First impressions matter, especially when it comes to new cars, and the ongoing supply chain disruptions have taken a toll on consumers’ first impressions of their vehicles. That’s according to the 2022 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, an annual survey that measures new-car owner satisfaction based on the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) in the first 90 days of ownership.
Related: Inventory Shortage Update: Should You Wait to Buy a Car?
Typically, the average industry score improves each year, but 2022 was an exception: Survey results showed an 11% increase in PP100 compared to the 2021 results and the most problems reported in the 36-year history of the study. According to J.D. Power, some owners were underwhelmed with their new vehicles due to the impact of supply chain issues and higher vehicle prices.
“Automakers continue to launch vehicles that are more and more technologically complex in an era in which there have been many shortages of critical components to support them,” said David Amodeo, director of global automotive at J.D. Power, in a statement. Amodeo noted the microchip shortage is contributing to lower scores since it forced automakers to build vehicles without some desirable features.
To determine a PP100 score for each brand as well as the model-level winners, J.D. Power surveyed 84,165 owners and lessees of new model-year 2022 vehicles. The survey asked new vehicle owners 223 questions that fall into nine vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; and climate. The lower the PP100 score, the better.
