EVs rank far below ICE in latest vehicle quality study

Quality issues continue to plague new vehicle releases as manufacturers rush to incorporate software and advanced technology into their lineups.

J.D. Power’s latest Initial Quality Study gives us insights into the frustrations of new car owners, and where their complaints originate. The company surveyed 99,144 drivers for this year’s research, but changed its approach slightly from before by examining repair data for the first time.

• Quality worsens again: Overall quality has been on the decline for several years, with the average number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) rising a record 30 points between 2021 and 2023. Issue quantity has increased again this year, but at a much slower pace, hitting an average of 195 PP100 compared to 2023’s 192.

• EV vs ICE: While electric vehicles are supposed to require less maintenance than their gas-powered counterparts due to having a smaller number of moving parts, J.D. Power’s study found that both EVs and hybrids required repairs three times more often than other cars. The overall quality of EV models ranked far below ICE vehicles as well, averaging 266 PP100 and 180 PP100, respectively.

• False Warnings: One of the most common complaints drivers had in regards to their vehicle was the number of false warnings given by various safety systems. Faulty seatbelt reminders and inaccurate driver assistance alerts were cited by many customers in this year’s study.

• Digital systems and car controls: Infotainment systems, displays and vehicle controls continue to be problem areas for consumers as well. Infotainment received the lowest quality score from car owners this year, with drivers continuing to rank issues with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as one their top 10 complaints. Meanwhile, problems with features such as windshield wipers, rearview mirrors, turn signals and manufacturer phone apps ranked in second place.

• Smells: Apparently, cars also smell worse this year than they did previously. Complaints about bad interior smells rose faster than in any other category, with every brand other than Nissan and Kia receiving a lower ranking than last year.

While the overall number of issues increased, some brands saw better performance this year than they did previously.

• Ram ranked the highest in terms of quality, receiving 149 PP100, followed by Chevrolet (160), Hyundai (162), Kia (163) and Buick (164).

• On the other hand, Dodge saw a massive spike in quality issues this year. After beating out Ram to take first place in 2023’s study, the brand now ranks in second-to-last place with 301 PP100, surpassed only by Polestar’s 316 PP100.

Bottom line: Quality is essential for driver satisfaction and brand loyalty. While the growth rate of problems was slower this year, companies still need to do some serious soul searching to determine whether their efforts to make fancier vehicles are helping or hurting consumers.

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