Toyota and Lexus Earn Eight Awards in 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study - Lexus Leads Nameplate Rankings for 12 Years in a Row
TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 9, 2006 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today placed first among all corporations and earned eight segment awards in the 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study(SM) (VDS). The study tracks the number and type of problems owners have with their three-year-old vehicles. Lexus was the top nameplate for the 12th consecutive year with 136 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Lexus and Toyota each received four awards, more than any other nameplate. Toyota improved in 2006 by 15 PP100 and Lexus improved three PP100.
"VDS is the one of the most telling measures of long-term vehicle quality and reliability," said Jim Lentz, TMS executive vice president. "A vehicle's dependability is a significant factor in overall cost of ownership and resale value. It also affects whether a customer is likely to repurchase or recommend a vehicle."
The Lexus LS 430 premium luxury sedan was the top-performing model in the industry for the 12th consecutive year with 88 PP100. Last year, with a score of 90 PP100, the LS 430 was the first model in VDS history to receive fewer than 100 PP100. The Lexus GX 470, in winning the Midsize Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) segment, had the fewest PP100 of any truck/SUV in the study. Other Lexus segment leaders include the GS 300/GS 430 for Midsize Premium Car and SC 430 in the Premium Sporty Segment.
For 2006, Toyota ranked fifth overall with 179 PP100, up from seventh place in 2005. The Toyota Tundra placed first in the Large Pickup segment with 141 PP100. Other segment leaders include the Highlander in the Midsize MAV segment, RAV4 in the Compact MAV and ECHO was the top Sub-compact Car.
J.D. Power's VDS finds long-term durability continues to be an important consumer factor. The number of problems an owner experiences affects their repurchase intent, vehicle recommendation, and impacts their vehicle's retained value.
VDS is the latest of numerous surveys indicating that Toyota and Lexus quality continues to improve. In June, TMS earned a record 11 segment awards in the 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study(SM) (IQS), which measures problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership. This was more than any other corporation and a record for the most segment awards in one study.
This past spring, a leading consumer publication found Toyota and Lexus vehicles had the fewest problems of any makes over five years.
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