JD Power: Infotainment Remains Vehicle Quality's Biggest Challenge

• Infotainment accounts for 25% of all vehicle problems and is the only category to worsen year over year
• The five most frequently reported problems are infotainment-related
• Overall satisfaction with vehicle navigation increases by 17 points (on a 1,000-point scale) to 933

TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- While overall vehicle quality improves in 2026, infotainment remains the most problematic major vehicle category and is the only category to deteriorate, according to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study,SM released today. Multimedia-related problems are essentially unchanged year over year at 42.4 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), causing multimedia's share of total vehicle problems to rise to 25%, accounting for the five most frequently reported vehicle problems. The findings highlight the growing challenge automakers face as vehicles become increasingly dependent on software, touchscreens and connected technologies.

"The industry continues to make progress improving overall vehicle quality, but multimedia remains a persistent challenge,” said Lisa Boor, director of customer success, OEM solutions at JD Power. “As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, quality issues are leaning less toward hardware failures and more toward system complexity, software performance and connectivity. Customers expect these technologies to work seamlessly every day. Brands simplifying the experience while delivering reliable execution are best positioned to improve quality and satisfaction."

Despite ongoing quality challenges, several multimedia areas show meaningful improvement in 2026. Navigation problems decline, driven by reductions in usability and accuracy complaints, helping lift navigation satisfaction 17 points (on a 1,000-point scale) year over year to 933. Customer satisfaction also improves across multimedia and speaker problems demonstrating manufacturers are making progress.

To view the study rankings, visit: http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2026088.

The 2026 U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 78,514 purchasers and lessees of new 2026 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study was fielded from June 2025 through May 2026. This data is part of the JD Power Component Quality Reports (CQRs) dataset portfolio, which is derived from JD Power's flagship U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) and U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study and helps suppliers and OEMs design and build higher-quality products based on an in-depth understanding of customer-reported problems and satisfaction levels with components on the latest model-year vehicles.

For more information about the U.S. Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/component-quality-reports-cqrs-portfolio-overview/.

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909719874/en/

Media Relations Contacts
Joe LaMuraglia, JD Power; East Coast; 714-621-6224; [email protected]
John Roderick; East Coast; 631-584-2200; [email protected]

Source: JD Power

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