J.D. Power's study shows Nissan is struggling a little with the New Titan/Armada

[Titanoholic]

Here is something interesting I saw on Fox news:

DETROIT — The quality of cars from Korea's Hyundai ranks among the best, while Nissan's new made-in-America trucks and SUVs suffer an above-average number of glitches, according to J.D. Power's (search) study on vehicle quality released on Wednesday.



Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. (search) was the most improved automaker in the annual benchmark study on initial quality during the first 90 days of ownership, while Japan's Nissan (search) and Germany's Porsche AG (search) dropped sharply in the poll due to problems with new vehicles.

"Hyundai has done its homework and really understands the U.S. consumer," said Brian Walters, senior director of vehicle research with J.D. Power. Hyundai has cut the number of quality problems by 57 percent over the past six years, dropping from 272 problems per 100 vehicles in 1998.

J.D. Power polled more than 51,000 U.S. buyers and lessees after 90 days of ownership about their initial impressions and problems with 2004 model-year vehicles.

Hyundai's gains could partly be attributed to its relatively small number of cars and sport utility vehicles, and the carmaker could be challenged if it expands its lineup, which has hurt Nissan and Porsche, Walters said.

Nissan aggressively pushed into the full-size pickup truck and large sport utility vehicle segment over the past year with new models built at a Mississippi plant. Porsche expanded beyond its niche of sporty cars with the launch of the Cayenne SUV.

"It's not uncommon for a manufacturer entering a new segment to stumble a bit," Walters said.

Nissan's score dropped to 147 problems per 100 vehicles, ranking it 10th among major automakers, with 12 more problems than the 135 recorded last year.

Porsche tumbled from second place last year with 117 problems per 100 vehicles, to last with 159.

Porsche have surged with the launch of the Cayenne, and Nissan has also increased its U.S. market share with the roll-out of the new models. But sales of the Nissan Titan (search) pickup truck, Quest minivan and Infiniti Armada, all made in Mississippi, have been disappointing, industry analysts said.

"If you collectively look at the truck products they have most recently launched, there could be some concern," said Jeff Schuster, senior director of global forecasting with J.D. Power.

Nissan said last month that Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn (search), widely praised in the automotive industry and regarded as a business hero in Japan for turning around the car company, will directly oversee U.S. operations.

General Motors Corp. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F) and DaimlerChrysler (DCX) ranked slightly below average in vehicle quality, about in the middle of the pack. All made gains and some had some brands and vehicles that ranked near the top.

Overall, the industry had 119 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 133 last year, indicating that the automotive industry is making strides at improving quality even as the number of complaints diminish. Top complaints in the annual study include wind noise, chipped paint and loud brakes.

"Virtually every nameplate improved and nearly three-quarters of models," Walters said.