Tech design flaws hit Mercedes, BMW, and Audi in J. D. Power’s 2006 study - German carmakers. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi–widely respected as titans of engineering and pioneers in car tech–all suffered a considerable drop in the nameplate rankings, with BMW slipping from 3rd to 28th and Mercedes falling by a similar margin, from 6th to 26th. Audi skidded from 8th place last year to 19th in 2006.
So what was behind this sudden slump? It turns out that this year’s IQS factored in a whole new set of data on design flaws, which included the usability of each car’s cabin technology.

(Via CNET)