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Honda may have a sterling reputation, but according to J.D. Power’s latest U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, some American car brands just pulled ahead in the reliability game.

The annual report, which measures the number of problems per 100 vehicles after three years of ownership, showed that Honda owners experienced an average of 201 issues. That’s just one point under the industry average and far behind four General Motors brands that scored better.

GMC edged out Honda with a score of 188. Cadillac and Chevrolet performed even better, tying at 169. But it was Buick that made the biggest statement. Owners of Buicks reported just 143 problems per 100 vehicles. That’s only three more than Lexus, which topped the list overall at 140. 

In other words, Buick came closer to beating Lexus than Honda did to catching Chevrolet.

The study covers everything from car infotainment quirks to powertrain issues

J.D. Power’s results suggest that pandemic-era production woes are still haunting 2022 model-year vehicles.

Software problems played a growing role. Features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and in-car Wi-Fi frequently failed to meet owner expectations. These gremlins pushed the industry average up to 202 problems per 100 vehicles. By the way, that’s the worst showing since 2009.

While some automakers climbed, others stumbled. Volkswagen had the lowest dependability score, with owners reporting a staggering 285 problems per 100 vehicles.

This marks the third year in a row Lexus has led the pack

Cadillac also stood out among premium brands, followed by Porsche. On the mass market side, Buick took top honors. Toyota came in third there, just behind Mazda.

The data came from more than 34,000 drivers who shared their experiences after three years of car ownership. And while every car will have a quirk or two, this year’s rankings prove that certain American brands are far from any underdog perceptions.