WASHINGTON — U.S. automakers have surpassed foreign brands for the first time in a survey that measures the quality of new cars and trucks.
J.D. Power and Associates said Thursday that owners of vehicles made by Detroit automakers reported fewer problems on average during the first 90 days of ownership than those built by companies based overseas.
It was the first time that has happened in the 24 years the industry-research group has conducted the annual quality study, which is a closely watched measure of the durability and reliability of vehicles.
U.S. automakers have long lagged foreign brands, especially those from Asian manufacturers such as Toyota, which many consumers believe produce higher-quality cars and trucks than General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
But J.D. Power said Ford Motor Co. showed some of the biggest gains in quality among individual brands, moving into the fifth spot. Porsche was the top scorer. Toyota Motor Corp., which has suffered through huge safety recalls this year, saw its score drop.
“Domestic automakers have made impressive strides in steadily improving vehicle quality,” said David Sargent, J.D. Power’s vice president of global research.
The study ranks vehicles according to the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles. The overall average for the industry was 109 problems per 100 vehicles. That industry average has fallen steadily over the past decade.
