The most and least reliable cars in our survey

Posted on by Michael

Camry Hybrid front quarter

My previous post included the models with the lowest reported repair frequencies for each model year. As noted in that past, this wasn’t entirely fair. Other models are close, and given sampling error and the meaninglessness of small differences are essentially just as reliable. So here’s a list of all models (among those we received at least 25 responses for) that required at most one-quarter (2010-2015) or at most one-third (2006-2009) of the repairs of the average car.

2015: Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Forester, Subaru Impreza / XV Crosstrek, Buick Enclave / Chevrolet Traverse / GMC Acadia, Nissan Rogue

2014: Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, BMW Q5 TDI, Kia Soul

2013: Toyota Camry, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Prius v, Honda Fit, Infiniti G37, Mercedes C-Class, Toyota 4Runner, Honda Civic, Toyota Prius, BMW 1-Series, Chevrolet Camaro

2012: Toyota Highlander, Toyota Prius, Mazda5, Honda Accord

2011: Toyota Prius, Toyota Venza, Mazda3, Honda CR-Z

2010: Honda CR-V, Honda Insight

Hardly any cars over six years old are under one-quarter the increasingly high average. At most one-third the average:

2009: Ford Fusion / Lincoln MKZ / Mercury Milan

2008: Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima

2007: Toyota Camry (4 cyl), Toyota Tundra

2006: Mazda MX-5 Miata, Honda Ridgeline

Acadia rear quarter 700

And the least reliable, with at least double the average repair frequency:

2015: Lincoln MKC, Tesla Model S, Mercedes C-Class, BMW i3, Porsche Macan, Jeep Grand Cherokee

2014: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Fiat 500L, Chevrolet Corvette, VW Passat TDI, Ford Fiesta

2013: Dodge Dart 1.4, VW Passat TDI, Infiniti JX, Tesla Model S

2012: Mini Countryman, Chevrolet Sonic, Chevrolet Cruze

2011: BMW X5 / X6, Buick Regal, Buick Enclave / Chevrolet Traverse / GMC Acadia

2010: Buick Enclave / Chevrolet Traverse / GMC Acadia / Saturn Outlook, VW CC, Chevrolet Equinox / GMC Terrain

2009: VW Tiguan, Buick Enclave / Chevrolet Traverse / GMC Acadia / Saturn Outlook

2008: Chevrolet TrailBlazer / GMC Envoy

2007: BMW X3

2006: None — the average is now nearly three times that for 2015s

One thing I hadn’t previously realized: once cars are over six years of age much fewer qualify for either list. There are far fewer models that have ultra-low repair frequencies. And the average becomes so high that few are twice this average, either.