Hyundai quality improves, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 4th in its 2009 Initial Quality Study
Hyundai quality improves. J.D. Power and Associates ranks Hyundai 4th in its 2009 Initial Quality Study!
According to the 2009 IQS -Initial Quality Study, Hyundai brand has made a come back and took the fourth spot in the latest quality survey released by renowned J.D. Power and Associates. The Korean car maker has jumped from 13th position achieved in 2008 to fourth in 2009, right behind the top three automakers: Lexus, Porsche and Cadillac.
The annual J.D. Power and Associates quality study measures IQS based on problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100). With 108 problems per 100 vehicle this year, the industry average has improved when compared to last year (118 problems per 100 vehicles in 2008).
As already mentioned, with only 95 problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai has taken the fourth spot in the quality survey. Even more important is the fact that Korean largest automaker regained its number 1 status among non-luxury brands, beating Honda at fifth place and Toyota at seventh position. It has happened for the second time that Hyundai has finished among the top four most quality car brands. In 2006, Hyundai “landed” at third position.
Hyundais affiliate Kia Motors also performed very well this year. The company ended at 15th position, tied with Volkswagen and luxury carmaker BMW. In addition to Hyundai, Kia also improved its quality and now ranks just a bit below the industry average. The largest improvement was recorded by Suzuki that moved from 32nd place last year to 9th position in 2009.
Not long ago, Hyundai could have been found at the bottom of annual J.D. Power quality charts, but in the last few years the company has seen a major turnaround. With huge efforts and lots of money spent on improving quality, the hard work has finally paid off to Hyundai and their vehicles are now ranking a top of the segments in terms of quality. Go HYUNDAI! [Source: J.D. Power & Associates]
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
FYI Hyundai ranked 3rd in 2006.
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Jup, I know. But then it regressed for two years and now it’s back on top!
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
They solved the Santa Fe SUV problem at their Alabama plant that dragged down the overall score the last couple of years.
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I think it should read 95 problems per 100 vehicles. Ninety-five problems per vehicle wouldn’t be too impressive.
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:31 am
Note, the top 3 manufacturers are ‘Luxury’ Brands, thus the first mass-mkt co being Hyundai is significant in my opinion. This is seriously some impressive stuff. I would not be surprised to see them in the top 3 in the next few years.. This focus on quality will pay dividends later..
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 am
But Alex, Hyundai is now considered as an Aspirational Luxury Brand.
Hyundai/KIA makes better quality cars than the competition already but the problem is they are too competitive. The Industry will not give us the props we deserve until we become the bar raisers. Lets make 50 MPG the standard bearer for a B-Segment small car like Honda made 32 MPG the standard in the late 1970s with its Civic and their CVCC engines.
Iam actually starting to get pissed at Hyundai/KIA for neglecting the US market in terms of Fuel Economy. 35-37 MPG Accents and Rios and 35-36 MPG Elantras and Fortes are not enough anymore. Maybe for 1999, but not 2009.
Krafcik better crack that whip like I think he will, or he will end up on the Unemployment line too.
I love My Accent, but the MPG is getting pretty boring as I see Hyundai/KIAs Euro Powertrains with 10 and 20 more horsepower easily cracking 50 MPG. Thats what really pisses me off.
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:46 am
One thing this didn’t point out but the press release did is that the Genesis, while apparently not winning its class, did come in well above the class average, impressive, or so they said, for a new launch.
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:49 am
Lets put Leather in Accents and Elantras, and Optional Navigation, with Blue Xenon Headlamps, with alloys as standard kit. We should have the 40+ MPG Direct Injection Turbos in small cars. Hyundai is still a value brand, but an Aspirational Luxury value brand now. Let the kit fall down on the small cars guys. Treat the Accent like the Genesis.
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:53 am
If Hyundai can Make an Infinti G (Genesis) Car for $22,000, then Hyundai can make an Audi A2 (Accent) car for $12,000.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:29 am
The declaration that American cars are narrowing the gap is somewhat misleading: While it is true, as a whole, they are making gains — the real numbers that matter to consumers is the individual cars in a particular class. For example, the top three classes of cars are: Truck, Mid-sized sedan, and SUV. Toyota dominates in these classes. Just because Americans can do cars that few people drive better — isn’t exactly the best accomplishment.
I tell all my friends to buy foreign still. And to use the power of competition to get a good price (ignore clever marketing). This is the best process to use when you are ready for a car:
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:07 am
And Toyota is the most reliable?
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 am
SoundGallery has a point guys. The Rubbish Entourage and not so reliable Tibby skewed the rankings. The Accent and Elantra remained the proverbial stallwarts of quality for the brand. In past years the Accent is usually ranked the highest.
I have a theory, the Accent got ranked #2 in its class this year, becuase Toyota took advantage of Hyundais stubborn and fool hardy policy on not having a 5 door hatch for the Accent. Also the Accent didnt get a refresh, as the Yaris did get a light interior refresh.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
Good job Hyundai =)
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
“with only 95 problems per vehicle” hahaha thats a lot~
seriously tho, good to see hyundai fighting back… 24/7 v2 should help a lot too…
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
95 Problems per 100 vehicles is a lot Pat. You know Hyundai/KIA has a new company program now. Its called “Defects to Zero.”
