J.D. Power recently released its 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study, which looks at the reliability of three-year-old models (MY-2010) by measuring the problems owners have experienced with their vehicles during the last 12 months. Overall, J.D. Power found that the long-term dependability of three-year-old models has improved year-over-year.

In 2013, the dependability of new or substantially redesigning models for MY-2010 averaged 116 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which is a 17-point improvement over MY-2009 vehicles (a lower number indicates fewer problems reported). The study looks at cars, vans and pickup trucks.

J.D. Power added that this is the first year since 2009 that the total number of problems reported actually fell for all-new or redesigned models compared with the number of problems reported for carryover models. Domestic nameplates averaged 133 PP100 whereas imports averaged 123 PP100.

In this year’s study, nameplates that came out ahead included Lexus, with its RX receiving the fewest number of problems reported and a PP100 score of 57. The Lexus nameplate's overall PP100 score was 71.

The other top five nameplates with the fewest number of reported problems included Porsche, at 94, Lincoln, at 112, Toyota, at 112 and Mercedes-Benz, at 115. Chrysler saw the greatest year-over-year improvement with 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles reported for its MY-2010 vehicles. Its PP100 score was 153.

Toyota received the most awards for long-term dependability, for the Lexus ES 350; the Lexus RX; the Scion xB; the Scion xD; the Toyota Prius; the Toyota Sienna; and the Toyota RAV4. General Motors received four awards for the Buick Lucerne; the Chevrolet Camaro; the Chevrolet Tahoe; and the GMC Sierra HD. Honda received two awards for the Acura RDX and Honda Crosstour. Other vehicles and brands that received model-year awards included the Audi A6, the Ford Ranger, the Hyundai Sonata, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the Nissan Z.

J.D. Power said it fielded the 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study between Oct. and Dec. 2012 and received responses from more than 37,000 owners of 2010-MY vehicles who had owned their respective vehicle(s) for three years.

See here the full list of cars, vans and trucks that received top rankings from J.D. Power's 2013 Vehicle Dependability Study.