In the latest J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, Audi has landed at the very bottom among surveyed brands, underscoring persistent challenges with vehicle reliability. This annual assessment gathers feedback from thousands of new car owners regarding issues encountered within the initial 90 days of ownership. The findings suggest that while luxury vehicles often experience more reported problems than their mainstream counterparts, Audi's position is particularly concerning, especially when compared to top performers like Lexus.

The comprehensive J.D. Power study, now in its 39th year, surveyed over 92,000 purchasers and lessees of 2025 model year vehicles. Participants responded to 227 questions covering a wide array of categories, from engine performance to interior design and technological features. The results showed Lexus leading the pack with a mere 166 problems per 100 vehicles, a stark contrast to Audi’s 269 reported issues per 100 vehicles. Volvo also found itself near the lower end, albeit slightly above Audi, with 258 problems.

Interestingly, some brands demonstrated surprising discrepancies within their own portfolios. Nissan, for example, secured the second overall position with only 169 reported problems, while its luxury division, Infiniti, struggled with 242 issues, positioning it closer to the bottom. The industry average for this year's study was 192 problems per 100 vehicles, a slight improvement from the previous year. Several luxury marques, with exceptions like Jaguar, Buick, Genesis, and Porsche, found themselves performing below this average.

It's worth noting that Rivian, an emerging electric vehicle manufacturer, reported a similar number of problems to Audi (269 issues per 100 vehicles) but was not included in the official rankings due to not meeting the study's award criteria. Tesla also faced a high number of reported issues, aligning with Cadillac and Toyota at 200 problems per 100 vehicles, which comes as a surprise given Toyota's reputation for reliability. Mazda similarly registered a higher-than-expected problem rate, on par with Volkswagen.

The study clarifies that its scope is limited to the first 90 days of ownership and does not reflect long-term reliability trends. Furthermore, it highlights that certain vehicle types inherently present more issues; plug-in hybrids, for instance, generally cause more complaints than fully electric vehicles, and newly introduced models tend to have more teething problems than established ones. Beyond traditional defects, the study pinpointed common frustrations among owners, such as the perceived lack of intuitiveness in touchscreen climate controls and inadequately designed cup holders that struggle to accommodate various beverage sizes.

Audi's consistent presence at the bottom of these quality surveys is not a new development. From 2020 to 2024, the German automaker frequently appeared near the lower ranks. While other brands like Land Rover and Chrysler sometimes registered higher problem rates in past years, Audi's performance has remained stubbornly low. Recognizing these challenges, Audi has publicly acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly concerning interior quality. Oscar da Silva Martins, Audi's Head of Product and Technology Communication, recently conceded to Motor1 that the brand's quality "has certainly been better in the past," affirming their commitment to regaining their previous standing. Whether recent design changes, such as the new Q3's integrated steering wheel stalk, will contribute to this turnaround remains to be seen.