Ford’s (F) Lincoln, Toyota’s (TM) Lexus Tops for Dependability

Luxury cars unsurprisingly topped the J.D. Power & Associates’ annual study of vehicle dependability, with Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln brand in the No. 1 position, and Toyota's (NYSE:TM) Lexus right behind them.

Bloomberg noted, "Lincoln led the industry for the first time in the survey’s 21-year history as owners reported 101 problems per 100 vehicles, J.D. Power said today in a statement. Toyota’s Lexus improved to second place, with 109 problems, from fourth place last year, and the automaker’s namesake brand moved up one spot to fifth with 122."

Higher-scoring manufacturers retain more buyers as well as service business for their dealers, according to J.D. Power. The industry averaged 151 problems per 100 vehicles in this year’s survey, which polls buyers after three years of ownership. That’s down from 155 last year and 167 in 2009.

“Automakers, as a whole, have made significant improvements in reducing traditional problems” the past several years, David Sargent, vice president of auto research at the Westlake Village, California-based firm, said in a statement.

Seven of the top eight brands were luxury nameplates, as Tata Motors Ltd. (TTMT)’s Jaguar ranked third and Porsche SE’s namesake finished fourth. After Toyota at fifth, Honda Motor Co.’s Acura improved to sixth place, and Daimler AG (DAI)’s Mercedes-Benz jumped to eighth.

Ford was trading at $14.36, gaining $0.18, or 1.30 percent, as of 1:33 PM EDT. Toyota was at $82.01, up $1.60, or 1.99 percent.




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