Initial Vehicle Quality Problems Increase in Japan, Particularly with Infotainment Systems, J.D. PowerFinds
Daihatsu and Honda Rank Highest in a Tie in Initial Quality
TOKYO: 13 Sept. 2023 — Vehicle owners in Japan have experienced more frequent initial quality problems
with their new vehicle in the past year, most notably in infotainment-related operability and usability,according to the J.D. Power 2023 Japan Initial Quality Study SM (IQS), released today. Specifically, initialquality averages 151 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which is 13 PP100 worse than in 2022 (138PP100). Among the 14 brands included in the rankings, 10 brands have more problems than in 2022.
The study, now in its 13th year, examines problems experienced by owners of new vehicles in the first two
to 13 months of ownership. Initial quality is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100vehicles, with a lower score reflecting higher quality.
“Among the nine categories by which new-vehicle quality is evaluated, there is a notable increase inproblems in the infotainment category,” said Yuji Sasaki, director of research division at J.D. Power.
“Problems in this category were also the most frequently cited in 2022. This year’s study again highlights
this category as a major challenge. Japan has led the world in its unique technological evolution,
particularly for navigation systems, but due to the global standardization of and changes in thespecifications, users in Japan perceive that navigation systems have deteriorated in performance andquality.”
Following are key findings of the 2023 study:
Rising problem area is built-in voice recognition: Built-in voice recognition has one of the twolargest increases among all 221 problem areas, to 2.8 PP100 in 2023 from 2.1 PP100 in 2022.
This is driven by the increased frequency of responses that the system doesn't recognize ormisinterprets verbal commands, which is cited by 72% of owners this year compared with 64% ayear ago.

Problems increase with built-in navigation systems: The navigation system also has the largest
increase in problems, to 3.6 PP100 in 2023 from 2.9 PP100 in 2022. Older owners experienced
more problems with built-in navigation systems (2.5 PP100 among those 39 years old or younger;
3.6 PP100 for those 40 to 59 years old; and 4.5 PP100 among those 60 years old or older).
Respondents who had used a navigation system prior to the current version are more likely to say
the current navigation system is more difficult to understand or use than the previous one. As theusability of the built-in voice recognition systems has worsened, this also holds true for built-in
navigation systems.

Automatic high-beam headlights a problem for exterior light controls: There is a notabledifference in the number of problems experienced in the exterior light controls equipped with andwithout automatic high-beam headlights, 1.5 PP100 vs. 1.00 PP100, respectively. Vehicle owners
say they don’t think the automatic high-beam headlights are necessary, but they can’t figure out
how to turn off this perceived unnecessary feature, or that it is hard to discover how to switch thejapan.jdpower.com

automatic high-beam headlights on and off, so they simply kept the headlights on while driving.
Owners also indicate automated headlight systems are not necessarily useful to them.
Degree of problems differ among mini-car EVs and registered EVs: Comparing mini-car EVs(Nissan SAKURA/Mitsubishi eK X EV) with registered EVs, owners of the former say they are
more problematic for electric range lower than expected, 5.3 PP100 vs. 4.2 PP100, respectively.
Conversely, the latter are more problematic for charging problems, 0.7 PP100 vs. 3.5 PP100,respectively. Although a lower electric range has long been a barrier to the adoption of electricvehicles, fewer problems with charging might be an advantage of owning a mini-sized electricalvehicle, depending on how and why the electric vehicles are used.

Quality of ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems)-related features improves: The problem
for lane departure warning/lane keeping assistance–alerts annoying/bothersome has the largest
decrease in problems this year. It had been the most problematic since 2021, the year in which
this problem area was first included in the study. The number of problems has been lessfrequently reported each year, to 5.4 PP100 in 2023 from 5.6 PP100 in 2022 and 6.3 PP100 in
2021.

