The more and less reliable class cars

Data from car owners met for several years reveal which models are skipped stores-and repair they practically live in them

If you drive a family vehicle, passenger car, or performance sedan, your goal is the same to avoid the repair shop.

To predict how cars will hold, Consumer reports carries out its annual automatic security survey, the largest of its kind. This year we gather detailed data from our digital and print subscribers in more than half a million vehicles.

Our survey takes a deep dive in the many things that can go wrong with a vehicle. We studied 17 areas of problems, from discomfort, such as squeaky brakes and broken interior finish, to large bummers, as out of warranty of transmission repairs or problems with four-wheel drive systems.

The severity of each problem type is weighted to create a predicted reliability score for each vehicle. That score is then combined with data collected from our test track, as well as the results of the owner satisfaction survey and safety data, to calculate the overall score for each test vehicle.

This list reveals more and less reliable cars, all terrains and trucks in our annual automatic survey. Click on the vehicle names to access the model pages with the detailed reliability views, along with road tests, owner satisfaction, pricing, and more.

Most reliable category less reliable

subcompact cars Toyota Prius C Ford Fiesta

Compact Cars Toyota Prius 1 Ford Focus

Medium size Cars Kia Optima 1 Chrysler 200 1

Big Cars Hyundai Azera 1 Dodge Charger

Luxury cars Compact Lexus CT 200 1 Acura TLX

Luxury medium/Large car Infiniti Q70 1 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 1

Sports Cars Lexus RC 1 Ford Mustang

Toyota Sienna Dodge Caravan Minivans

Small SUVs Toyota RAV4 Jeep Cherokee

Mid-sized SUVs Toyota 4Runner Jeep Grand Cherokee

Oversize SUVs Ford Expedition 1

Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL

Luxury compact SUVs Mercedes-Benz GLC 1 Lincoln MKC

Mid-size luxury/Large SUVs Lexus GX Cadillac Escalade

Toyota Tundra Ram 2500