Bookmarking Auto on Info pages
Supporting Auto on InfoHome or
Site Layout or
Site Map or
Site Index or
Quick Jumps or
Search Engine Directory or
The MartAuto News, Analysis and Editorial
The
J.D. Power Surveys: Gleaning Values from Things That May Be Worth, Individually,
Something Close to Nothing: GM in the Dumps Again
Auto on Info June 2007
The J.D. Power Surveys: Gleaning Values from Things That May Be Worth, Individually, Something Close to Nothing: GM in the Dumps Again
By James B. Bleeker
The J.D. Power and Associates automobile surveys annually query owners for all complaints, from grand to small, that he or she has regarding his or her motor vehicle and dutifully records the responses, including those that are arguably of a more trivial nature, for example, shortcomings that should have been evident before purchase, such as knob accessibility, instrument viewability, and low gas mileage for the Hummer. The complaints are compiled and averages are calculated for the major lines of vehicles - Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, etc.
Two such automobile surveys are reported each year, one covering the first 90 days of ownership and the other covering the first 3 years of ownership. On June 6th, this year's 90-day survey results were released.
We begin with the observation that any survey that queries owners regarding all complaints he or she has with his or her vehicle seems likely to produce results that are of dubious value to the consumer. Visitors have expressed this thought in less-than-generous terms.
Next, we construct a chart comparing the results of the 90-day survey released in 2007 with those of the 90-day survey released in 2006. To do this, for each year, we subtract each line's average complaint frequency (average number of complaints) from the largest such average for the year. We then divide each difference by the greatest difference. This ascribes values to all of the motor vehicle lines (that are present in the J.D. Power survey results) from 0 to 1, with 1 being the value of the line with the fewest complaints and 0 being the value of the line with the greatest number of complaints. Then, for each of the lines, we plot its 2007 value and 2006 value on a chart that has the 2007 value range on the x-axis and the 2006 value range on the y-axis. We have:
The resulting chart is one reminiscent of those found in psychology texts. The broadly distributed points suggest that the survey is measuring some psychological trait (or complex of traits) of the persons surveyed as much as it is measuring shortcomings of the vehicle that they own. For contrast, we plot the Reliability Percentrank averages of the major motor vehicle lines for model years 2001 and 2002 (the most recent model years for which the averages have been computed using the full complement of data).
What we see is that the data follow closely the regression line, as one would anticipate in a one-year-to-next comparison of motor vehicle lines. (Note that in the bottom half of the spectrum the points become more scattered. There are several possible explanations for this: (1) For the European lines, the sample size is smaller, (2) at the bottom end, the differences between models may not be great, and (3) people who purchase vehicles at the lower end of the spectrum may have lesser mental attributes with lower awareness and weaker recall, thus occasioning a more random distribution for each model year.)
It should be noted that the J.D. power surveys employ a much smaller sample than does the Consumer Reports survey (from which the Reliability Percentranks and Reliability Percentrank averages are derived) and that some part of the contrast between the J.D. Power chart and the Reliability-Percentrank-average chart may be explained by the difference in sample size.
Next, we construct a chart comparing the results of J.D. Power's 3-year survey released in 2006 with those of the 3-year survey released in 2005. The computations for this chart are identical to those for the 90-day chart. We have:
Here, too, the plotted points are quite scattered, but less scattered than in the 90-day chart, suggesting that something more automotive is measured in the 3-year survey.
Next, we compare the results of the 3-year survey released in 2006 with the results of the 90-day survey released in 2004.
The widely scattered plotted points suggest that something quite different is measured by the two surveys.
The above charts point in the direction that if anything of value to the consumer is to be gleaned from J.D. Power automobile surveys, some composite results from more than one year for both the 90-day and 3-year surveys must usually be assembled. Here, to assist consumers with more mentionable standards, we take the intersection of the sets of the 10 lines that had the smallest average number of complaints (lowest average complaint frequency) in (1) the 90-day survey results released in 2007, (2) the 90-day survey results released in 2006, (3) the 3-year survey results released in 2006, and (4) the 3-year survey results released in 2005, i.e., the two most recent survey results for the two time periods surveyed by J.D. Power and Associates. This leaves us with the following lines:
Lexus Toyota Honda Infiniti, from best to better by average rank for the four surveys.
