Vehicle owners are reporting more problems with their cars than at any point in the past 15 years, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).
The study found a significant rise in reported issues, with the industry average increasing to 202 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), marking a 12 PP100 jump from 2024. Software-related defects, particularly those affecting smartphone integration and connectivity, are among the leading causes of dissatisfaction.
The findings highlight ongoing struggles with vehicle technology, as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity issues remain the most commonly reported problems for the second consecutive year. These problems increased to 8.4 PP100, up from 6.3 PP100 in 2024. Built-in Bluetooth systems (4.6 PP100) and Wi-Fi connectivity (2.4 PP100) also continue to cause frustrations for drivers.
"While the increase in problems this year may be a thorn in the side of automakers and owners, it’s important to remember that today’s 3-year-old vehicles were built during a time when the industry was grappling with major disruptions," said Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. He cited supply chain issues, record-high vehicle prices, and workforce disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic as factors contributing to the reliability challenges.
EVs Improve, But Hybrid Vehicles Lead in Dependability
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) showed notable improvement in dependability, with a 33 PP100 year-over-year decline in reported issues. However, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) saw a sharp increase in problems, making them the least dependable vehicle type at 242 PP100.
In contrast, traditional hybrid vehicles reported the fewest problems (199 PP100), followed by gasoline-powered vehicles (200 PP100), BEVs (223 PP100), and diesel vehicles (233 PP100).
The gap in dependability between gas-powered vehicles and BEVs is narrowing, signaling advancements in electric vehicle reliability.
New Models Face Challenges
New vehicle models released in 2022 struggled more with dependability than carryover models. The study found that these new models averaged 241 PP100, significantly higher than the 196 PP100 reported for carryover models. Only four out of the 27 new models from 2022 outperformed their segment average in dependability.
Top-Ranked Brands
Lexus retained its position as the most dependable brand for the third consecutive year, scoring 140 PP100. Among mass-market brands, Buick led with 143 PP100, followed by Mazda (161 PP100) and Toyota (162 PP100).
Toyota Motor Corporation had the highest-ranking overall model with the Toyota Avalon and earned six model-level awards, tied with General Motors. Nissan received two model-level awards.
The study, now in its 36th year, surveyed 34,175 original owners of 2022 model-year vehicles between August and November 2024.
