The J.D. Power 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) ranks Kia as the overall leader among all major automotive brands (mainstream and luxury) in the U.S. In addition, Kia’s popular Sorento has taken the top spot in the study’s Upper Midsize SUV category. The Sorento is built at Kia’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia.
The industry-wide study examines problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year old vehicles (2019 model year). Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100).
Thus, a lower score reflects a higher level of quality. Kia claimed top Overall Nameplate honors with a score of 145 PP100. This latest achievement comes on the heels of Kia earning the highest number of J.D. Power Initial Quality awards in the industry in 2021.
“The results of this year’s J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study substantiate Kia’s unrelenting commitment to the quality, durability and craftsmanship of our award-winning vehicle line,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America. “Furthermore, the Sorento’s category win speaks to the world-class ownership experience we deliver to our customers.”
The study was comprised of 29,487 completed surveys and measured the quality of today’s vehicles, particularly related to new technologies and features currently available to buyers. It included 32 nameplates, covering specific problem symptoms grouped into five major vehicle areas: PP100, component replacement, software updates, vehicle appeal, and deterioration.
The JD Power survey is dramatically different than the 2022 consumer reports reliability rankings. Hyundai is currently ranked 11th, down 4 spots from last year, and Kia is 19th, down 3 spots from last year. Genesis is ranked 25th. Lexus, Mazda, and Toyota are ranked 1, 2, 3.
I trust the consumer reports rankings more than JD Power because consumer reports do not accept advertising dollars from manufacturers and consumer reports actually pay for the vehicles that they test using the money they collect from their subscribers. Hyundai and Kia need to improve their reliability or all of the hard work to improve their brand image will be lost with the damage to their reputation.