Ranked: The Most Reliable Car Brands in the U.S.

Visual Capitalist ^ | 07/19/2024 | Marcus Lu and Sam Parker

[SeekAndFind]

Reliability is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying a new vehicle, especially as cars become ever more technologically complex...

In this graphic, Visual Capitalist's Marcus Lu visualizes the results of J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which ranked automakers by the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).

Data and Methodology

To come up with this ranking, J.D. Power collected responses from 30,595 original owners of 2021 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. Their study was fielded from August to November 2023, and covers nine categories of problems:

• Exterior
• Seats
• The driving experience
• Climate
• Features/controls/displays
• Interior
• Infotainment
• Powertrain
• Driving Assistance

The data shown in this infographic is also listed in table below. Note that Tesla was not included because it did not meet study award criteria.

Brand	Problems per 100 Vehicles
🇯🇵 Lexus	135
🇯🇵 Toyota	147
🇺🇸 Buick	149
🇺🇸 Chevrolet	174
🇬🇧 MINI	174
🇩🇪 Porsche	175
🇯🇵 Mazda	185
🇰🇷 Kia	187
🇩🇪 BMW	190
🇺🇸 Dodge	190
🇺🇸 Jeep	190
Average	190
🇺🇸 Cadillac	196
🇰🇷 Hyundai	198
🇯🇵 Subaru	198
🇯🇵 Nissan	199
🇰🇷 Genesis	200
🇺🇸 Ram	201
🇺🇸 GMC	206
🇯🇵 Honda	206
🇺🇸 Acura	216
🇩🇪 Mercedes-Benz	218
🇯🇵 Infiniti	219
🇺🇸 Ford	239
🇸🇪 Volvo	245
🇺🇸 Lincoln	251
🇩🇪 Volkswagen	267
🇬🇧 Land Rover	268
🇩🇪 Audi	275
🇺🇸 Chrysler	310

From this dataset, we can declare Toyota and its luxury arm, Lexus, as the most reliable car brands in the United States.

Compared to the other Japanese duos, Honda and Acura rank a distant 20th and 21st, with 206 and 216 PP100. Meanwhile, Nissan and Infiniti diverge, with the former ranking 16th (199 PP100) and Infiniti at 23rd (219 PP100).

The least reliable automaker in this ranking is Chrysler, which was also the only brand to surpass 300 problems per 100 vehicles. It’s worthy to note that for the 2021 model year (basis of this study), Chrysler only offered two models: the Pacifica/Voyager minivan, and the 300 sedan.

Infotainment Systems a Major Pain Point

According to J.D. Power’s study, “Infotainment” was the most common type of problem experienced by owners, with nearly twice as many problems as the second-highest category, “Exterior”.

Within the Infotainment category, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity was a frequent issue, as was built-in voice recognition.

If you enjoyed this post, check out Charted: Automaker Sales by Region in 2023 to see which markets are the most important for major car brands.

[Sirius Lee]

Same. But I drive this beauty. It will still be on the road long after my neighbors' Range Rovers, BMWs, and Audis are sitting in some used car lot in need of major work and begging for some sucker to purchase them for $6,000.

[Chainmail]

I have had a lot of cars in my life, but the one that sticks out was my 1958 Morgan 4/4. I bought it from a Navy officer who told me that "it was totally restored". Driving the car home, I realized that he had lied. I had to rebuild that thing for almost anything that could go wrong, did go wrong.

The only break I got in my quest for reliability was finding a gold coin under the seat that paid for re-doing the upholstery in black leather.

I had to open the bonnet (the hood) every morning to sand each of the fuses to remove the overnight corrosion that would keep my car from operating. I never took that car any distance without tools, fluids, and an ear cocked to hear the sound of a headlight bezel coming off and bouncing behind me.

I had a bumper sticker (attached with magnets) that had a picture of the Union Jack and the words "all of the parts falling from this automobile are of the finest English worksmanship".

[Varda]

That’s what I noticed too. This list is worthless for comparing present cars to past ones.

[bert]

The study is not really worth much.

” “Infotainment” was the most common type of problem”

[Georgia Girl 2]

I had a 1999 CRV til I sold it in 2006 for my current one. It was great also. Mr. GG2 is still driving his 2003 custom Dodge Ram 2500 with Cummins engine and 6 spd manual transmission. But we are getting ready to sell it and buy a Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma.

[Chickensoup]

Owned a Renault 16 for 10 minutes. Kept blowing head gaskets. A feature not a bug.

[Wuli]

That Lexus/Toyota are at the top does not surprise me at all.

[Hootowl]

I own a 20 year old Buick that’s still chugging along just fine.

[Cecily]

I was surprised too. Honda and Acura used to be right up there with Toyota and Lexus.

[AppyPappy]

CVT’s likely

[Yardstick]

I have a family member whose 2012 Honda Civic has been very reliable. I wonder when the falloff in quality really got going.

[mass55th]

That was a horrible experience. The only accidents I've been involved in have been other people's fault, and the majority of the time, I was sitting still when someone hit me from behind.

On another note, years ago, my oldest son bought a brand new Mazda, picked it up from the dealer, and on the way home the timing belt fell off. He also owned a brand new VW Rabbit, had the dealer install air conditioning in it. About a year later the air conditioning unit caught fire, but at least the car itself wasn't damaged. He wasn't going to do anything about it, so I told him to get the parts from the dealer, and give them to me. I wrote a very strong letter to VW, sent it with the parts to VW Headquarters, and although I can't remember how much the check was for, they reimbursed my son for his troubles. Mama Bear was looking out for her cub.

[Organic Panic]

I tried Nissan’s. I like the old ones but I’m too big or they’re too small.

[Leep]

F 150”s use to be..may still be ..the #1 choice of millionaires. Back when being a millionaire meant something.

[crusty old prospector]

They probably go with the Platinum or King Ranch. I go with the Texas Edition XLT. I have never been sure what Texas Edition means. Just a placard on the rear.

[zeugma]

looks like honda has slipped a lot. They used to be a lot higher in rankings like this.

[ifinnegan]

Very good point.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I owned two Lexus vehicles from 2003-2016 and they were rock solid. Since then I have owned two Mercedes-Benz vehicles and they are rock solid, also - just more expensive to maintain.

It seems like overall problems with today's cars are minimal compared with the problems people experienced owning domestic models made from the 70's through 90's.

[Chainmail]

Good job, Mama Bear!

I sued Mercedes Benz of Encino California (Auto Stiegler) in the early '70s... I bought a well-used 1958 220S from a Mercedes dealer and it died just over its 30-day warranty. Total transmission failure.

I talked to the owner of the dealership, and he essentially told me and my wife to pound sand.I wrote letters to the Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, and on a whim, to Mercedes-Benz of North America. The CofC and BBB letters were a waste of time, but after I filed suit in the Municipal court - using my long-haired little brother to serve papers - I was called by the owner to come into his dealership and talk.

He and his wife were friendlier than the last time and there was a man standing in the corner watching. He offered me any used American car from his lot plus a return of the 220S and a full refund if I dropped the suit. I found a Plymouth station wagon that friends of mine used to own and accepted his offer.

The man in the corner was the rep from Mercedes-Benz who had flown in from New Jersey to observe!

[frank ballenger]

Wow.

Old movies including one Pink Panther shows the French arriving in Renault police cars. Part of the comedy to me.