2015 JD Power Initial Quality Study: Korea Rises, Japan Falls

J.D. Power’s Index Of Initial Quality is one of the industry’s most awaited surveys, as it ranks the quality of manufacturers' vehicles. After the first 90 days of ownership, owners complete a survey, and the resulting data is then broken down into the number of problems reported per 100 cars, or PP100.

This year’s results are impressive (and could surprise more than a few naysayers!); for the first time in the history of the survey, the Koreans fared better than the Japanese!

• Also: J.D. Power Releases 2013 APEAL Study
• Also: J.D. Power survey gives Lexus crown once more, Jaguar leaps 18 Places to second

German manufacturer Porsche tops the chart for the third year with a score of 80 PP100. Just under Porsche is Kia, with 86 PP100. Jaguar comes third –that’s surprising, too– with 93 PP100, Hyundai is fourth with 95 PP100 and Infiniti rounds out the top 5 with 97 PP100.

Honda (111 PP100) and Toyota (104 PP100) lost some spots this year, most notably because of the infamous Takata recall.

The industry average is a little better this year at 112 PP100. Under that threshold sits various manufacturers like Audi, Dodge, Volvo, Nissan, MINI, Mazda, VW, Land Rover… And as usual, Fiat is dead last at 161 PP100.