Highest-Ranked Brands and Models
Daihatsu and Honda rank highest in a tie in overall initial quality. Lexus ranks highest in the luxury marketsegment.
The following are award recipients in each segment category: Mini-car–Sedan: Daihatsu Mira e:S Mini-car–Height Wagon: Honda N-WGN, Suzuki Wagon R (Tie) Mini-car–Super Height Wagon: Suzuki Wagon R Smile Compact Car: Toyota Passo
 Compact SUV: Daihatsu Rocky Midsize Car: Subaru Impreza Midsize SUV: Toyota Harrier Compact Minivan: Honda Freed
 Minivan: Toyota VoxyThe Japan Initial Quality Study, now in its 13th year, this year is based on responses from 21,647 ownersof new vehicles in the first two to 13 months of ownership. Vehicle quality is evaluated by owners across
221 questions organized into nine vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays;
exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; and climate. The study was
fielded in May-June 2023.
About J.D. Power
J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer inthe use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understandconsumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions
with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries
rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.
J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company’sbusiness offerings, visit https://japan.jdpower.com/.

Media Relations Contacts
Kumi Kitami, J.D. Power; Japan; 81-3-6809-2996; release@jdpa.com
Geno Effler; J.D. Power, USA; 714-621-6224; media.relations@jdpa.com
About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/pressrelease-info###NOTE: Three charts follow.

J.D. Power
2023 Japan Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
Brand Ranking
Problems per 100 Vehicles (PP100)

Luxury Brands

Lexus

BMW

Luxury Brands Average

Audi

Mercedes-Benz

147

172

183

201

226

NOTE: Brand/Segment are not rank eligible unless they meet study criteria by J.D. Power, including insufficient sample.
Source: J.D. Power 2023 Japan Initial Quality Study SM (IQS)
Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying
J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores,
and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information inthis release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power.

J.D. Power
2023 Japan Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
Brand Ranking
Problems per 100 Vehicles (PP100)

Mass Market Brands
Daihatsu

131

Honda

131

Suzuki136

Subaru146

Mass Market Brands Average

149

Nissan158

Toyota158

Mitsubishi

172

Mazda

175

MINI

Volkswagen

188

273

NOTE: In alphabetical order if there are tie scores.
Brand/Segment are not rank eligible unless they meet study criteria by J.D. Power, including insufficient sample.
Source: J.D. Power 2023 Japan Initial Quality Study SM (IQS)
Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying
J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores,
and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information inthis release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power.

J.D. Power
2023 Japan Initial Quality StudySM (IQS)
Brand Ranking
Highest Ranked in Overall
Highest Ranked in Overall
Highest Ranked in Luxury Brands

Daihatsu (Tie)
Honda (Tie)
Lexus

Top Three Models per Segment
Mini-car–Sedan

Midsize Car

Highest Ranked: Daihatsu Mira e:SSuzuki Alto
Suzuki Lapin

Highest Ranked: Subaru Impreza
Subaru Levorg
Toyota Prius

Mini-car–Height Wagon

Midsize SUV

Highest Ranked: Honda N-WGN (Tie)Highest Ranked: Suzuki Wagon R (Tie)
Suzuki Hustler

Highest Ranked: Toyota Harrier
Toyota Corolla Cross
Subaru Forester

Mini-car–Super Height Wagon

Compact Minivan

Highest Ranked: Suzuki Wagon R Smile
Honda N-BOX (Tie)
Mitsubishi eK Space/X Space (Tie)Highest Ranked: Honda Freed
Suzuki Solio
Daihatsu Thor

Compact Car

MinivanHighest Ranked: Toyota Passo
Honda Fit
Mazda MAZDA2Highest Ranked: Toyota Voxy
Toyota Alphard
Honda Step Wgn

Compact SUV
Highest Ranked: Daihatsu Rocky
Suzuki Xbee
Mazda CX-3
NOTE: In alphabetical order if there are tie scores.
Brand/Segment are not rank eligible unless they meet study criteria by J.D. Power, including insufficient sample.
Source: J.D. Power 2023 Japan Initial Quality Study SM (IQS)
Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying
J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores,
and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information inthis release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power.