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The ability of any car to last beyond 200,000 miles is to be respected, but not everyone needs such a car. For the many drivers who lease a new car every three or so years, timing belt replacements, blown gaskets, and transmission flushes simply aren’t major concerns. What matters more to these buyers is new-vehicle quality and not having to visit the dealer weeks or months after taking delivery. That’s where JD Power’s Initial Quality Study comes in; it tracks the number of problems experienced by new vehicles. In this case, we’re taking a closer look at Toyota vs. Nissan, and it’s fair to assume that Toyota—the maker of multiple “unbreakable” vehicles—would come out on top. Is that the case? Read on to find out.
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About The JD Power Initial Quality Study
This year’s study results were published in June 2026. Eligible automakers are ranked based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower number leading to a better ranking. The study looks at the number of problems customers experience with their cars after 90 days of ownership. Over that timeline, serious mechanical defects are rare, but owners can still be inconvenienced by an array of issues, from software defects to seating problems.
This year’s study marks the 40th edition of the survey. Based only on 2026 model-year vehicles, JD Power quizzed 78,514 purchases and lessees to determine how happy they were with their vehicles. The dataset includes 227 questions, covering 10 vehicle categories:
- Infotainment
- Features
- Controls and displays
- Exterior
- Driving assistance
- Interior
- Seats
- Powertrain
- Driving experience
- Climate
Additionally, the study takes into account repair visit data reported to franchised new-vehicle dealers. The data for this year’s study was collected between June 2025 and May 2026.
According to JD Power, initial quality improved in nine of 10 categories, with infotainment being the only category to see an increase in issues. The average number of problems reported for all makes was 175 PP100, down from 192 PP100 a year ago.
With all this in mind, how did Toyota and Nissan fare?
Nissan Trumps Toyota
2026 Nissan vehicles experienced notably fewer problems than 2026 Toyota models. Out of 27 brands, Nissan ranked 5th with 156 PP100 and Toyota ranked 15th with 181 PP100, below the industry average. The only mainstream brand to rank ahead of Nissan was Ford, with the American automaker finally seeing a positive outcome after putting into place a new strategy to improve quality.
In last year’s study, Nissan was the number 1 mainstream brand, although it ranked second overall (behind Lexus) and had more problems (169 PP100) than this year. Toyota had 200 PP100 last year and ranked only 19th, so it has improved on both counts in 2026.
While it may come as a surprise to see Nissan outperforming Toyota by such a wide margin, we must stress that new-vehicle quality doesn’t necessarily translate into better long-term dependability.
Model-Specific Achievements
The study includes specific model winners and runner-up finishes in each category. Despite its ranking of 15th, a few Toyota models still performed very well:
- Toyota Sequoia: Winner for Best Large SUV (tied with Chevrolet Tahoe)
- Toyota Tundra: Runner-up for Best Large Light Duty Pickup
- Toyota Crown Signia: Runner-up for Best Midsize SUV
- Toyota GR86: Runner-up for Sporty Car
- Toyota Corolla: Runner-up for Best Compact Car
Nissan had just one mention, with a win for the Rogue in the Compact SUV category. This suggests that although Toyota had multiple stand-out performers, its score was dragged down by other models that performed poorly.
Large Recalls Hold Toyota Back In 2026
JD Power does not report scores for every individual model, but there have been enough recalls over the period of the study to draw a few conclusions about which Toyotas may have caused customers trouble.
Blank Driver Displays
Hundreds of thousands of Toyotas have been recalled for a software error that causes the digital driver’s displays to go blank. Over 500,000 Camrys alone were recalled in 2026 for this reason. The Land Cruiser and Mirai are other models affected by similar faults, which can hide crucial information from the driver when the car is in motion.
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Rearview Camera Defects
Toyota recalled over a million vehicles for rearview camera issues in October 2025, including the 2026 Camry, Crown, and Grand Highlander models. This fault was also caused by a software error, which was resolved via a software update.
Loss Of Drive Power
The 2026 Toyota bZ was recently recalled due to an unexpected and potentially dangerous loss of drive power, which was linked to a faulty electronic control unit. Over 20,000 models were recalled, including the Lexus RZ and Subaru Solterra.
These are just a few of the issues customers have faced with 2026 Toyotas, which may have contributed to the brand’s lower-than-expected ranking in the initial quality study.
Related: Toyota Recalls 82,000 Vehicles Because Driver Displays Can Go Blank
Nissan’s 2026 Model-Year Recalls
Nissan hasn’t been perfect either, with a few recalls affecting key models in 2026.
Instrument Panel Failure
As with Toyota, Nissan has also experienced instrument panel failures. Over 5,800 Rogue crossovers were recalled for this reason. Specifically, the instrument panel may not display the selected gear, which increases the risk of a crash.
In a separate recall, over 51,000 Kicks crossovers were recalled for a digital driver’s display that could go blank.
Improperly Welded Door Strikers
The 2026 Kicks was also involved in a recall for improperly welded door strikers. This could cause a door to open unexpectedly when the vehicle was in motion.
What About Long-Term Reliability?
Is Nissan better than Toyota in long-term reliability too? Not quite. In our analysis of Consumer Reports data, Toyota outperformed Nissan in every evaluated vehicle category. Consumer Reports also rates Toyota as the number 1 brand for predicted reliability. Nissan ranks sixth, which is better than average but some way off the Toyota’s score.
Certain Nissan models have experienced major reliability concerns, including jerky CVTs and failing VC-Turbo engines; this engine is equipped to the latest Rogue. Besides its turbo V6, Toyota’s smaller vehicles tend to use proven powertrains that have been around for many years.
Related: Nissan Vs Toyota Reliability: It’s Not Even Close
Final Verdict: Lease A Nissan, Buy A Toyota
If you’re going to lease a new car and keep it for a short period of time before upgrading to a new one, the data suggests that you may experience fewer early niggles than in the average Toyota. Like most brands, Nissan has experienced a few software issues, but its initial vehicle quality is better than most.
Toyota has experienced more early vehicle issues in recent years, but bear in mind that it has a much broader lineup than Nissan. If you’re buying a new car and typically rack up many miles each year, a Toyota can still be expected to outlast the average Nissan. Just watch out for Toyota’s dodgy turbo V6 in the latest Tundra.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 8:15 AM.