2024's 10 most and least reliable vehicles, per Consumer Reports (2024)

No one wants to own an unreliable car. One of the joys of modern motoring (thanks to new technologies and massive advancements in dependability) is the ability to head out in the driveway, thumb a starter button, and light the fires on our beloved whip — no matter the weather or time of day. It wasn’t always so, even just a few short years in the past, but on the other hand vehicles remain complicated machines, and problems can still appear.

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Which is why the eggheads at Consumer Reports reliably publish an annual list of their 10 Most Reliable and 10 Least Reliable vehicles on sale today. Their results are calculated using their own experiences, but also the results from surveys of real-world drivers just like our readers to determine the most and least reliable car brands. This adds a measure of impartiality unknown to some other lists that may take their data sets from narrower sources.

It’s important to know that, in CR terms, “least reliable” doesn’t always mean a vehicle is broken down roadside in a cloud of radiator steam. The group tracks twenty potential trouble areas, from nuisances like squeaky brakes and broken interior trim; to major items such as engine, transmission, EV battery, and EV charging problems.

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They weigh the severity of each type of problem to create a predicted reliability score for each vehicle, from one to 100. That score is then combined with data collected from track testing, safety data, and owner surveys to arrive at the scores shown here. If you disagree with the results, please direct your ire at Consumer Reports instead of us, mmmkay?

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It’s worth keeping in mind these results include an aggregate from CR survey respondents, real-world people who aren’t car reviewers but actual customers plunking down their own money. This is good and bad, since it garners information from folks who drive these vehicles frequently, but who may also be incensed about what some may consider a minor problem. Please also note that intangibles like a hard-to-use infotainment system can ding a car’s score, though how much weight it is given by CR for scoring compared to an outright failure is unclear.

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As with many conversations in life, we’ll start with the bad news.

10 Least Reliable Vehicles

For a quick hit of dopamine, we’ll simply list the offending group of ten and their scores (out of 100) here, then dig into them further down the page.

• Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: 14
• Volkswagen Taos: 18
• Ford F-150 Hybrid: 19
• Volvo XC60 PHEV: 21
• Rivian R1T: 22
• Jeep Grand Cherokee L: 23
• Nissan Frontier: 23
• Volkswagen Jetta: 25
• Jeep Grand Cherokee: 26
• Jeep Wrangler: 27

10 Most Reliable Vehicles

Similarly, here is a basic rundown of the ten most reliable vehicles with their scores out of 100, with explainers coming up.

• Toyota 4Runner: 87
• Toyota Camry Hybrid: 87
• Toyota Camry: 86
• Toyota RAV4 Prime: 84
• BMW X5: 82
• Subaru Forester: 82
• Toyota RAV4: 80
• Acura RDX: 80
• Toyota Corolla: 77
• Toyota Highlander Hybrid: 75

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Most Reliable Crossovers and SUVs

Unless you’ve been living under an especially virulent rock, it should be no surprise that this category is awash with vehicles from the Toyota brand. In particular, CR had very good things to say about the 4Runner, RAV4 Prime, RAV4 gasser, and Highlander Hybrid. In terms of the ancient but generally excellent 4Runner, we highly suspect its outsized score is due not just to its solid construction and mechanical fitness, but also the fact that its buyers generally know exactly what they’re buying into when they sign the note for this brute.

Also making the grade are two Japanese models and a German, showing up in the form of a Subaru Forester and Acura RDX plus a BMW X5. The latter was deemed by CR testers as “among the best SUVs we’ve tested,” placing an exclamation point on its stature, since these reliability scores shown here are massively influenced by real-world owners, not CR scribes.

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Least Reliable Crossovers and SUVs

This group is headlined by the Jeep brand, whose lineup CR asserts contributes three models to the list: Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, and the three-row Grand Cherokee L. The former actually makes a bit of sense, not because it is poorly assembled, but because it is a known fact that numerous buyers, entranced by visions of living the Jeep Life, trade out of a mainstream crossover only to find they dislike the wind noise or the rough ride or any other number of elements which are simply part and parcel of Wrangler ownership.

Elsewhere, the Volkswagen Taos earns an angry red notation, with CR suggesting the brand needs to work out some kinks in the powertrain in order to improve its fortunes. Umbrage was taken with a non-linear delivery of power, some of which may be down to the turbocharger and seven-speed automatic not communicating effectively at lower speeds. The Volvo XC60 PHEV also drew raspberries from Consumer Reports.

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Most Reliable Cars

We once again look to Toyota showrooms for our list of vehicles in this category, since all three of them are from the Big T. Making this year’s honour roll are the Camry, Camry Hybrid, and venerable Corolla.

The first two are split out as different models in the eyes of CR, thanks to the publication’s recent (and logical) decision to consider hybrids and EVs separate from gasser cousins, what with all their complicated electrified gubbins. As for the Corolla, its near-perpetual presence on lists such can be considered something of an eternal flame to the car’s build quality and ability to sate its demographic.

Least Reliable Cars

CR actually called out the sedan segment (as a whole) as being one of the most reliable places in which to spend a few bucks. This is likely due to the fact this market has shrunk precipitously in the last few years, meaning the few left standing comprise some of the best of the bunch. Still, VW managed to break into these ranks, with the little Jetta popping up on the naughty list, though it’s worth noting there is a dearth of survey data for the last two model years, so it’d be smart to judge this performance accordingly.

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Pickup Truck Reliability

Well, at least according to CR, some pickup truck reliability ain’t great. No vehicle from this segment made it onto the “best of” catalogue, but a trio managed to worm their way onto the naughty list. At the top (bottom?) of the heap in CR surveys was the Ford F-150, specifically ones equipped with the frankly tremendous PowerBoost hybrid engine.

Now, its ranking is based on the newest three model years from CR’s latest member survey, meaning any quirks (real or perceived) when the powertrain first arrived in 2021 still count against it. For the 2023 model year, scores have improved markedly, though how CR still manages to give it a less-than-average score when every single one of the measured overall categories are above-average is a mystery for the ages. CR also chose to pick on the Rivian R1T and Nissan Frontier, if you’re wondering.

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