Dodge, which tied with Kia for first place with 136 problems per 100 vehicles, was a surprise winner, with five models surveyed: Challenger, Charger, Journey, Grand Caravan and Durango. The brand, which landed in the top 10 last year for the first time, has not introduced a redesigned or new vehicle since the 2011 model year. Older models give brands several advantages: Vehicles aren’t saddled with as many connected features that typically drag down scores, and engineers have had more time to fix whatever problems do exist.
Still, Sargent said Dodge’s performance can be attributed to more than just an aging lineup.
“They’ve done a really good job improving their quality,” Sargent told Automotive News. “It’s not a fluke that they did well.”
He cited widely praised technology such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ UConnect infotainment system.
Another FCA brand, Ram, tied Chevrolet for third place, with 141 problems per 100 vehicles.
Chevy boasted the highest-rated model, with owners reporting just 103 problems per 100 vehicles with the Sonic.
Kia, which achieved second-place finishes in 2019 and 2018, tied for first this year, marking its sixth-consecutive year as the top-ranked mass-market brand. Genesis and Mitsubishi rounded out the top five. Buick, GMC, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan and Cadillac also finished above the industry average.
While every brand fared worse under the revised survey, some kept their increased number of problems at 60 or less: Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Ram, Dodge, Chevrolet, Jeep, GMC, Buick and Jaguar.
Brands that posted 90 or more additional problems over 2019: Mazda, Porsche, Ford, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Audi and Land Rover.
