Emerging and new technologies in premium vehicles are resulting in more owner-reported problems than in volume brand vehicles, according to the J.D. Power 2018 UK Vehicle Dependability Study.

The study has found that problems caused by new vehicle technology continue to be common for owners after 1-3 years. Bluetooth phone/device frequent pairing/connectivity issues and voice recognition not recognizing commands are both among the six most common problems.

“Automotive systems are more complex than they’ve ever been and premium brands especially are incorporating autonomous driving building blocks such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic braking into their models,” said Josh Halliburton, Head of European Operations at J.D. Power. “It’s imperative for manufacturers to address this issue in order to improve the level of consumer trust in the technology.”

The survey index of overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The top 13 brands in the UK for vehicle dependability are all volume brands. Hyundai ranks highest in overall vehicle dependability with a score of 78 PP100. Suzuki ranks second with 87 PP100, followed by Kia with 94 PP100. Mercedes-Benz (124 PP100) is the highest-ranking premium brand, and 14th overall.

The study, now in its fourth year, measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of vehicles in the UK after 12-36 months of ownership. Among owners who experienced no problems with their vehicle, 54% said they “definitely will” purchase/lease the same brand again. Among those who experienced one of the top 10 highest-severity problems, only 37% say they “definitely will” purchase/lease the same brand again.