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Kia leads J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study for 2022

For the first year ever, Kia leads J.D. Power's annual Vehicle Dependability Study with a score of 145 problems per 100 vehicles. Buick (147) and Hyundai (148) round out the top three. The highest premium brand on the list is Genesis, with a score of 148. It's common for so-called "mass market" brands to lead this particular study, according to J.D. Power, as "premium" brands "typically incorporate more technology in their vehicles, which increases the likelihood for problems to occur" and aren't necessarily built to a higher standard that less-expensive brands. The highest-rated single nameplate is the Porsche 911. It's the third time out of the past four years and the second year in a row that Porsche's quintessential sports car has taken top honors. Porsche as a brand sits in seventh place (162) just behind Lexus (159) and ahead of Dodge (166). At the very bottom of the list is Land Rover with a dismal score of 284; the SUV specialist held the same unfortunate distinction on last year's list. Ram (266), Volvo (256), Alfa Romeo (245) and Acura (244) also performed poorly. The overall industry average score sits at 192 — mass market brands average a score of 190 while premium brands sit 14 points lower at 204. While Tesla is unofficially included in some of J.D. Power's results, the agency says the sample size it has access to for this study is too small to include. As has been the case for the past several years, infotainment systems dominate the list of problems reported by owners. Popular (or unpopular, depending on your point of view) complaints include built-in voice recognition (8.3 PP100), Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity (5.4 PP100), built-in Bluetooth system (4.5 PP100), not enough power plugs/USB ports (4.2 PP100), navigation systems difficult to understand/use (3.7 PP100), touchscreen/display screen (3.6 PP100), and navigation system inaccurate/outdated map (3.6 PP100). While problems with the car's infotainment and technology packages are indeed bothersome, it's important to remember that such issues aren't usually leaving owners stranded with an immovable vehicle like a broken transmission or blown engine would. Culling infotainment complaints from the results would reduce the average problem-per-100-vehicle score by a staggering 51.9 points. The vehicles included in this study are from the 2019 model year. That means owners have had three years to get to know their cars and trucks. It's the 33rd year that J.D.

Lexus joins subscription craze with Complete Lease

Lexus is the latest automaker to offer a vehicle subscription service, even if it isn't marketing it that way per se. The luxury brand is launching Lexus Complete Lease as a "full-service lease program," but if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, well, you get the idea. The program is offered exclusively with the 2019 Lexus UX subcompact crossover, both the UX 200 and the UX 250h hybrid, in all trim and option levels. Lexus is teaming up with roughly 80 dealers for the program in seven states: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. And it's touted as a simplified monthly payment that includes insurance, scheduled maintenance and other services. So it's a subscription service, OK? More specifically, Complete Lease involves a two-year term capped at a total of 20,000 miles. Insurance is provided by Travelers and includes a $250,000 per-person and $500,000 per-accident bodily injury limit and $250,000 property limit, with a $500 deductible, though other rates and coverage can vary by state. You also get two years of connected vehicle services including SiriusXM satellite radio and Lexus Enform Remote Destination Assist on models equipped with Navigation. There's no word yet on Complete Lease pricing; Autoblog sought that information from Lexus and will update this if we hear back. But we know that the UX is the lowest-priced Lexus, starting at $33,025 for the UX 200 and $35,025 for the UX 250h. For comparison's sake, those are in the same ballpark as the respective starting prices for Volvo's XC40 crossover and S60 sedan, which are available under the Care by Volvo subscription service starting at $700 and $750 per month, respectively. For more information on Vehicle Subscription Services, check out the Complete Guide. Related Video:

Toyota adds more than 1.1 million vehicles to previous fuel pump recall

A Toyota and Lexus recall that previously listed nearly 700,000 potentially affected vehicles has been amended to include more than 1.1 million new rides. Overall, more than 1.8 million cars, trucks, crossovers, and SUVs are part of a voluntary recall regarding fuel pumps that might stop working.    On January 13, 2020, Toyota announced a safety recall for 695,541 Lexus and Toyota models. It included the Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Avalon, Corolla, and Tundra, plus the Lexus LS 500, LC 500, RC 350, RC 300, GS 350, IS 300, ES 350, LX 570, GX 460, RX 350 NX 300, RX 350L, and GS 300. The Avalon, Corolla, NX 300, RX 350L, and GS 300 in the initial recall were specifically 2019 model years, while the rest were 2018-2019.  Today, March 4, 2020, Toyota stated it has expanded the recall to approximately 1.8 million vehicles total. Toyota did not provide a specific number, but here is the full list of potentially affected cars:  2013-2015 Lexus LS 460 2013-2014 Lexus GS 350 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, Lexus IS-F 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser; Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570 2015 Lexus NX 200t, RC 350 2017 Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t 2017-2019 Toyota Sienna; Lexus RX 350 2018 Lexus GS 300 2018-2019 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra; Lexus ES 350, GS 350, IS 300, IS 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, LS 500h, RC 300, RC 350, RX 350L On these vehicles, a low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank could fail. If this fuel pump fails while the vehicle is in use, the vehicle could sputter and stall. Without warning of the impending malfunction, other than some lights on the dashboard, this could present a dangerous situation for the driver.  For all affected vehicles, Toyota and Lexus will replace the faulty parts with "improved" fuel pumps. Notifications will start in May. Recalls Lexus Toyota