This year, Dodge tied with Kia for No. 1 in this year’s JD Power Initial Quality Study. Ram ranked not far behind in the No. 3 spot, rocketing from 21st place in 2019. FCA’s overall performance in this study sprinted to a fourth-place overall finish among 15 automakers. This is the first time a domestic brand has achieved the top spot among 31 competitors, resulting in a huge feat for FCA.
The JD Power Initial Quality Study is an annual survey conducted to assess new vehicle owner satisfaction with the car, truck, or SUV they purchased. The study then ranks brands according to the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100) within the first 90 days of ownership. A lower score indicates a higher initial quality upon purchasing. With Dodge in the first place, it scored a 136 PP100, also read as customers having only 136 problems per 100 vehicles.
Going on 34 years, the JD Power Initial Quality Study organizes questions asked into nine vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; and climate. JD Power made updates to the survey this year to include a reflection on issues with technology, which will be collected through the “driving assistance” vehicle category. This includes technology that is difficult to use and understand in addition to features that do not work as intended or promised. The addition is a valuable one after JD Power highlighted that 1 in 4 problems related to multimedia. The most problematic category among responders was the infotainment system, whether it be voice command problems, Apple and Android Auto issues, navigation glitches, or a malfunctioning touchscreen.
The study is like the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality, which is important for automakers to create positive change in the future. Kia has been the highest-ranked mass-market brand for six consecutive years now. This year’s tied score for first place between Dodge and Kia shows Dodge’s hard work in recent years to innovate new vehicles and transform its customer satisfaction for the better.
Dodge as a brand has offered so many vehicles for so many years. This huge jump shows that the automaker has been improving greatly at a more rapid rate than its competitors. With Ram following close behind in third place, FCA is making history. The strong automaker could have a bright future ahead if it continues on the path of innovation and customer satisfaction that it appears to be on currently.
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