Industry Report Part 2: Toyota Leads J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Corporate Rankings

Having fallen from 11th place with 342 PP100 to 13th with a score of 375, Hyundai Motor America is more of a

After scoring so well in J.D. Powers 2004 Initial Quality Survey (IQS), it's disappointing to see Hyundai fall from 11th to 13th place in the 2004 VDS. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada)

disappointment than Volkswagen in this year's VDS, especially after beating none other than Toyota in initial quality as per the J.D. Powers 2004 Initial Quality Survey (IQS). Of course, the cars in question with regards to the 2004 VDS are 2001 models, so good things are in store for this Korean brand.

No one is really sure exactly what lies in store for Isuzu in the near future, with sales so low dealers are just trying to keep the doors open. Its 2004 VDS prospects aren't too rosy either, slipping backward from 12th place with 368 PP100 last year to 14th with 393 PP100. Keep your fingers crossed if you're an Isuzu fan.

Daewoo Motor America, Inc. takes the 15th spot out of 16 automakers with a 411 PP100 result, with the irony being that it doesn't exist as an independent entity anymore. Daewoo Motor America went under when GM and partner Suzuki bought the manufacturing

Although coming in last place, South Korean automaker Kia showed the biggest improvement in problems per 100 vehicles. (Photo: Kia Canada)

facilities in South Korea and global rights (outside of North America) to the brand name, under its new GMDAT division. Now the cars are sold as Daewoos throughout in foreign (to North America) markets, and Chevrolets, Pontiacs and Suzukis within North America - some models are only available in one of either the U.S. or Canada.

Last place, but making giant-size strides forward is Kia. While the South Korean automaker's 2001 vehicles could only manage 432 problems per 100 vehicles in the 2004 VDS, Kia executives were no doubt lifted by the automaker's ability to break past the 500 mark - its 2003 VDS score was a dismal 509 PP100. An improvement of 77 problems per 100 is the best of any automaker. On another note, Kia was recently purchased by Hyundai, and therefore its new cars, which will share general architecture with similarly sized Hyundai cars and SUVs, should show a marked improvement.