and Dodge scored big with J.D. Power, grabbing both number one and number two, respectively, for the 2021 Initial Quality Study (IQS). That’s a big step for both brands.

Ram’s full-size pickup truck has been steadily moving up the ranks, with the number one bestseller Ford F-150 in its sights. 2021 has been a great year for Ram, especially, but Dodge is also setting their sights high.

Following an announcement earlier this year that Dodge will introduce electric muscle cars, Dodge is also riding high. Grabbing the top spots on the IQS is a huge win for parent company Stellantis.

Ram and Dodge vehicles have climbed the ranks for the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality Study.

What is the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study?

J.D. Power surveys tens of thousands of new owners every year. According to

Car and Driver

, the survey consists of 223 questions and covers the first 90 days of ownership. The brands are ranked based on problems per 100 vehicles. The lower the number, the higher the owner's satisfaction.

These complaints cover anything from mild issues with the infotainment system to major mechanical issues.

Ram scored a 128, while Dodge scored 139. For comparison, the industry average is 162.

Lexus, Mitsubishi, and Nissan made up the rest of the top five, in that order. Other Stellantis brands were, interestingly, closer to the bottom of the list. Alfa Romeo scored 204, while Chrysler scored a less than impressive 251. Jeep, on the other hand, scored in the top 10 with 149.

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Ram and Dodge have improved dramatically

MORE:

Ram Had 3 Trucks Earn a Car and Driver 'Editor's Choice' Award

This is the first time that Ram has topped the Initial Quality Study list. In fact, just two years ago Ram was in 21st place overall, according to

Kelley Blue Book

. Dodge placed eighth in that study.

Dave Sargent, who is the vice president of automotive quality at J.D. Power said the Stellantis team had worked impressively hard to improve their quality.

It shows in the 2021 rankings. Even Jeep, which was ninth in the 2021 list, was 18th in 2019.

The odd thing, though, was that Chrysler was still ranked dead last in 2019. Stellantis may be focusing on Ram, Dodge, and Jeep so much that other brands may be falling behind.

Chrysler may catch up, as the success of sister companies trickles down.

The Initial Quality Study can help you choose the best car

MORE: Best 2021 Full-Size Truck: Consumer Reports and J.D. Power Have Totally Opposite Opinions

Car and Driver calls the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study a helpful starting point when you begin your new car journey. While it is a helpful tool, it's only one of many. Consumer Reports, for instance, conducts its own studies.

The IQS is also a little limited because it only looks at the first 90 days of car ownership. It's a very small portion of the vehicle's overall life, so you need to take that into account when you're looking at the results.

There’s also some potential bias. So-called design defects can be things that work exactly as intended but could be frustrating or non-intuitive for some owners. Those things might not actually be mechanical problems but instead shows that owners simply don’t like them.

While the IQS does give you a good snapshot of dependability and owner satisfaction at the outset, you may want to look into longer studies. J.D. Power also has a three-year dependability study, too. That will give you a better idea of how the vehicle stands up to wear and tear over time.

Used together, along with customer reviews and studies from other companies, you can get a good idea what vehicle might be the best for you.

Whatever vehicle you decide on, make sure it's covered by the best insurance at the best price.

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