MOST DEPENDABLE AUTOMAKERS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - J.D. Power VDS 2009

As I type this, TSN.ca says we're 330 days away from the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Yeehaw. No, really - YEEHAW! In GoodCarBadCar Towers, the Olympics take over. Because of this fascination, national pride is allowed to take hold of everything from food and hockey to music and cars. Especially cars.

Like last year's post on the Most Dependable Automakers By Country Of Origin as per J.D. Power's 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study, what you'll read below is completely and utterly an unofficial Olympic sport. Who makes the best cars? Rather, who badges the best cars. These are the days of free trade. BMW's are built in South Carolina, Buicks are a Chinese favourite, and Chrysler is threatening to withdraw its already-dwindling Canadian operation from Ontario, Canada. Already you've read a fair bit about the 2009 J.D. Power VDS. Now it's time to put your flags on. What you'll read below is an in-depth look at the problems of vehicles - as perceived by vehicle owners - over the last 12 months on their '06 model year cars, trucks, vans, crossovers and SUVs; then grouped by the automaker's country of origin.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: average 178 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: t1 (Buick)

Worst Rank: 30 (Hummer)

Average Rank: 17

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 6

Segment Winners: 6 (Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln Mark LT, Buick LaCrosse, Mercury Grand Marquis, Dodge Caravan, Ford Ranger)

JAPAN: average 182 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 3 (Lexus)

Worst Rank: 37 (Suzuki)

Average Rank: 19

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 6

Segment Winners: 14 (Honda Element, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Acura RL, Nissan 350Z, Scion xA, Toyota Prius, Toyota Solara, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Sequoia, Lexus ES330, Lexus SC430, Lexus LS430, Lexus GX470)

GERMANY: average 184 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 11 (Porsche)

Worst Rank: 36 (Volkswagen)

Average Rank: 19

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 3

Segment Winners: 0

UNITED KINGDOM: average 188 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: t1 (Jaguar)

Worst Rank: 35 Land Rover

Average Rank: 20

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 1

Segment Winners: 0

KOREA: average 190 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 14 (Hyundai)

Worst Rank: 27 (Kia)

Average Rank: 21

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 1

Segment Winners: 0

SWEDEN: average 206 problems per 100 vehicles

Best Rank: 22 (Volvo)

Worst Rank: 32 (Saab)

Average Rank: 27

Total Brands Above Industry Average: 0

Segment Winners: 0