J.D. Power IQS 2026: cars are noticeably better, but one thing keeps spoiling the stats

New cars in the US have become noticeably better — at least during the first 90 days of ownership. The J.D. Power 2026 Initial Quality Study shows complaints dropping from 192 to 175 problems per 100 vehicles, the biggest year-over-year gain since 1997.

The methodology matters: this isn’t about long-term durability after five or ten years, but about out-of-the-box quality — build, electronics, feature usability, and the first trips to the service department. The survey covered 78,514 buyers and lessees of 2026 model-year vehicles, with data collected from June 2025 through May 2026.

Improvements were recorded in nine of the ten categories. Interiors, driver-assistance systems, noise insulation, panel fit, EV range, and even mundane details like cupholders all got better: owners complain less about their placement and size. But infotainment broke the trend. Problems with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay added 1.4 PP100 and became the main source of decline in this category.

The overall leader is Porsche with a score of 138 problems per 100 vehicles. Among premium brands, Genesis follows with 151 PP100 and Lexus with 156 PP100. In the mass market segment, Ford takes first place with 152 PP100, ahead of Nissan at 156 PP100 and Buick at 162 PP100. The Porsche 911 stands out separately as the best model in the entire study, with a score of 110 PP100.

The key takeaway for buyers isn’t that cars have suddenly become flawless. Automakers have simply gotten better at controlling basic assembly and part of the electronics, but interfaces are still evolving faster than their usability. When climate, navigation, and the phone are all tied to a screen, a single connection error feels not like a minor glitch but like a daily irritation.

The auto industry has taken a big step forward, yet the most visible breakdown today often looks less like a knocking suspension and more like a phone that, once again, just won’t connect.