Three-year-old cars are more reliable than they used to be, J.D. Power found in its latest study of long-term reliability released Wednesday. The study named Lexus the most reliable brand, with 106 problems per 100 cars reported, while Porsche and Toyota tied for second place with 108 problems.
Fiat, Land Rover, and Volvo took home the bottom three spots, with 249, 221, and 204 problems per 100 vehicles, respectively. On average, car owners reported 136 problems per 100 vehicles over the first three years of ownership.
MORE:American brands take 11 of bottom 12 spots in Consumer Reports reliability survey
Lexus took home the top award for the eighth year in a row, although its score slid from 99 problems per 100 vehicles last year to 106 this year.
The highest-ranked car for its reliability was the Porsche 911. Porsche and all other German brands—Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen—performed above the industry average for the first time in the 30-year history of the study.
Overall, J.D. Power said that 3-year-old vehicle reliability improved 4 percent over last year's study. The most common problems reported by owners were with voice-recognition systems, transmission shift quality issues, and battery failures, J.D. Power said in its report.
J.D. Power surveyed about 33,000 original owners of 2016 model-year cars and trucks and grouped 177 potential problems experienced over the last year into eight categories.
2016 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS
Here's a look at the top and bottom 10 vehicles and the number of problems reported:
10 best-performing brands for reliability:
- Lexus 106
- Porsche 108
- Toyota 108
- Chevrolet 115
- Buick 118
- Mini 119
- BMW 122
- Audi 124
- Hyundai 124
- Kia 126
10 worst-performing brands for reliability:
- Fiat 249
- Land Rover 221
- Volvo 204
- Dodge 178
- Ram 171
- Acura 171
- Jaguar 168
- Jeep 167
- Cadillac 166
- GMC 161
The study also broke out 20 different vehicle segments and named the most reliable vehicle in each class. Some of the highlights included the Toyota Camry (mid-size car), Volkswagen Tiguan (small SUV), Chevrolet Equinox (compact SUV), BMW X3 (compact premium SUV), Hyundai Santa Fe (mid-size SUV), Lexus GX (mid-size premium SUV), Ford Expedition (large SUV), and Toyota Tundra (large light-duty pickup truck).
A few of the segment winners are models that have been dropped or are scheduled to be discontinued, namely the Chevrolet Sonic, Buick Verano, and Chrysler Town & Country.
FAQs
Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability for a second consecutive year, with a score of 135 PP100. Among premium brands, Porsche (175 PP100) ranks second and BMW (190 PP100) ranks third. Toyota ranks highest in the mass market segment, with a score of 147 PP100.
Are Lexus tops reliable? ›
According to a new Consumer Report study, Lexus & Toyota have topped the table as the most reliable car brands of 2023.
Does Lexus last as long as Toyota? ›
Performance. When it comes to reliability, there's no notable difference between Lexus and Toyota. With proper maintenance, vehicles from both brands are expected to last a long time without needing frequent repairs. This is partly because they share certain engines across different models.
Why buy Lexus over Toyota? ›
Lexus vehicles have more powerful engines and premium suspension systems that deliver more exciting driving dynamics. And the Lexus lineup offers a more sleek and sophisticated exterior design, something you expect from a luxury vehicle.
What is the most dependable car maker? ›
List of 30 most reliable car brands in 2024
- Lexus. Lexus. Reliability score: 79/100.
- Toyota. Toyota. Reliability score: 76/100.
- MiniUSA. Mini. Reliability score: 71/100.
- Acura. Acura. Reliability score: 70/100.
- Honda. Honda. Reliability score: 70/100.
- Subaru. Reliability score: 69/100.
- Mazda. Mazda. ...
- MiStr31 from pixabay; Canva. Porsche.
Especially stay away from the LS600h. 5.0L hybrid, lots of electrical issues. - CT200h and HS250h: supposedly a premium Prius, BUT idk what happened along the way, but both are known for electrical gremlins and head gasket issues. Aside from those you should be more than OK with other Lexus models.
Is Lexus as reliable as Toyota? ›
Toyota is on top . Last year's second-place finisher has replaced its sister luxury brand Lexus at the top of Consumer Report's reliability ranking list. The two tied with a rounded-up predicted reliability score of 72, but Toyota was a few decimals better, and they were followed by BMW (65), Mazda (65) and Honda (62).
What car is more reliable than Lexus? ›
Lexus, Toyota, and Mini are the three most reliable brands in this year's annual auto reliability brand rankings, with the two Japanese brands swapping spaces from last year. The automaker Honda follows, with its luxury Acura brand coming in fourth and the mainstream Honda brand rounding out the top five.
Which Lexus will last the longest? ›
Luckily, the Lexus RX has been rated highly when put to the test. While the average vehicle tends to stay on the roads for around 150,000 miles, the Lexus RX exceeds this by quite a lot. With the proper care and smart driving habits, you can be driving for 250,000 miles or more!
Is it worth upgrading from Toyota to Lexus? ›
One could argue that the biggest reason anyone chooses a Lexus over a Toyota is the interior, and most wouldn't argue with that notion. After all, Lexus is heavily vested in creating quiet, luxurious, premium cabins, and for many, that makes it worth the upgrade.
Everyone is well aware that Lexus vehicles are Toyota derivatives that focus on offering a more luxurious and premium ownership experience. For years, just like their Toyota counterparts, Lexus cars have been praised for their reliability, dependability, attention to detail, and comfort.
What brand is better than Lexus? ›
On the whole, Mercedes-Benz models offer higher performance capabilities, unique interior features as standard, and greater efficiency than Lexus models. We compare the two brands side by side for Rancho Cucamonga drivers below to show them why Mercedes-Benz is truly a one-of-a-kind brand.
What is better Acura or Lexus? ›
Lexus: Reliability. In their 2021 J.D. Power Dependability Study, J.D. Power determined that when it comes to reliability, “Lexus ranks highest among luxury brands.” This is to say that when it comes to Acura vs. Lexus reliability, there's no contest.
What is the most reliable Lexus car brand? ›
#1 Most Reliable Car Brand: Lexus
The automaker's entry-level-yet-engaging IS and relaxing ES sedans rank among this year's most dependable luxury cars. Meanwhile, the compact NX, plush RX, and rugged GX do the same among SUVs.
What are the most reliable years for Lexus? ›
In terms of reliability, Consumer Reports indicated that the 2023, 2022, and 2021 models also received a perfect 5 out of 5 predicted reliability rating, while the 2020, 2019, and 2018 models earned a 4 out of 5 predicted reliability rating.
Is a Lexus expensive to maintain? ›
Is a Lexus expensive to maintain? On the whole, Lexus vehicles are some of the least expensive cars to maintain compared to other luxury brands. They can also be cheap compared to mass-market brands, too, because many Lexus models share parts with Toyota. However, it also depends on the model you have.
