Skoda named most dependable UK car brand in 2016 JD Power survey

Skoda has been named as the most dependable car brand in the UK, and Land Rover the least, in the latest JD Power UK Vehicle Dependability Survey.

The Czech manufacturer was shown to have the fewest problems experienced by owners in the survey for the second year running. The survey took views from more than 13,000 owners of vehicles that are 12-36 months old.

Car makers were ranked according to the number of problems received per 100 cars, with Skoda recording 62 cars per 100 having some sort of problem. Suzuki was second, with 79 problems per 100 cars, while Kia was third with 80 issues per 100 cars. The industry average was 113 problems per 100 cars.

At the bottom of the survey of 24 manufacturers, Land Rover had 197 problems per 100 cars. This is higher than both Dacia and Audi, which recorded 174 problems and 170 problems per 100 cars respectively.

Owners who took part in the survey were asked about the problems they experienced in different categories, and the most common problems were issues with technical features such as infotainment systems. The most commonly reported problem related to Bluetooth pairing with a mobile phone, while fewer exterior and engine problems were reported this year.

The results show that, generally, owners of cars from mass-market brands such as Ford and Volkswagen experience fewer problems than those from premium and niche brands.

It also shows that owners are more likely to stay loyal to a brand if they experience fewer problems. Only 38% of owners who experienced problems said they would definitely buy from the same manufacturer again.

Top 10 manufacturers 2016

1. Skoda 

2. Suzuki

3. Kia

4. Vauxhall

5. Peugeot

6. Volkswagen

7. Ford

8. Seat

9. Toyota

10. Nissan

Best cars by category

Best city car - Kia Picanto

Best compact car - Toyota Auris

Best compact SUV - Skoda Yeti

Best large and luxury car - Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Best mid-size car - Vauxhall Insignia

Best small car - Skoda Fabia