What Are the Most Dependable Automotive Manufacturers?

You will discover automotive reliability rankings via a number of sources, however one of the crucial complete is the Client Experiences (CR) annual automotive reliability survey. CR collects knowledge about greater than 300,000 automobiles from the nonprofit group’s members. Survey recipients are requested about car issues they skilled previously 12 months, masking 20 completely different facets like engine, transmission, physique {hardware}, paint and trim. For EVs, batteries and charging are included.

CR weighs reported issues by severity, and every car mannequin will get a rating from 1 to 100. The newest survey covers mannequin years 2000 to 2024, with a couple of 2025 fashions. After ranking every car make and mannequin, CR makes use of these scores to rank automotive manufacturers for common predicted reliability.

Our checklist of probably the most dependable automotive manufacturers is predicated on findings from the CR member surveys.

In 2024, Subaru moved to the highest of the model reliability rankings, a place Lexus and Toyota held in earlier years. Auto consultants be aware that Subaru’s constant design strategy, making incremental enhancements with out overhauling their fashions, has helped improve reliability. Primarily based on the CR survey, the Subaru Forester and Impreza had the very best reliability scores — 98 and 89 respectively. The Subaru Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback and Ascent additionally rated above common and common. The one automotive in Subaru’s lineup with a below-average reliability rating (38) was the all-electric Solterra, which is principally the identical car as Toyota’s bZ4X. Solterra points generally reported have been associated to the in-car electronics and local weather system.

Regardless of shifting down from the highest spot on the CR checklist of most dependable manufacturers for 2024, Lexus was solely three factors behind Subaru. The Lexus NX scored highest with a reliability rating of 77, adopted by the NX Hybrid at 76 and the ES at 75, all thought of above common. Different Lexus fashions that scored common for reliability have been the RX Hybrid, ES Hybrid and TX. Under common have been the NX Plug-in Hybrid (58) and RX (41). Homeowners reported vibration points with the RX drive system, and each automobiles had issues associated to in-car electronics.

Lengthy recognized for sturdiness and longevity of its automobiles, Toyota maintained a powerful presence within the CR reliability rankings by taking the quantity three spot. 4 Toyota fashions had properly above common reliability rankings — the RAV4 (86), Corolla (84), RAV4 Prime (84) and RAV4 Hybrid (83). Eleven extra Toyota fashions scored both above common or common. Toyota’s total model reliability rating was doubtless introduced down by the beneath common scores of the all-electric bZ4X (38), Tundra pickup (32) and Tacoma pickup (29). The bZ4X issues pertained primarily to in-car electronics and the local weather system. Tacoma homeowners reported steering, transmission and noise points, whereas the Tundra was mentioned to have issues with in-car electronics and brakes.

Additionally acknowledged for constructing automobiles that want little greater than common upkeep for a lot of miles, Honda got here in at quantity 4. Scoring above common for reliability have been the HR-V (72), Accord (64) and CR-V (61). Seven extra fashions had common reliability rankings, with the favored Civic at 59. Honda’s lowest-scoring mannequin was the Accord Hybrid at 46, which continues to be within the common vary, which means no fashions have been beneath common for reliability.

Acura, which is Honda’s luxurious automotive division, was at quantity 5. Acura’s car lineup contains 5 fashions, with CR rating solely two of them. The RDX was above common with a rating of 64, and the MDX was common at 46. The Integra, TLX and ZDX (Acura’s first electrical mannequin) weren’t ranked. CR could not rank sure automotive fashions for reliability on account of lack of adequate knowledge from proprietor reporting.

One in every of 4 Japanese automakers on the highest 10 checklist of most dependable automobiles, Mazda has a popularity for making automobiles which might be reliable in addition to fashionable. The MX-5 Miata ranked properly above common for reliability with a rating of 84. Three extra fashions — the CX-5 (74), Mazda 3 (72) and CX-30 (64) — have been above common, adopted by common reliability for the CX-50 (47). Mazda’s total reliability rating took a success from the CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid’s beneath common rating of 15. Frequent issues reported by homeowners for the CX-90 PHEV pertained to steering and in-car electronics, with the car additionally having quite a few recollects.

