[telecom] Car Survey Shows Fewer Complaints but More With Personal Electronics

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Car Survey Shows Fewer Complaints but More With Personal Electronics

By BILL VLASIC June 20, 2012

DETROIT - Carmakers are doing a better job than ever eliminating nagging problems like wind noise, paint chips and balky engines.

Now the auto industry has to figure out how to make similar improvements in technologies aimed at users, like hands-free audio and navigation systems.

The latest automotive quality survey released on Wednesday by the research firm J. D. Power & Associates showed that consumers were reporting fewer overall problems with new vehicles. The luxury brands Lexus, Jaguar and Porsche topped the rankings, while General Motors' Cadillac and GMC divisions were the best performers among the Detroit brands.

Yet the high quality scores posted by most automakers were tempered by a growing number of complaints about in-car technologies intended to allow users to issue voice commands, update their Facebook status, look up directions or check the weather forecast.

As consumers grow accustomed to ever-more sophisticated cellphones and computers, they are demanding the same level of performance from similar equipment in their cars and trucks, analysts say.

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