Overall new-vehicle initial quality drops from last year

Dinesh

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Oct 13, 2006
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The overall new-vehicle initial quality survey in Malaysia has shown a small decline this year compared to 2009, according to the J.D.Power Asia Pacific 2010 Malaysia Initial Quality Survey.

Entering its eighth year, the survey takes into account the quality of a new-vehicle during the first two to six months of ownership by measuring more than 200 problem symptoms that span eight vehicle components, exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, audio/entertainment/navigation. Seats, HVAC, interior and engine/transmission.

The survey states the number of problems per 100 vehicles, meaning a lower score indicates a lower problem incidence and better performance. Of the eight segments taken into account, five have seen increases in complaints, that being the exterior, features/controls/display, audio/entertainment/navigation, interior and engine/transmission.

From the survey, 59 per cent of customers reported at least one problem with their new vehicles during the survey’s testing period. Interestingly too, for the fourth consecutive year, issues regarding the exterior top the complaints list, followed by the engine/transmission.

“Achieving high levels of initial quality is critical for manufacturers that are intent on reaping the benefit of positive word of mouth. Among new vehicle owners in Malaysia who report having a problem-free experience, 53 percent say that they ‘definitely would’ recommend the model to their friends or relatives. However, when customers experience one or more problems, this percentage declines to 36 percent,” said Taku Kimoto, General Manager for J.D Power Asia Pacific.

By the segment, Honda, Isuzu, Perodua and Toyota models scored the highest. The Perodua Myvi ranked the top in the compact car segment with the Perodua Viva and Proton Savvy trailing.

In the entry midsize car segment, the Honda City was ahead of the Toyota Vios and the Proton Saga BLM.



The midsize car segment saw the Toyota Corolla Altis claim top spot, followed by the Nisan Sylphy and Honda Civic.



Toyota claimed top spot in the MPV/van segment as well courtesy of the Avanza. Second spot went to the Nisan Grand Livina and the Proton Exora took third.



Isuzu picked up the top spot in the pick up segment with its D-Max for the second year running. Next in line was the Toyota Hilux and the Mitsubishi Triton.

For the 2010 edition of the survey, the stats are based on 2,642 new vehicle owners that purchase their vehicles within the period of September 2009 and May 2010.