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
DerrickG, According to this article the Genesis has only 84 problems per 100 vehicles.
http://www.autoobserver.com/2009/06/vehicle-quality-improves-despite-bumpy-financial-ride.html
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:36 pm
“with only 95 problems per vehicle” hahaha thats a lot~ yeah that’s enough to be dead last
Sorry, my mistake!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Even Lexus with 84 ppv is alot
June 24th, 2009 at 6:56 am
true john
June 24th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Smoke, Leather for the Elantra would be nice. The previous GT used to have this… remember that. I’d rather see a velour or a higher end cloth on the Accent but not Xeon lights though, not a good idea, that’s a high 3 digit repair bill and they are NOT environmetally freindly either. Notice the newer luxury cars are not using them as much. Most are switching to a LED combinations. If the Genesis & Equus are Luxury cars, the Accent should be a green vehicle with cutting edge materials instead. The Hyundai Accent Design your own interior competitions… Hmm. Just a thought.
But I will say having Hyundai 4th on this list will help raise the resale values for sure! Oh, but that means that used the prices will evenually go up too… Hmm.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:59 am
Great idea, but I have been salivating on the Genesis Coupe Interior for the Accent. I might change my mind, well see.
Great News EB, Check out the Hyundai website, they now offer leather in the Elantra, in the $1950 premium Package!!!!!
June 25th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
John and Smoke,
Remember that’s PROBLEMS, not defects. I’ve never had a car that didn’t have something I wasn’t happy with. so it’s not as bad as it sounds since even if the car was prefectly assembled, it still can ring up a problem if say the owner’s manual doesn’t clearly spell out how a feature works. That’s one reason this survey is much more useful for the manufacturers than for the consumer.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Derrick, well my gripes about the 2007 Accent in which I have sent my 50,000 mile review letter to Hyundai Headquaters in Seoul, and got a very quick prompt response to my concerns were:
1. They Should have a Hyrbid to boost MPG.
2. They Should make the center armrest more sturdy, becuase mines broke when I was cleaning out my car.
3. They should have offered a 5 Door Hatch.
4. The wheel and Tires Packages were garbage. (Told them to offer only allow wheels and all season tires for future models) I was slipping in the rain a lot, and the stock steel wheel bends very easily on curves.
5. Also, unlike previous gen Accents a scratch under the hood corrodes easier.
I will do a 100,000 mile review soon enough as the car has 75,000 on the odometer. By the way, the Accent’s engine is just only starting to break in.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
The Steal Wheels corrode as well.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Steel sorry.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
That’s great Smoke, I hope that includes the Elantra Touring too.. Thanks.
June 26th, 2009 at 3:30 am
Nope not the Elantra Touring not yet.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Hyundai and Kia have great initial quality, J.D. Powers is a worthless survey as it only references the first 90 days of ownership, when everyone is still in love with their new car, and neither of those factors are that significant as both Hyundai and Kia utilize inferior components compared to most Japanese competitors - you can see it in things like the thickness of the brake rotors and the quality of the interior plastics, as well as the fabrication of the motor.
Hyundai and Kia are renowned for falling apart after about year 3; if you check out Consumer Reports, the number of problems versus the industry average literally skyrockets.
But something’s gotta’ give when you’re building a vehicle focused almost exclusively around price point, and that something is long term durability.
The rub is that the Sonata is nearly as much now as the Camry, Accord, Mazda 6 and Altima, which are all superior cars and far more reliable in long term studies.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Yeah whatever dude, Hyundai KIA is in 8th place according to CR after 3 years of ownership. These are 2005 model year vehicles.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:39 am
8 out of 34 is damm good.
July 11th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
It seems to me that eveyone bagging on hyundai really hasn’t seen or driven any of the new models. sure its easy to bag on hyundai based on old info but relook at what consumer reports says about hyundai. being a hyundai owner i can testify that they are a much better build vehicle than the older ones. The best satisfaction will come when hyundai passes honda within the next 5 years. Hyundai is more for people who expect a lot from a car, and do not need a name to define who they are.
July 11th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Hyundai has already passed Honda, yet people say they still are crap. I dont want to say it, but I think its becuase people are very racist towards Koreans. I think a Korean Cultural Marketing Campaign might help Hyundai/KIA.
August 16th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
So in the new series Vince is back on top, loving it so far and as alawys Ari Gold is brilliant!
November 20th, 2009 at 9:18 am
A Toyota product is going to be worth way more and cost less to run 10 years down the road. The fuel savings alone will be huge. My Toyota now is 15 years old and I have spent $50.00 total cost in repairs. Any car will be pretty much be trouble free for the first 100,000. After that get ready to spend some money on the korean products.
November 21st, 2009 at 1:37 am
Liesbetold, yeah thats based on an old Toyota Prodct VS an Old Hyundai Product. New Accents are good for 450,000 Miles, New Corollas are only good for 425,000 Miles.
Its strange that the Government (NTHSA.gov) has a shitload of recalls for new Toyotas (Made in the last 10 years), and Hyundai gets a recall maybe once every year or every other year. Most of the time its one or 2 models.
Hyundai Accent=most Reliable Subcompact on Earth Based on:
JD Power US
JD Power Europe
JD Power China
JD Power Australia
Get the hell off this site with your Toyota Propaganda, Go trip on a Floot Mat!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 5:40 am
Post a link for any Hyundai that has 450,000 miles on it.Toyota’s are only good for 425,000 miles ? Where did these numbers come from ? Let me guess your from California, liberal,head over heals in debt, and think Obama is the greatest man that ever lived. BUY GOLD !!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Why do I have to provide sources? Like Im some kind of journalist, or this is a college class or something. I said A Toyota Model, and if I gave you this secretive information my Hyundai Super Fan status would be in jeopardy.