Autoguide vehicle reliability ranking

[LDB]

The latest reliability report. Some make you (me) wonder.
https://www.autoguide.com/auto/auto...-reliable-vehicle-choose-these-bands-44616340

 

[joekingcorvette]

I believe most people on BITOG know which brands are the most reliable. If these reports were correct the surveys would always
be the same instead of different.

 

[TomYoung]

I would say that this list is absolutely, one hundred percent correct for the top position. Then it moves immediately into "pass the crack pipe" territory.

 

[Patman]

I believe most people on BITOG know which brands are the most reliable. If these reports were correct the surveys would always
be the same instead of different.

When I read some of these reliability reports I often have a good chuckle. For example I have often seen them say that the Corvette is an unreliable car but my experience says otherwise. For example, the 98 Corvette that I had for 9 years (which had 133,000 miles on it when I traded it in) only cost me $1700 in repairs! (and one of those repairs was an ECU killed by road salt because I drove it in the winter for the first 7 years, so that would not have happened if I was storing it in the winters)

Most of these reports do put the Civic near the top and my experience there also mirrors that. I’m on my third Civic and once again it impresses me with its reliability. I haven’t spent any money on repairs in the four years I’ve had it (it’s a 2016 that I bought in 2021 and it now has 164,000 miles on it and it’s flawless)

 

[JoelB]

The kicker is that all these vehicles require human input to be built. Even the assembly machines rely on humans for programming or maintenance. So you can get an unreliable Camry or a reliable Fiat.

 

[Nessism1]

The JD Powers Dependability survey is good data. Not definitive, but useful information. Maybe just me, but when researching a possible new vehicle purchase I consider information like this. For example, VW seems to be consistently low on surveys like this, year after year, so I won't buy one, or an Audi.

 

[CharBaby]

I believe that most vehicles are quite reliable in todays market.
Research is your friend and the vehicle you choose should depend(among other factors), how long do you want to keep it.
IDK if there is that "Keep it for 20 years" anymore without many issues. The mid 80's to the early 2000's was the cream. However the vehicles we're getting today are much nicer on many fronts.

 

[b_b]

those surveys do a terrible job of weighting issues. a vehicle that leaves me stranded with a major problem is not equal to the ac button being hard to find.

 

[ecotourist]

How is this report (which is based on a survey) more reliable than Consumer Reports which is based on an even bigger survey?

Potential sources of bias in any survey:

• It's only a survey - people don't necessarily remember.
• Is there bias in who is doing the survey? Is it based on a random selection of people or can people opt to complete the survey? Volunteers are notoriously different from the general public (they're healthier in general for example). People who have a problem are more likely to report it than people who are satisfied.
• How are the questions phrased? Can real problems be reported?
• Are problems weighted? A flaw in the trim is one thing, an engine failure is a much bigger issue.

Remember - garbage in, garbage out.

 

[Kruse]

I never take too much stock in "reliability reports". Yea, I know a Lexus is probably much more reliable than a Land Rover or a Volkswagen.
But whenever you have inaccurate human input, opinions rule over facts.
I know this is VERY dated, but back in the 90s, the Mitsubishi Eclipse, the Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser were all built on the same assembly line in Illinois. It was possible to have three different brands follow each other down the assembly line back-to-back-to-back. The three back-to-back-to-backs could all have the same drivetrain, but the exterior was badged different. Yet, the Mitsubishi had a much higher reliability record. Why? Because the perception, especially among females who turned in the data, was that the Japanese built a much more reliable car. This drove Lee Iacocca crazy.
Again, while your reliability report is not wrong, human input can make it skewed.

 

[AZjeff]

From the linked article:

The most common complaints owners reported were related to difficulties with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Other common complaints also related to software are troubles with a car’s built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi systems. Five out of the top 10 problems reported by owners were related to smartphone integration, and while those are certainly irritating issues, we’d wager those owners would rather have a few software niggles than blown engines or transmissions.

These are annoyances not reliability problems. Something that leaves you along the side of the road is a reliability problem.

It's good to read the actual press release from JD Powers instead of a few snips someone picked out and posted.
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2025-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds

And if you want to see individual models in categories:

 

[Pablo]

Mehville.

Looks at picture of writer. Goes boomer.

OTOH VW owners. So disappoint.

 

[Nessism1]

These are annoyances not reliability problems. Something that leaves you along the side of the road is a reliability problem.

Reliability means "the quality of being trustworthy or of performing consistently well."

I don't believe the issues are severity weighted. The survey simply reports what people complain about. Also, the vehicles in question have been in service for three years, and most young vehicles like this don't strand people.

 

[Allaned]

The article says the most common complaints involve integration of WiFi and Apple car play. To me those have little to do with reliability. I’m happy if it starts and gets me were I’m going every time I ask it to.

 

[AZjeff]

100% agree about severity weighted. Many people will read the article that pulled a few sentences and a chart out and make judgements. JD Powers is another source to consider to build an overall picture.

 

[LDB]

Shared for entertainment value, not accuracy levels.

 

[stormgol]

the brands in the top positions are not more reliable. they are simply more able to survive a lifetime of maintenance neglect. all brands can be reliable.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The survey covers a small sample for 3 years.

If you have a major problem in the first 3 years then you have a lemon.

Dashboard-light is the only one worth looking at, IMHO.

 

[LowMilesLesabre]

The JD Powers Dependability survey is good data. Not definitive, but useful information. Maybe just me, but when researching a possible new vehicle purchase I consider information like this. For example, VW seems to be consistently low on surveys like this, year after year, so I won't buy one, or an Audi.

View attachment 264435

Go Buick!

 

[wings&wheels]

Go Rover!