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Lexus Ranks Highest among All Brands for Fourth Consecutive Year; Buick Ranks Highest among Mass Market Brands for Second Consecutive Year Highest-recorded overallLexus Ranks Highest among All Brands for Fourth Consecutive Year; Buick Ranks Highest among Mass Market Brands for Second Consecutive Year Highest-recorded overall

Vehicle Software Updates Become More Routine, but Fall Short on Perceived Benefit, JD Power Finds

Author: AI Journal

Source: AI Journal

2026/02/13 01:01

6 min read

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Lexus Ranks Highest among All Brands for Fourth Consecutive Year; Buick Ranks Highest among Mass Market Brands for Second Consecutive Year

Highest-recorded overall problems experienced since study redesign
Premium vehicles less dependable than mass market counterparts
Plug-in hybrids and EVs experience more problems than gas-powered vehicles

TROY, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–With modern vehicles now running more lines of code than early space missions, owner perceptions of vehicle dependability have become increasingly influenced by technology performance and software glitches. According to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study^SM (VDS), released today, persistent problems with infotainment systems, spotty performance of over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and issues with vehicle exteriors have driven long-term dependability problems to new highs. Compared with 2025 results, vehicle problems after three years of ownership have increased by 2 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), resulting in an industry average of 204 PP100. A lower score indicates higher vehicle quality.

This year’s results mark the highest-recorded problem count since the VDS was redesigned in 2022, highlighting an ongoing industry-wide trend in which vehicle dependability has degraded during the past three years. Of the nine problem categories that comprise the study, infotainment remains the most problematic (56.7 PP100), followed by exterior (27.5 PP100).

“As owners hold onto their vehicles longer, the long-term ownership experience matters more than ever,” said Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at JD Power. “Software updates and new technologies should enhance the ownership experience over time, yet many vehicle owners cite ongoing mobile phone integration problems and little to no benefit after an update is performed. Much of this comes down to owner education and ongoing communication. Automakers should focus on delivering meaningful improvements and clearly communicating the intended benefits of software updates so owners understand how they are designed to enhance their vehicle and ownership experience.”

Following are some key findings of the 2026 study:

Premium segment sees rising issues: After 2 years of stability, problems among premium vehicles have jumped 8 PP100 year over year to 217 PP100—the highest since the study’s 2022 redesign. The gap between premium and mass market vehicles has widened to 17 PP100, with premium underperforming mass market in seven of the nine study categories, notably in features/controls/displays (FCD) (5.8 PP100 delta) and driving experience (3.4 PP100 delta). Only the powertrain and seats categories show better performance among premium makes.
OTA software updates deliver mixed results: As vehicles become more software-driven, receiving updates is now a routine experience for many owners, with 40% saying they received a software update in the past 12 months. Of those owners, only 27% say the update improved their vehicle, while 58% say they perceived no noticeable difference. More than half (63%) of the software updates were performed OTA and resulted in a nearly 14% increase in problems this year (2.5 PP100).
Mobile phone integration drives top industry problems: Of the top five industry problems, four are directly related to owner integration of mobile phones to their vehicles, including the top issue in the industry for a third consecutive year—Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity (8.9 PP100). Coupled with built-in Bluetooth systems (5.5 PP100), wireless charging pads (5.1 PP100), and OEM app connectivity (4.7 PP100), these issues account for 24.2 PP100, nearly half of the infotainment category problems in total. Issues with the vehicle exterior, such as abnormal noises, also contribute to the overall increase in reported problems.
Problems increase across all electrified powertrain types: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) remain the most problematic of any powertrain type in the study, increasing 39 PP100 year over year to 281 PP100. Problems among battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids also increase by 14 PP100 each to 237 PP100 and 213 PP100, respectively. By contrast, the long-term dependability of gas-powered vehicles improves slightly by 2 PP100 to 198 PP100—the least problematic among all powertrains.

Highest-Ranked Brands

Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability among premium brands for a fourth consecutive year, with a score of 151 PP100. Cadillac (175 PP100) ranks second and Porsche (182 PP100) ranks third.

Buick ranks highest in the mass market segment for a second consecutive year, with a score of 160 PP100. MINI (168 PP100) ranks second and Chevrolet (178 PP100) ranks third.

