New-vehicle quality saw its biggest improvement in decades, but connectivity issues tied to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto continue to frustrate owners, according to the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS).

Overall initial quality improved to 175 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), down from 192 a year ago. Because lower scores indicate higher quality, the improvement marks the industry's strongest year-over-year gain since 1997.

For fleet operators, the findings highlight the importance of evaluating in-vehicle technology alongside traditional measures of durability and reliability as connected features become standard across commercial vehicles.

Connectivity Remains the Biggest Pain Point

Infotainment was the only category to decline in quality this year. J.D. Power said connectivity issues involving Apple CarPlay and Android Auto accounted for the largest increase in reported problems.

The study also found infotainment systems and touchscreens are the leading source of driver distraction, with 46% of owners who reported distraction-related issues pointing to those systems. Driver assistance alerts accounted for another 18%.

"As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever," said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. "The biggest gains in quality come from features that are easy to use. When technology becomes too complicated, the likelihood of customers experiencing a problem rises considerably."

Business Fleet-Friendly Vehicles Earn Segment Honors

Among mass-market automakers, Ford ranked highest in initial quality with a score of 152 PP100, followed by Nissan (156) and Buick (162).

Several vehicles that are commonly considered for business and commercial fleet applications earned top marks in their segments:

• Large light-duty pickup: Ford F-150 (highest ranked), followed by the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra.
• Heavy-duty pickup: Ford Super Duty (highest ranked), followed by the Chevrolet Silverado HD.
• Midsize pickup: Hyundai Santa Cruz (highest ranked), followed by the Honda Ridgeline and Ford Maverick.
• Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe (tied for highest ranked with the Toyota Sequoia), followed by the Ford Expedition.
• Midsize SUV: Chevrolet Blazer (highest ranked), followed by the Toyota Crown Signia and Subaru Outback.
• Compact SUV: Nissan Rogue (highest ranked), followed by the Ford Escape and Buick Envision.
• Compact car: Kia K4 (highest ranked), followed by the Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla.
• Midsize car: Hyundai Sonata (highest ranked), followed by the Honda Accord and Kia K5.

The results reinforce the strong showing of several vehicles used by contractors, tradespeople, service fleets, sales organizations, and small businesses, with Ford earning top honors in both the light-duty and heavy-duty pickup categories.

Other Areas Show Improvement

Beyond infotainment, owners reported fewer problems across nearly every vehicle category, contributing to the industry's best year-over-year improvement in initial quality since 1997. J.D. Power cited notable gains in:

• Driving assistance alerts
• Electric vehicle driving range
• Road noise
• Body panel fit and finish
• Cupholder design and capacity

Overall, initial quality improved across nine of the 10 vehicle categories measured, with infotainment being the only category to decline. The findings suggest simpler technology contributes to fewer reported quality issues. According to J.D. Power, vehicles with intuitive controls and less complicated software generally generated fewer reported problems than those with more complex technology.

The 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 78,500 purchasers and lessees of 2026 model-year vehicles after 90 days of ownership and incorporates repair data from franchised dealerships.