Japan Reigns in Auto Quality Survey

DETROIT — While the entire auto industry continues to make strides in quality, an annual ranking released Tuesday shows Japanese makes still have the fewest problems in the first three months of ownership.

Japanese makes took five of the six top spots by category in the J.D. Power & Associates’ survey of buyers of 1996 cars. They also won top honors in three of the five categories of light trucks.

Models made by Toyota scored the most top rankings, led by the Lexus SC300-400, with 45 reported problems per 100 cars, and the Lexus ES300 with 54. They were followed by the Subaru Impreza and the Toyota Paseo.

The only American make that got a top car ranking was General Motors’ Oldsmobile 88 in the premium mid-size category, at 70 problems per 100 cars.

J.D. Power changed the format of the survey results this year. Last year, it listed the top 24 cars and trucks and their scores without regard to category, and the top cars by price range.

This year it released the top three cars and trucks in each of 11 categories and the scores only for the No. 1 model in each category. It also declined to release the corporate averages, making comparisons by manufacturer impossible.

Chance Parker, director of product research for the Agoura-based marketing firm, said the change was made to give consumers more model rankings in all categories.

Among the top three vehicles in each category of cars, Japanese nameplates were represented 16 times, compared with two U.S. brands and no European makes. A few of the top Japanese makes, such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, are made in the United States.

Among pickups, minivans and sport-utility vehicles, Toyota took three of the top spots, while Chevrolet and Ford each took one. J.D. Power noted a growing gap, however, between the quality of light trucks and cars.

“Clearly, we see minivans and sport utilities being marketed and being accepted as alternatives to cars,” Parker said. “The bottom line, however, is they are not yet delivering car-like levels of quality.”

The top-ranked sport-utility vehicle was the pricey Toyota Land Cruiser, with 70 problems per 100 vehicles, while Toyota’s Previa minivan and its Tacoma pickup followed in the light-truck segments with scores of 76.

J.D. Power sells information to auto makers and others in the industry. Its surveys of initial vehicle quality and buyer satisfaction after one year of ownership are closely watched by the manufacturers, who use them in advertising and quality comparisons.

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Vehicle Satisfaction

Here are the top three cars and trucks by category with the fewest problems in the first three months of ownership, according to J.D. Power & Associates’ survey of more than 40,000 owners of 1996 cars and trucks. Number of problems per 100 vehicles listed for top vehicle in each category.

CARS

Compact Cars

1. Subaru Impreza (57)

2. Mazda Protege

3. Toyota Tercel

Entry Midsize Car (Under $20,000)

1. Nissan Altima (73)

2. Honda Accord

3. Chevrolet Lumina

Premium Midsize Car (Over $20,000)

1. Oldsmobile 88 (70)

2. Toyota Camry

3. Nissan Maxima

Sporty Car

1. Toyota Paseo (68)

2. Acura Integra

3. Mazda Miata

Entry Luxury Car (Under $35,000)

1. Lexus ES300 (54)

2. Mazda Millenia

3. Infiniti J30

Premium Luxury Car (Over $35,000)

1. Lexus SC300-400 (45)

2. Lexus LS400

3. Infiniti Q45

LIGHT TRUCKS

Compact Pickup

1. Toyota Tacoma (76)

2. Ford Ranger

3. Mazda B-series

Full-size Pickup

1. Chevrolet C-K (94)

2. Toyota T100

3. GMC Sierra

Minivan

1. Toyota Previa (76)

2. Mercury Villager

3. Chevrolet Lumina APV

Compact Sport Utility Vehicle

1. Ford Explorer (104)

2. Geo Tracker

3. Jeep Grand Cherokee

Full-size Sport Utility Vehicle

1. Toyota Landcruiser (70)

2. Chevrolet Suburban

3. GMC Yukon