New-Vehicle Quality Posts Best Improvement in Nearly 30 Years, JD Power Finds
New-vehicle quality improved sharply in 2026, posting the best year-over-year gain since 1997, though a surge in infotainment-related connectivity problems kept the category from joining the improvement trend, according to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study.
Porsche ranks highest overall with a score of 138 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Ford leads all mass market brands at 152 PP100. Overall quality improved to 175 PP100 from 192 PP100 a year ago, with nine of 10 vehicle categories showing fewer reported issues.
Problems with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity were the largest single contributor to the year-over-year decline in infotainment quality, and infotainment and touchscreen displays account for 46% of distracted driving-related problems reported by owners.
“As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever,” writes Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at JD Power. “When technology becomes too complicated, the likelihood of customers experiencing a problem rises considerably.”