Toyota Motor Corporation has the top overall model in the study—Lexus IS—and receives the most model-level awards with eight. Model-level award recipients are Lexus IS, Lexus UX, Lexus GX, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Sienna, and Toyota 4Runner. General Motors Company receives four model-level awards for Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Equinox, and Chevrolet Tahoe.

To access the official release and complete visual rank charts, visit: www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2026133.

The study, now in its 37^th year, covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features/controls/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats. The 2026 study is based on responses from 33,268 original owners of 2023 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. The study was fielded from December 2024 through November 2025.

Methodology Updates Planned for 2027 Study

Building on this year’s findings, particularly the frustration many owners experience with over-the-air (OTA) updates, the enhanced 2027 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study will help automakers identify dependability issues much earlier. With the addition of year-round data collection, continuous reporting, and integrated verified repair data beginning in April 2026, manufacturers can pinpoint and update related concerns sooner and deliver clearer, more proactive communication to owners through in-vehicle messaging, email campaigns and dealer education. This enhanced visibility supports more effective troubleshooting and faster deployment of improvements, ultimately reinforcing trust, satisfaction, and long-term loyalty.

To learn more about the U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/automotive/us-vehicle-dependability-study.

About JD Power

JD Power is a proven leader in business-critical data and intelligence to drive auto-related decisions with confidence and clarity. By leveraging unmatched proprietary data, advanced analytics and deep industry expertise, JD Power fuels original equipment manufacturers, retailers, lenders, insurers and partners to enhance their performance.

Since 1968, JD Power has delivered incisive guidance and intelligence about customer interactions with brands and products. To learn more about the company’s business offerings, visit JDPower.com.

About JD Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info

Contacts

Media Relations Contacts
Joe LaMuraglia, JD Power; East Coast; 714-621-6224; media.relations@jdpa.com
John Roderick; East Coast; 631-584-2200; john@jroderick.com

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The gaming industry is in the midst of a historic shift, driven by the rise of Web3. Unlike traditional games, where developers and publishers control assets and dictate in-game economies, Web3 gaming empowers players with ownership and influence. Built on blockchain technology, these ecosystems are decentralized by design, enabling true digital asset ownership, transparent economies, and a future where players help shape the games they play. However, as Web3 gaming grows, security becomes a focal point. The range of security concerns, from hacking to asset theft to vulnerabilities in smart contracts, is a significant issue that will undermine or erode trust in this ecosystem, limiting or stopping adoption. Blockchain technology could be used to create security processes around secure, transparent, and fair Web3 gaming ecosystems. We will explore how security is increasing within gaming ecosystems, which challenges are being overcome, and what the future of security looks like. Why is Security Important in Web3 Gaming? Web3 gaming differs from traditional gaming in that players engage with both the game and assets with real value attached. Players own in-game assets that exist as tokens or NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and can trade and sell them. These game assets usually represent significant financial value, meaning security failure could represent real monetary loss. In essence, without security, the promises of owning “something” in Web3, decentralized economies within games, and all that comes with the term “fair” gameplay can easily be eroded by fraud, hacking, and exploitation. This is precisely why the uniqueness of blockchain should be emphasized in securing Web3 gaming. How Blockchain Ensures Security in Web3 Gaming?

Immutable Ownership of Assets Blockchain records can be manipulated by anyone. If a player owns a sword, skin, or plot of land as an NFT, it is verifiably in their ownership, and it cannot be altered or deleted by the developer or even hacked. This has created a proven track record of ownership, providing control back to the players, unlike any centralised gaming platform where assets can be revoked.
Decentralized Infrastructure Blockchain networks also have a distributed architecture where game data is stored in a worldwide network of nodes, making them much less susceptible to centralised points of failure and attacks. This decentralised approach makes it exponentially more difficult to hijack systems or even shut off the game’s economy.
Secure Transactions with Cryptography Whether a player buys an NFT or trades their in-game tokens for other items or tokens, the transactions are enforced by cryptographic algorithms, ensuring secure, verifiable, and irreversible transactions and eliminating the risks of double-spending or fraudulent trades.
Smart Contract Automation Smart contracts automate the enforcement of game rules and players’ economic exchanges for the developer, eliminating the need for intermediaries or middlemen, and trust for the developer. For example, if a player completes a quest that promises a reward, the smart contract will execute and distribute what was promised.
Anti-Cheating and Fair Gameplay The naturally transparent nature of blockchain makes it extremely simple for anyone to examine a specific instance of gameplay and verify the economic outcomes from that play. Furthermore, multi-player games that enforce smart contracts on things like loot sharing or win sharing can automate and measure trustlessness and avoid cheating, manipulations, and fraud by developers.
Cross-Platform Security Many Web3 games feature asset interoperability across platforms. This interoperability is made viable by blockchain, which guarantees ownership is maintained whenever assets transition from one game or marketplace to another, thereby offering protection to players who rely on transfers for security against fraud. Key Security Dangers in Web3 Gaming Although blockchain provides sound first principles of security, the Web3 gaming ecosystem is susceptible to threats. Some of the most serious threats include:

