JD Power says that 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. The studdy was carried out in the US.
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, according to JD Power. Navigation problems declined, 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 improved across multimedia and speaker problems demonstrating manufacturers are making progress, JD Power said.