To test the adequacy of the selection process, we examine the ranks by Reliability Percentrank average of these J.D. Power top four lines for the five most recent model years for which Reliability Percentrank averages have been computed. These ranks are given in the following table.
Table I: The Reliability-Percentrank-Average Ranks of J.D. Power's Top Four Lines for Model Years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Lexus 1 1 1 1 1 Toyota 2 4 2 2 3 Honda 2 2 3 3 2 Infiniti 2 5 3 3 4 The next table compares the J.D. Power ranks of its top four lines and the ranks of these four lines by the 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank averages.
Table II: J.D. Power Ranks for Its Top Four Lines and the Ranks of These Four Lines by the 1998-2002 Reliability Percentrank Average J.D. Power Rank 1998-2002-Reliability-Percentrank-Average Rank Lexus 1 1 Toyota 2 2 Honda 3 3 Infiniti 4 4 The ranks are identical and we have a technique for gleaning consumer value from J.D. Power survey results, although the technique must be tested over several years to ensure adequacy.
Finally, we observe that by the 2007 results of J.D. Power's 90-day survey, all lines of General Motors Corporation - Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn - fall below the industry average. Even if this survey measures as much a psychological trait of the owners surveyed as something regarding automotive quality, the unanimity of the results suggests that GM is not a manufacturer to be on a consumer's first-second-and-third-choice list, irrespective of how modest or diminutive the consumer's standards may be.
Source for J.D. Power and Associates 2007 90-day automobile survey results: http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/pressrelease.aspx?id=2007088
Source for J.D. Power and Associates 2006 90-day automobile survey results: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?id=2006082
Source for J.D. Power and Associates 2004 90-day automobile survey results: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?id=2004037
Source for J.D. Power and Associates 2006 3-year automobile survey results: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?id=2006133
Source for J.D. Power and Associates 2005 3-year automobile survey results: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?id=2005089
Source for Reliability Percentrank averages: Auto on Info's Table II-MVRP
Links to Amazon.com
Musical Instruments Karl Willhelm violins Schiller cellos To view more string instruments, icons, and search phrases, click here. Wallets for Men and Women Robe di Firenze wallets Jos. A. Bank wallets R.G. House of Florence wallets Rolf’s wallets Columbia Sportswear wallets To view more wallets, icons, and search phrases, click here. Fine Women's Perfumes L'air du Temps by Nina Ricci for women Must II de Cartier by Cartier for women Allure by Chanel for women To view more fine women's perfumes, icons, and search phrases, click here. Handbags Gucci handbags Prada handbags Tocca handbags Caterina Lucchi handbags Ellington handbags To view more fine handbags, icons, and search phrases, click here. Toiletry Bags Hartmann toiletry bags Bric's toiletry bags Ralph Lauren toiletry bags Bosca toiletry bags Eagle Creek toiletry bags To view more toiletry bags, icons, and search phrases, click here. 22-Inch Bags Victorinox expandable wheeled 22-inch bags To view more 22-inch bags, icons, and search phrases, click here. Samsonite Bags Samsonite New Silhouette hardside beauty case Samsonite Oyster FLites To view more bags and series by Samsonite, icons, and search phrases, click here. Business Totes, Business Briefs, and Briefcases for Men and Women L.A.P.A. briefcases Hartmann briefcases Robe di Firenze briefcases Pratesi briefcases High Sierra briefcases To view more business totes, business briefs, and briefcases, icons, and search phrases, click here. Literature The Origins of the British: A Genetic Detective Story (2006) by Stephen Oppenheimer Deep Ancestry: Inside the Genographic Project (2006) by Spencer Wells The Little Ice Age: How Climate Made History, 1300-1850 (2001) by Brian M. Fagan To view more fine literature, click here. The Mart Fine Stories on DVD Tell your friends, colleagues, and coworkers, "I bought it at Amazon.com via Auto on Info." Internet's Auto-Quality-News-and-Information Hub since 2001
