Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus line has slipped below the industry average in a closely watched study of new-car quality, while South Korean automakers that only recently supplanted Japanese and German brands gained more momentum.
Lexus — long considered a stalwart of quality — ranked 15th out of 32 brands in J.D. Power's initial quality study, falling from seventh place last year and first as recently as 2012. South Korea's Kia Motors Corp. took top honors for the second year in a row and affiliate Hyundai Motor Co.'s Genesis brand finished No. 2 in its inaugural year.
The decline for Lexus has been playing out for several years. Once America's top-selling luxury brand, owners reported 98 problems per 100 vehicles in the first three months of ownership, plagued in part by issues with complicated electronics systems. As competitors led by the South Koreans catch up, Lexus is now near the middle of the pack. The industry average for brands improved to a rate of 97 problems, from 105 a year ago.
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