21 May 2001: Lexus has reclaimed the top spot in the US J D Power users survey on quality.

In the survey of 54,000 new vehicle owners or lessees, Lexus scored 85 consumer-reported complaints per 100 vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership, beating the 1999 winner, Jaguar, which finished second with 108.

Toyota and its Lexus luxury brand took top honors in seven of 16 different vehicle segments, according to the survey.

The LS 430 sedan (above) scored the top overall rating with just 58 complaints per 100 vehicles, taking the top title for the seventh time in the last nine years.

Asian carmakers overall improved their ratings marginally to 140 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 142 last year. European brands closed to within one point to 141 from 154 last year, while American carmakers trailed with 153, compared with 164.

Europeans in particular are closing the gap more rapidly than US automakers according to Joe Ivers, a partner and executive director of quality and customer satisfaction research at J D Power.