Smart Contract Vulnerabilities: Smart contracts that are poorly written or lack auditing will leave openings for exploitation and thereby result in asset loss. Phishing Attacks: Unintentionally exposing or revealing private keys or signing transactions that are not possible to reverse, under the assumption they were genuine transaction requests. Bridge Hacks: Cross-chain bridges, which allow players to move their assets between their respective blockchains, continually face hacks, requiring vigilance from players and developers. Scams and Rug Pulls: Rug pulls occur when a game project raises money and leaves, leaving player assets worthless. Regulatory Ambiguity: Global regulations remain unclear; risks exist for players and developers alike. While blockchain alone won’t resolve every issue, it remediates the responsibility of the first principles, more so when joined by processes such as auditing, education, and the right governance, which can improve their contribution to the security landscapes in game ecosystems. Real Life Examples of Blockchain Security in Web3 Gaming Axie Infinity (Ronin Hack): The Axie Infinity game and several projects suffered one of the biggest hacks thus far on its Ronin bridge; however, it demonstrated the effectiveness of multi-sig security and the effective utilization of decentralization. The industry benefited through learning and reflection, thus, as projects have implemented changes to reduce the risks of future hacks or misappropriation. Immutable X: This Ethereum scaling solution aims to ensure secure NFT transactions for gaming, allowing players to trade an asset without the burden of exorbitant fees and fears of being a victim of fraud. Enjin: Enjin is providing a trusted infrastructure for Web3 games, offering secure NFT creation and transfer while reiterating that ownership and an asset securely belong to the player. These examples indubitably illustrate that despite challenges to overcome, blockchain remains the foundational layer on which to build more secure Web3 gaming environments. Benefits of Blockchain Security for Players and Developers For Players: Confidence in true ownership of assets Transparency in in-game economies Protection against nefarious trades/scams For Developers: More trust between players and the platform Less reliance on centralized infrastructure Ability to attract wealth and players based on provable fairness By incorporating blockchain security within the mechanics of game design, developers can create and enforce resilient ecosystems where players feel reassured in investing time, money, and ownership within virtual worlds. The Future of Secure Web3 Gaming Ecosystems As the wisdom of blockchain technology and industry knowledge improves, the future for secure Web3 gaming looks bright. New growing trends include: Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): A new wave of protocols that enable private transactions and secure smart contracts while managing user privacy with an element of transparency. Decentralized Identity Solutions (DID): Helping players control their identities and decrease account theft risks. AI-Enhanced Security: Identifying irregularities in user interactions by sampling pattern anomalies to avert hacks and fraud by time-stamping critical events. Interoperable Security Standards: Allowing secured and seamless asset transfers across blockchains and games. With these innovations, blockchain will not only secure gaming assets but also enhance the overall trust and longevity of Web3 gaming ecosystems. Conclusion Blockchain is more than a buzzword in Web3; it is the only way to host security, fairness, and transparency. With blockchain, players confirm immutable ownership of digital assets, there is a decentralized infrastructure, and finally, it supports smart contracts to automate code that protects players and developers from the challenges of digital economies. The threats, vulnerabilities, and scams that come from smart contracts still persist, but the industry is maturing with better security practices, cross-chain solutions, and increased formal cryptographic tools. In the coming years, blockchain will remain the base to digital economies and drive Web3 gaming environments that allow players to safely own, trade, and enjoy their digital experiences free from fraud and exploitation. While blockchain and gaming alone entertain, we will usher in an era of secure digital worlds where trust complements innovation. The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story