Consumer Reports readers report more problems with the Ford F-150 Hybrid than any other vehicle they’ve bought.
The product evaluation service released its annual auto reliability report this week. The report found that Lexus and Toyota make the most reliable cars, while Jeep and Mercedes-Benz make the ones you can depend on least.
But those rankings reflect an average of all the cars each manufacturer builds. There can still be variation within any one brand. Hyundai, for instance, landed smack in the middle of the pack as a brand. But its Kona Electric drives in the parade of shame.
Some of that variation is due to how Americans treat their cars – many full-size trucks spend their working lives carrying construction supplies around dirt lots, while most subcompact cars rarely leave paved surfaces.
But some of it can reflect problematic design.
CR Uses Unique Methods
As you consider auto reliability, it’s also important to keep in mind how Consumer Reports comes by its rankings. The magazine doesn’t test every car on the market. Instead, it asks its readers to report problems they’ve had in the last 12 months, then compiles the results for vehicles built since 2000.
That no doubt skews the outcome. The sort of shopper who subscribes to a magazine that ranks vacuums for price effectiveness may not have the same preferences you do.
CR looks at 17 problem areas “from nuisances — such as squeaky brakes and broken interior trim — to major bummers, such as out-of-warranty transmission repairs and trouble with 4-wheel-drive systems.”
It then assigns each car a reliability score on a 100-point scale based on the number of problems readers reported.
A Varied List; A Single Lesson
The list includes affordable cars (the Nissan Sentra is the cheapest, starting at $19,950). But it also includes some pricey ones (Mercedes-Benz GLE stickers can push to nearly $120,000 – six Sentras).
It also includes mechanically complex models asked to do a lot (the Ford F-150 Hybrid, a hard-working hauler with a two-part gas-electric drivetrain) and simple commuters (that Sentra again).
It even includes iconic vehicles you know well (the Jeep Wrangler).
If there’s a lesson in the list, it’s that you can’t simply trust the badge on the front of the car. You have to do your research when car shopping or you might end up with constant headaches from your car.
The 10 Least Reliable Cars:
These 10 were the bottom of the barrel, in descending order of shame, according to CR:
*The Silverado and Sierra share almost all of their parts, so CR treats them as one model
FAQs
Consumer Reports' 2024 Reliability Rankings: The Least Dependable Car Brands
- Chrysler. Predicted Reliability Score: 18/100. ...
- Mercedes-Benz. Predicted Reliability Score: 23/100. ...
- Rivian. Predicted Reliability Score: 24/100. ...
- (Tie) Volkswagen. Predicted Reliability Score: 26/100. ...
- (Tie) Jeep. ...
- Volvo. ...
- GMC. ...
- Lincoln.
With a reputation for delivering concise and reliable information on vehicle quality, safety, and performance, Consumer Reports provides thorough reviews on all types of cars, trucks, and SUVs. Consumer Reports cars receive ratings based on either feature data or test drive experiences.
What car has the worst reputation? ›
Contents
- 4.10 Leyland P76 (1973–75)
- 4.11 Ford Mustang II (1974–78)
- 4.12 AMC Pacer (1975–80)
- 4.13 Bricklin SV-1 (1975)
- 4.14 Triumph TR7 (1975–81)
- 4.15 Chevrolet Chevette (1976–87)
- 4.16 General Motors cars with Oldsmobile diesel engines (1978–1985)
- 4.17 FSO Polonez (1978–2002)
What car brand has the least problems? Probably Toyotas. Super reliable and cheap to repair. Quite affordable as well.
What car brand has the worst problems? ›
Watch Out for These 10 Car Brands With Poor Engine Ratings
- Audi. Buying an Audi can be hit or miss if you're looking for a reliable engine, according to HotCars.
- Maserati. ...
- Ford. ...
- Mercedes-Benz. ...
- Chrysler. ...
- Jaguar. ...
- Land Rover. ...
- Volkswagen. ...
