J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study finds Lexus top and Audi tail for 2025 new car build quality

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American data analytics company J.D. Power has released its 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study, which interprets the findings of over 90,000 survey responses related to the first 90 days of new vehicle ownership, taken between June 2024 and May 2025.

This year, the industry average for problems per 100 (PP100) vehicles dropped from 2024’s figure of 194 PP100 to 192 PP100. J.D. Power reported multimedia and infotainment touch screens as the most reported problem-area, alone averaging 42.6 PP100 despite being only one of ten categories assessed.

Lexus took first place as America’s least problematic brand per 100 vehicles with a score of 166 PP100. The cream of the crop also included Nissan, with a score of 169 PP100, and Hyundai, which achieved 173 PP100.

At the other end of the scale, Audi of America was hit with 2025’s wooden spoon, with 269 PP100. Volvo took second-last place with 258 PP100, while Infiniti placed third-last with 242 PP100. Volkswagen and Mazda tied for fourth-last place, scoring 225 PP100.

What does this mean for Aussies?

While Aussies should certainly take note of 2025’s winners and losers, it’s worth noting that almost all of the manufacturers mentioned make use of American-based assembly plants for some of their local U.S. offerings. Further, many models included in the U.S. survey are not offered in Australia. 

Audi, however, exclusively manufactures its vehicles in Europe, meaning many Audi models produced for the North American or Australian market have emerged from the same factory. 

This is undoubtedly an upsetting result for the German luxury brand, who last year held a 1.6 percent stake in the total Australia car market, narrowly eclipsed by rival brands BMW (2.4 percent), Mercedes-Benz (2.0 percent) and Lexus (1.8 percent).

Models from podium-finishing brands which share the same (global) assembly plants for both the US and Oz market included the Nissan 400Z and Ariya (coming soon to Oz), Lexus UX, RZ, GX, LX, LS and LC, and Hyundai Kona, Kona electric, Ioniq 5 / 5N, Ioniq 6, Palisade, and Korean-assembled Venues. 

The shared loser-models include nearly all Chinese-assembled Volvos, excluding the EX90, which is assembled in South Carolina for the US Market. Volkswagen fronts the ID.Buzz and Golf, while Japan’s Mazda shares the CX-5, MX-5, and CX-70 across the ditch. 

 As for Infiniti, the Nissan-owned brand stopped trading in Australia in late 2020. 

Undeniably a useful resource for American car buyers, this year marks the 39th consecutive year of running for the U.S. IQS. Despite its proven history and benefits, Australia still lacks an equivalent – a letdown for Australian consumers, industry professionals, and local dealerships.