J.D. Power Releases 2025 Dependability Study Showing Pandemic-Era Vehicles Still Plagued by Issues

posted by Lloyd Murphy Filed under Automotive, News

The long shadow of the pandemic continues to loom over the automotive industry, as vehicle dependability has slipped to its worst level in over a decade, according to the recently released 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). Owners of three-year-old vehicles—models built in the thick of COVID-19’s supply chain disruptions—are facing more problems than at any time since 2009. With an industry average of 202 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), the findings highlight a lingering struggle for automakers, especially as vehicles become increasingly tech-heavy.

Software Glitches Take Center Stage

Perhaps unsurprisingly, software-related issues have become the Achilles’ heel of modern vehicles. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity took the top spot for complaints for the second year running, with problems rising from 6.3 PP100 in 2024 to 8.4 PP100 this year. Bluetooth pairing troubles and in-vehicle Wi-Fi connectivity issues followed closely behind, revealing that as automakers push for more connectivity, the growing reliance on tech is proving to be a double-edged sword.

Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a

free quote through qualified local dealer partners.

This wave of tech frustration is exacerbated by the slow adoption of effective over-the-air (OTA) updates. While 36% of respondents said their vehicle received an OTA update within the first three years of ownership, only 30% noticed an improvement, while 56% reported no noticeable change. Automakers may be embracing digital fixes, but the user experience still leaves much to be desired.

Pandemic Disruptions Still Echoing

Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, contextualized the results by pointing to the unique production challenges that plagued the 2022 model year. Supply chain bottlenecks, workforce shortages, and skyrocketing vehicle prices all played a role in the final product quality. These “pandemic cars,” as some have dubbed them, were always expected to struggle in long-term dependability studies—and three years later, the cracks are showing.

Hybrid Vehicles Shine, PHEVs Struggle

While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) made notable strides in reliability—improving by 33 PP100 compared to last year—plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) moved in the opposite direction, seeing a worrying 26 PP100 decline. PHEVs are now the most problematic powertrain type, averaging 242 PP100, while traditional hybrids emerged as the least problematic at 199 PP100, closely followed by gas-powered vehicles at 200 PP100. Diesel vehicles also struggled, averaging 233 PP100.

Lexus and Buick Lead the Pack

When it comes to brand performance, Lexus secured its position as the most dependable brand overall for the third consecutive year, with a stellar 140 PP100. In the premium segment, Cadillac (169 PP100) and Porsche (186 PP100) followed. On the mass-market side, Buick topped the charts with 143 PP100, edging out Mazda (161 PP100) and Toyota (162 PP100). Toyota’s reputation for reliability was further reinforced, with the Toyota Avalon crowned the most dependable vehicle overall.