Software glitches are undermining vehicle dependability—study

New product innovations in the auto industry continue to come with a fair share of cons and pros—as revealed in J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study.

First things first: The study—drawn from 34,175 original owners of 2022 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership—found that the industry experiences a 6% increase in problems per 100 vehicles. A major reason for the growing increase in problems stems from software-related issues.

• Software defects with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity rank as the top problem for the second year in a row. Built-in Bluetooth systems and Wi-Fi are also major issues.

• Half of the top 10 problems industry-wide involve software integration, usage, or connectivity. For example, 56% of owners who did an Over-the-air (OTA) update noticed an improvement.

• While battery electric vehicle (BEV) dependability improved year over year, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have declined and—are now—the most problematic of all vehicle fuel types.

Worth noting: Out of 27 new models launched in the 2022 model year, only four have performed better than their segment average for dependability. And new models launched in 2022 perform worse than carryover models.

Zooming in: The study also highlights the continued vehicle dependability of some brands and the issues—with Toyota Motor Corporation scoring some of the biggest wins.

• Toyota Motor Corporation’s luxury brand, Lexus, ranks the highest overall in vehicle dependability for the third year in a row. Cadillac and Porsche follow among all luxury brands.

• Buick ranks highest in dependability in the mass market segment. Mazda follows, with Toyota earning the third top dependability spot in the report.

• Toyota has the top overall model in the study, the Toyota Avalon, and receives the most model-level awards—along with General Motors.

Why it matters: As vehicles become more software-driven, dependability isn’t just about engines and transmissions anymore—it’s about tech integration. The brands that get it right will have a clear advantage, while those struggling with glitches risk losing consumer trust. For dealers, that means software reliability is now just as important as mechanical reliability when it comes to closing a sale.

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