J.D. Power 2026 dependability study: Lexus first again as problems hit a new high
Owners of three-year-old cars report more problems than ever, and most of them are about phones. The complaints the same owners file with the government are about something else.
J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study surveyed 33,268 original owners of 2023 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership, across 184 problem areas in nine categories. Scores are problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), so lower is better. The industry average rose two points to 204 PP100, the highest since J.D. Power redesigned the study in 2022, according to Jalopnik.
Top and bottom
- Lexus is the most dependable brand for the fourth year running, at 151 PP100. The Lexus IS is the most dependable model overall.
- Buick is second for the second year, Mini climbs from tenth to third, then Cadillac and Chevrolet. Toyota is eighth.
- The five least dependable: Audi (244), Jeep (267), Land Rover (274), Volvo (296) and Volkswagen, last again at 301, worse than its 285 a year earlier.
- Premium brands report more problems than mass-market ones, 17 PP100 more on average, SlashGear reports.
Mostly phones
For the third year running the most-reported problem is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and four of the five most common problems involve connecting a phone: CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, wireless chargers and the manufacturer's app. Patchy over-the-air software updates and exterior issues also pushed the total up.
What the same cars look like in the federal record
The 2023 model year is the cohort J.D. Power surveyed, and owners of 2023 cars have filed 22,197 complaints with NHTSA so far. Those are not about phones. A complaint to the government is a report of a safety problem, and the most common subjects are:
| Problem, 2023 models | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3,709 |
| Engine | 2,699 |
| Brakes | 1,767 |
| Steering | 1,721 |
| Transmission | 1,693 |
| Automatic emergency braking | 1,070 |
| Wipers | 975 |
| Body and frame | 772 |
A complaint can name more than one system, so the rows add up to more than the total. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
The two measures answer different questions. J.D. Power asks how often a car annoys its owner; the complaint file records when it frightened them. A brand can lead one and not the other, so for a specific car it is worth reading both. Every model year's federal record is on its page here, for example the 2023 Lexus IS or the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Sources
Complaint and recall figures from NHTSA files of 15 October 2026 (complaints) and 9 October 2026 (recalls). Complaints are unverified reports by owners. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.