Cobalt Ranks 9th in J.D. Power Study
June 23, 2009 8:46 a.m.
By Dan O’Brien
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Chevrolet Cobalt showed improved quality in 2009 compared to last year, but slipped in its overall rankings in the compact car segment, according to a closely watched study released Monday.

J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study shows that the Cobalt improved in quality by 6% but dropped to ninth place out of 20 this year from its sixth-place slot in 2008.

“Other models improved as well,” said Dave Sargent, vice president of automotive research for J.D. Power.

The Cobalt is approaching the end of its lifespan, and most quality improvements are made earlier in an automobile’s production cycle, he noted.

The Pontiac G6, also produced at the GM Lordstown Complex, ranked 12th in the segment, Sargent said. The ratings are based on the number of problems reported by consumers for every 100 vehicles produced. The industry average for a brand is 108.

The Hyundai Elantra sedan won the top honor for best quality in the compact car segment, while the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic placed second and third, respectively.

GM’s Lordstown plant, which is evaluated just on manufacturing defects, ranked 35th overall in North America out of a total of 64 plants, Sargent said.

Toyota Motor Corp.’s plant in Higashi-Fuji, Japan garnered the highest rating with 29 defects/malfunctions per 100 vehicles, the report said. Honda Motor Corp.’s East Liberty, Ohio, plant scored the best in North America with 41 defects reported.

The J.D. Power Study showed that while domestic manufacturers improved their quality by an average of 10% compared to last year, imports still took some of the highest quality scores. Japanese and Korean automakers scored the highest in 12 out of 18 model segments.

Toyota’s Lexus premium brand received the best-quality rating among nameplates with 84 problems reported for every 100 vehicles. Porsche was second with 90 and GM’s Cadillac brand was close with 91.

Toyota, long a target for domestic manufacturers, was ranked seventh with 101 defects, while Ford and Chevrolet closed the gap with 102 and 103 problems reported per 100 vehicles.

Ford’s Mercury Sable received the highest quality award for large cars, while the Ford Mustang was awarded the highest ranking for midsize sporty cars.

“Achieving high levels of initial quality in all-new models is one of the greatest challenges for manufacturers,” Sargent said. “Even in the face of unprecedented challenges, the Detroit automakers are keeping their focus on designing and building high-quality vehicles, which is a precondition for success.”