Automotive News Menu Pages Auto Manufacturers: Toyota - Honda - Subaru - Nissan - Ford - Chrysler - General Motors - Volkswagen Topics: Reviews - Recalls - Safety Investigations - Safety Test Results - Automotive Excellence - Green and Clean - Automotive Dishonor, Discredit, or Demerit - Lawsuits - Automotive Finances - Car and Truck Sales and Market Shares - Auto on Info
| On-site Commercial Pages and Sections with Names, Icons, and Links to Amazon.com and PicassoMio.com - Please shop often at Amazon.com and PicassoMio.com via Auto on Info. Thank you. | |
| Auto and Business Books and Periodicals: Auto Service and Repair Manuals - Auto Lit - Biz Lit | |
| Links to the Net's and Planet's Leading Merchants: The Links | |
| The Mart: Dressing Up for the Trip: Designers - The Houses: Men's Fine Ties, Women's Fine Perfumes, Designers, Designer Key Rings, Wallets, and Bags: Designer Key Rings and Key Cases, Designer Wallets, Designer Clutches, Designer Handbags, Designer Shoulder Bags, Designer Totes, Designer Shopping Bags, Select Business Totes, Business Briefs, and Briefcases, Designer-Merchants, Attire for the Trek - Putting on the Air: Adorning with Fine Jewelry (More Exclusive Jewelry Lists): Women's Watches: Cartier Women's Watches, Omega Women's Watches, Baume & Mercier Women's Watches, Tag Heuer Women's Watches, Ebel Women's Watches, Men's Watches - Directory 1, Men's Watches - Directory 2, The Designers: Jewelry by Leo DeVroomen, Earrings - Refreshments for a New Season (More Inclusive Jewelry Lists): Women's Watches, Men's Watches, Earrings: Amethyst Earrings, Aquamarine Earrings, Citrine Earrings, Diamond Earrings, Emerald Earrings, Garnet Earrings, Opal Earrings, Pearl Earrings, Peridot Earrings, Ruby Earrings, Sapphire Earrings, Tahitian Pearl Earrings, Tanzanite Earrings, Topaz Earrings, Tourmaline Earrings - Equipping the Expedition: Trekking Equipage: Backpacks and Water Purifiers, Filters, and Bottles and Trekking Apparel, Evening Accommodations: Tents, Sleeping Bags, Pads, Mats, and Cots, Stuff Sacks, Dry Duffels, and Dry Boxes, Exploring Lakes, Rivers, and Bays - Travel Essentials and Accessories On the Run: Wallets, Handbags / Purses, Business Totes, Business Briefs, and Briefcases - Taking Off: Camera Bags, Toiletry Bags, 22-Inch Satchels, Duffels, Uprights, and Wheeled Backpacks, Luggage by Manufacturer and Series, Digital Photography, Digital Video - Entertaining Guests: Setting the Table, Playing the Instruments, Entertaining Electronically Preserving Happenings: Memory Cards and Sticks, Digital Cameras, Digital Camcorders, Photo Printers, and Accessories, Camcorders, 35mm Cameras, Camera and Camcorder Cases, Bags, Backpacks, and Underwater Housing, Tripods, Laptop Computers, Printers and Scanners - Home Furnishings: The Kitchen: Espresso Machines and Coffee Makers, Small Appliances, Cookware, Cutlery Block Sets and Cheese Sets, Wüsthof Cutlery, The Dining Room: Dinnerware, Flatware, Wine Glasses and Decanters, Wine Cellars, Tea Sets, The Music Room: The Keys, The Strings, The Wind Instruments, The Percussion Instruments, The Art Room: Paintings, Prints: Linocuts, Lithographs, Silkscreen, Woodcut, Drawings, The Theater: DVDs-Fine Stories, DVDs-Comedies, DVDs-War Stories, DVDs-Adventure, DVDs-Westerns, DVDs-Human Society and Psychology, DVDs-Science Fiction, The Library: Choice Books of Fiction - Selective Historical Works - | |
