While consumers have come to accept many high-tech safety features in today’s vehicles, they’re done with the annoying alerts that come with them.
A new report shows that advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, make up about 13% of reported new-vehicle problems, and the alerts they emit top the list of ADAS complaints.
The third annual J.D. Power ADAS quality and satisfaction study is based on responses of more than 99,000 new 2024 model buyers and lessees after 90 days of driving. It conducted the survey between last July and this past May.
ADAS present about 25 problems per 100 vehicles, or PP100, and their alerts represent nine PP100 of the ADAS problems, according to the study. J.D. Power said the alert complaints have grown continuously for five years.
“The biggest issue consumers have with advanced driver assistance systems is that the alerts are annoying and bothersome,” said Ashley Edgar, J.D. Power senior director of global automotive supplier benchmarking and alternative mobility.
Edgar said automakers must find ways to eliminate the distracting nature of ADAS alerts while preserving their safety-enhancing aspects and that auto dealers can help smooth out the experience for consumers.
“… dealer personnel should focus on educating new-vehicle buyers about the purpose of various ADAS technologies to increase comprehension and satisfaction.”
Despite being irritated by the alerts, a sizable majority of people who drive ADAS-equipped vehicles now keep the features turned on, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report released this week. They especially use lane-departure warning systems – nine out of 10 – and even speed warning features – seven out of 10, its survey found, among other things.
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