Hyundai Falls in Auto Dependability, Genesis Below Average

J.D. Power’s auto reliability rankings show Korean automakers have reversed course after reaching a high point, with Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis all placing behind several Japanese brands in the latest 2026 vehicle dependability results.

According to J.D. Power’s 2026 Vehicle Dependability Study, Lexus ranked No. 1 for the fourth straight year. J.D. Power calculates rankings by converting reported issues into “problems per 100 vehicles.” Lower scores mean higher quality. The evaluation covers nine areas, including driver-assist features, acceleration and shifting, ride comfort, fit and finish, and durability.

In this year’s results, Subaru ranked sixth and Toyota eighth. The three Korean brands placed lower: Kia ranked ninth, Hyundai 12th, and Genesis 13th.

That marks a shift from 2022, when Kia ranked first and Hyundai and Genesis placed third and fourth, putting all three in the top four. In 2023, Genesis ranked second, Kia third, and Hyundai eighth, but the brands’ positions have continued to slip since then. Last year, all three Korean brands fell outside the top 10.

Compared with the industry average, Hyundai and Genesis posted below-average scores in 2024 and 2025, and Genesis recorded below-average results for a third straight year through this year’s study.

Behind Lexus, Buick ranked second and has remained in the top tier in recent years. Mini ranked third and Cadillac fourth. Chevrolet, which has been in the middle of the top 10 since 2023, ranked fifth this year. Porsche placed seventh, and Nissan finished 10th.

In J.D. Power’s segment awards, the three Korean brands did not win any category and were listed only in the top three. Kia Forte made the top three in the compact car segment, Hyundai Venue in small SUV, Hyundai Santa Fe in midsize SUV, and Genesis GV70 in compact premium SUV.

Japanese brands showed the opposite pattern in segment winners, with Toyota taking first place in four categories, Lexus in three, and Subaru and Nissan each leading one category.

The industry analysis suggested Korean brands’ recent aggressive push into electrification may have affected dependability scores, including early quality issues during platform expansion and the growing use of infotainment and advanced driver-assist systems. Recent studies have also indicated that electronics and software complaints make up a large share of reported problems.

By contrast, the analysis said brands such as Lexus, Toyota, and Mazda have stayed near the top by relying on more proven powertrains and a more conservative product strategy.

BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]