Are OTA Updates Actually Improving Your Car?

JD Power's 2026 dependability study links over-the-air software changes to a four-year low in vehicle quality

13 Apr 2026

American vehicle owners are reporting the worst long-term quality scores since 2022, with over-the-air software updates emerging as a significant source of dissatisfaction, according to an annual study published in February by JD Power.

The 2026 US Vehicle Dependability Study, which drew on responses from more than 33,000 owners, recorded an industry average of 204 problems per 100 vehicles. It was the third consecutive year of deteriorating scores and the highest figure since the study was redesigned.

Over-the-air updates, which allow manufacturers to modify vehicle software remotely, now reach 40% of US owners annually. Yet more than 63% of those updates were associated with a nearly 14% rise in reported problems. Only 27% of owners who received an update said it improved their vehicle; 58% noticed no difference.

Connectivity failures between smartphones and vehicles were the leading complaint category for the third year running. Issues spanning Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and manufacturer-developed applications accounted for nearly half of all infotainment problems recorded in the study.

Premium vehicle brands were disproportionately affected, posting an eight-point rise in problems per 100 vehicles compared with the prior year and underperforming mass-market rivals in seven of the nine categories assessed.

Jason Norton of JD Power said the data pointed to a gap between what manufacturers deliver and what owners experience. Meaningful updates must be paired with clear communication about what has changed, he said, or owners will feel no benefit and grow more frustrated.

The results arrive at an awkward moment for an industry investing heavily in software-defined vehicle platforms, which are designed to allow cars to improve over their entire ownership period through remote updates. The study suggests that while the technical infrastructure for such updates now operates at scale, the quality controls and owner-communication frameworks required to make them effective remain underdeveloped.

JD Power said its 2027 edition would introduce year-round data collection beginning in April 2026, providing manufacturers with more frequent feedback on software performance across their fleets. Whether closer monitoring translates into measurably better outcomes for owners remains to be seen.