems per 100 vehicles than mainstream cars, and they are mostly produced by non-traditional automakers.
2) Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have the most problems with 237 PP100, surpassing battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for the first time at 212 – Tesla contributed to the decrease in issues by 62. Hybrid vehicles have a PP100 of 196, while gasoline vehicles stand at 184.
3) Newly released car models have more problems with 203 PP100. Among the 18 car models released this year, only two had fewer issues than the average, with ongoing models having 190 problems.
“Typically, the number of problems with new models is balanced, with success as well as issues, but this year, the problems with new models have noticeably increased,” Hanley stated. “The good news is that new models require fewer repairs than old models.”
4) Consumer preference changes have led to cup holder design challenges. More car owners are opting for reusable cups and requesting cup holders that can accommodate various cup sizes. Manufacturers are working to adapt to this trend.
Segment markets are ranked by type such as sedans, SUVs, or trucks, as well as by car size and categorization as standard or luxury based on PP100 with the least problems. The top three companies receiving model awards the most are General Motors, Ford, and Honda. Ford had four model awards, while Chevrolet had three. Additionally, BMW, Nissan, and Acura each had two models recognized.
General Motors had five models top the rankings: Buick Encore GX (compact SUV), Cadillac XT5 (midsize luxury SUV), Chevrolet Blazer (midsize SUV), Chevrolet Silverado (full-size light-duty truck), and Chevrolet Tahoe (full-size SUV).
Ford had four models leading the rankings: Ford Escape (compact SUV) and Ford F-150 (full-size light-duty truck) tied for first place, Ford Mustang (sports sedan), and Ford Super Duty (full-size heavy-duty truck).
Honda had three models leading the rankings: Acura Integra (compact luxury sedan), Acura RDX (compact luxury SUV), and Honda Odyssey (minivan).
Furthermore, Porsche 911 under Volkswagen in the luxury sports car segment topped the overall rankings with only 116 PP100 issues.
Other vehicles with the least problems in their respective segment markets included: BMW X6 and X7 in midsize luxury SUVs, Nissan Sentra and Altima in compact and midsize sedans, Mercedes-Benz CLE in midsize luxury cars, Kia Telluride in midsize SUVs, and Hyundai Santa Cruz and Jeep Gladiator tied in midsize trucks.
J.D. Power also presented the “Factory Quality Award,” solely based on defects and failures excluding design-related issues and accident repairs. BMW’s plant in Graz, Austria, producing the BMW Z4 received the Platinum Factory Quality Award.
In the North/South America region, Toyota’s factories in Ontario, Canada producing Lexus RX and in Georgetown, Kentucky producing Lexus ES, joint…
In the Asia-Pacific region, Toyota’s factory in Tahara, Japan producing Lexus IS, Lexus LS, and Lexus NX, received the Gold Factory Quality Award.
No factory in Europe and Africa received the Gold Award. Audi’s plant in Gyor, Hungary producing Audi Q3 (compact luxury SUV) was awarded the Silver Factory Quality Award.