Lexus, Toyota, and Mini are the three most reliable brands in this year's annual auto reliability brand rankings, with the two Japanese brands swapping spaces from last year. The automaker Honda follows, with its luxury Acura brand coming in fourth and the mainstream Honda brand rounding out the top five.
What car brand has the highest reliability rating? ›
Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability for a second consecutive year, with a score of 135 PP100. Among premium brands, Porsche (175 PP100) ranks second and BMW (190 PP100) ranks third. Toyota ranks highest in the mass market segment, with a score of 147 PP100.
What car company makes the best quality cars? ›
Based on Consumer Reports' survey, these are the 30 most reliable car brands, from best to worst.
- Lexus. Lexus. Reliability score: 79/100.
- Toyota. Toyota. Reliability score: 76/100.
- MiniUSA. Mini. Reliability score: 71/100.
- Acura. Acura. ...
- Honda. Honda. ...
- Subaru. Reliability score: 69/100.
- Mazda. Mazda. ...
- MiStr31 from pixabay; Canva. Porsche.
#1 Most Reliable Car Brand: Lexus
Starting with Toyota fundamentals and making those even nicer proves successful for Lexus—it's J.D. Power's most reliable car brand this year, earning a score of just 135 PP100.
What vehicle has fewest problems? ›
Here are nine cars for your consideration with the fewest problems.
- 2024 Kia Forte (Top-rated compact car) ...
- 2024 Kia K5 (Top-rated midsize car) ...
- 2022 Toyota C-HR (Top-rated small SUV) ...
- 2024 Kia Sportage (Top-rated compact SUV) ...
- 2024 Chevrolet Blazer (Top-rated midsize SUV) ...
- 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe (Top-rated large SUV)
According to Consumer Reports, the most liked car brand in 2023 is Porsche, followed by Genesis, Tesla, BMW and Subaru. On the other hand, the least liked brands, in order, are Infiniti, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Cadillac.
What is the most unreliable car on the road today? ›
10 Least Reliable Vehicles
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: 14.
- Volkswagen Taos: 18.
- Ford F-150 Hybrid: 19.
- Volvo XC60 PHEV: 21.
- Rivian R1T: 22.
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L: 23.
- Nissan Frontier: 23.
- Volkswagen Jetta: 25.
According to a recent study by Consumer Reports, Toyota and Lexus were the most reliable vehicles in 2022. After Japanese cars, BMW was ranked third, while Mercedes' reliability was rated the lowest.
Is it worth fixing a 20 year old car? ›
For most drivers, the costs tend to mount as cars age past 20 years and investing further becomes difficult to justify. But well-maintained examples with lower miles can warrant repairs to extend their life a bit longer.
What car is ranked #1 in reliability? ›
#1 Most Reliable Car Brand: Lexus
Starting with Toyota fundamentals and making those even nicer proves successful for Lexus—it's J.D. Power's most reliable car brand this year, earning a score of just 135 PP100.
What car is number 1 reliability? ›
Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability for a second consecutive year, with a score of 135 PP100. Among premium brands, Porsche (175 PP100) ranks second and BMW (190 PP100) ranks third. Toyota ranks highest in the mass market segment, with a score of 147 PP100.
Which car breaks down the least? ›
Which Automotive Brands Are the Most Reliable?
- Toyota.
- Lexus.
- BMW.
- Mazda.
- Honda.
- Audi.
- Subaru.
- Acura.
Top 10 cars that depreciate the least
| Vehicle | Average 5-Year Depreciation | Avg $ Difference from MSRP |
|---|
| Honda Civic | 16.3% | $4,237 |
| Subaru BRZ | 18.2% | $5,985 |
| Ford Mustang | 19.4% | $7,528 |
| Toyota Corolla | 19.8% | $4,617 |
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BySean Tucker11/18/2022 8:53am
Consumer Reports readers report more problems with the Ford F-150 Hybrid than any other vehicle they’ve bought.