J.D. Powers and Associates again rates Lexus the most dependable car.

It's the 14th year in a row Toyota's (TM) premium brand received the highest ranking in J.D. Power's annual ranking of cars sold in the United States.

Lexus was top-ranked in 6 categories for the IS 300, ES 300, LS 300 sedans, the SC 430 couple and the GX 470 and LX 470 utility vehicles.

The study tallies consumer responses using a straight average of the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles. J.D. Powers says overall quality of 3-year-old vehicles improved by 5% compared with last year, continuing a trend of overall vehicle quality improvement over the last 6 years.

This year's study is based on survey responses from about 52,000 original owners of 2005 model-year cars registered for personal use.

Most reported problems tended to be minor -- funny noises or aesthetic wear and tear --rather than major difficulties such as engine problems or technical defects. Wind noise was the number-one problem cited by owners, followed by noisy brakes, pulling left or right when braking, dashboard problems and window fogging.

Ford's (F) Mercury line ranked second, followed by General Motors' (GM) Cadillac. Toyota came in fourth overall, while Honda's (HMC) Acura was ranked fifth.

Land Rover, sold by Ford earlier this year to India's Tata Motors (TTM), was the lowest ranked vehicle.

By segment, Toyota led in 4 categories and tied Honda in a fifth. Toyota's Prius hybrid received top ranking in the compact car segment.

General Motors has discontinued production of the Buick Century, formerly the top-ranked mid-sized car. However, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo received top ranking in the midsize sporty car segment. Ford led 3 categories with the Crown Victoria, a large sedan used as a taxi in New York, the Ford Ranger midsize pickup truck and the Mercury Monterey minivan.

GM's Saab was the most improved car in this year's survey.