The German luxurious automaker Audi is one in all two European manufacturers on the highest 10 reliability checklist. This may be attributed to above common rankings for 4 fashions, the Audi A4 (75), Allroad (75), A5 (72) and Q7 (63). It’s value noting that Audi had two fashions with beneath common reliability rankings: the Q5 at 36 and Q8 E-Tron at 26. Q8 E-tron homeowners reported issues with the car’s EV battery, which wanted alternative, together with charging points.

Luxurious model BMW is the second German carmaker on the highest 10 reliability checklist. The BMW i4 scored properly above common with an 82, adopted by the above common X5 at 61. Common scores went to the 4 Collection (53), 3 Collection (48) and X5 Plug-in Hybrid (45). The iX earned a below-average rating of 29, with homeowners reporting issues with the EV battery, electrical motor, local weather system and in-car electronics.

Kia has made vital strides in bettering its popularity for high quality and reliability. With 13 fashions ranked for reliability by CR, Kia has three above common fashions — the Sorento Hybrid and Carnival, each at 68, and the Sportage at 67. 9 fashions acquired a mean rating, with the 2 highest being the Soul (58) and Niro EV (54). Kia’s lone below-average car for reliability based on CR is the EV6 with a rating of 31. EV6 homeowners reported issues that included the EV charging system, paint/trim and local weather system. Additionally, some EV6 automobiles have been recalled on account of a potential lack of drive energy.

Rounding out the CR prime 10 checklist of most dependable automotive manufacturers is Hyundai, with 13 fashions rated. On the prime are the Elantra Hybrid and Sonata, with above-average scores of 79 and 67. 9 Hyundai fashions acquired common scores, and the very best have been the Palisade (59) and Tuscon (54). Under common rankings went to the Santa Cruz at 34 and Ioniq 5 with 30. Santa Cruz homeowners reported main transmission issues that required alternative. It’s value noting that Hyundai does provide a powertrain guarantee of 10 years or 100,000 miles. Ioniq 5 points have been generally associated to EV charging and electrical equipment, and there have been two recollects in 2024 for lack of drive energy.

The CR reliability survey discovered that hybrids (HEVs), which use each a fuel engine and electrical motor for brief distances, are about as dependable as a standard gas-powered automotive. Nonetheless, HEV homeowners reported fewer issues than homeowners of EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

HEVs have been round lengthy sufficient to profit from refined know-how, whereas EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are nonetheless integrating new options and applied sciences, leaving extra alternative for glitches that have an effect on reliability.

However, based on CR, EVs and PHEVs are bettering. EVs within the reliability examine had 42% extra issues than gas-powered automobiles and HEVs, however that’s down from 79% final yr. PHEVs had 70% extra issues than fuel automobiles and HEVs, which was down from 146% final yr.

Eight of CR’s prime 10 most dependable manufacturers are from Asian automakers, with European automakers filling the opposite two spots. The very best scoring home model was Buick in eleventh place. That’s to not say U.S. carmakers don’t make dependable automobiles, as a result of in lots of circumstances particular makes and fashions do rating properly. For instance, Ford was in thirteenth place total, however the Mustang scored properly above common with an 84, and the Escape was above common with a 68. Chevrolet, which got here in at quantity 16 total, has the Trailblazer, which scored above common with a 68.

Figuring out probably the most dependable automotive manufacturers is an effective place to start when looking for a automotive, however think about the reliability of particular automotive fashions. Some automotive manufacturers could rank decrease for reliability total, but have fashions with a monitor document of dependability and excessive reliability scores. Model and mannequin reliability data can be useful when shopping for a used automotive.