Overall, cars are becoming more reliable with each passing year. Both J.D. Power’s 2023 Vehicle Dependability Study and Consumer Reports’ 2023 Auto Reliability Survey show an improvement in the average car’s dependability.
However, as with everything, there are always outliers.
Nevertheless, Consumer Reports’ approach does come with certain advantages. While some states allow automakers to decline providing data to organizations like J.D. Power, Consumer Reports does not rely on automakers for information. This means that companies like Tesla, which typically refuse to participate in quality tests, cannot opt-out from Consumer Reports’ evaluations.
Consumer Reports Updates Methodology
In a recent move, Consumer Reports (CR) has made changes to its methodology in 2023. The renowned magazine now includes three new trouble areas for evaluation: electric motor, EV/hybrid battery, and EV charging. This adjustment was made to provide a more comprehensive assessment of modern vehicles.
CR’s research has revealed some interesting findings, particularly in the realm of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. For the first time, these types of vehicles performed poorly in CR’s reliability rankings.
The magazine diligently tracks 20 potential trouble areas, ranging from minor annoyances like squeaky brakes and broken interior trim to more significant concerns such as engine, transmission, EV battery, and EV charging problems that can be costly to address.
Based on this extensive data, CR has identified the least reliable models on the market. The dishonorable list is presented in descending order, with each model accompanied by a reliability score on a scale of 1 to 100. Remember, higher numbers indicate better performance in this context.
The Least Reliable Models
- For more information on the updated 2024 Jeep Wrangler, click here.
Note: Cox Automotive, the parent company of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, is a minority investor in Rivian.
Originally published on KBB.com.
