Battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids experience 80% more problems than conventional gas-powered cars, according to Consumer Reports’ latest survey of 380,000 vehicles.
Seven of the ten least reliable vehicles are EVs or plug-in hybrids, with owners reporting battery failures, charging malfunctions, climate system breakdowns, and persistent build quality issues that threaten the industry’s electrification ambitions.
1. Toyota Reclaims Reliability Crown
Toyota has reclaimed the top reliability position with a score of 65 out of 100, edging past Subaru and Lexus in second and third place.
The Japanese automaker placed twenty models above average for reliability, including the redesigned 4Runner SUV which achieved a remarkable 95 out of 100—the highest individual model score in the entire survey.
2. Subaru Slips One Spot
Subaru ranks second with a score of 64 out of 100, slipping from its first-place finish in 2025 but maintaining exceptional reliability across its lineup.
The Subaru Impreza leads the brand’s reliability performance with a score of 80, making it the most reliable individual model in the survey, while the mechanically similar Crosstrek crossover ranks third.
3. Lexus Dominates Luxury Segment
Lexus secured third place and the highest-ranked luxury brand position for the third consecutive year, with nine models scoring above average for reliability.
The ES sedan achieved 84 out of 100, while even the brand’s lowest-scoring model—the NX plug-in hybrid—reached an average rating, avoiding the below-average territory plaguing competitors’ electrified offerings.
4. Honda Maintains Strong Position
Honda secures fourth place with a score of 59 out of 100, with seven models scoring above average for reliability.
The Honda Passport achieved a near-perfect reliability score of 97 out of 100—the second-highest individual model rating in the survey—while the CR-V, Civic, and Accord continue their decades-long track records of dependability.
5. BMW Leads European Brands
BMW claimed fifth place and the title of most reliable European brand for the second consecutive year, climbing three positions with a score of 57.
All BMW models achieved average or better predicted reliability scores, with the X5 SUV scoring 73 out of 100—exceptional performance demonstrating that luxury manufacturers can compete on dependability.
6. Nissan Makes Impressive Jump
Nissan advanced six positions from 12th place in 2025 to sixth place with a score of 54, marking a significant turnaround for the brand.
The Nissan Kicks subcompact SUV leads the brand with a reliability score of 76 out of 100, while even the lowest-scoring model—the Murano midsize SUV—achieves an average rating.
7. Acura Benefits from Honda Engineering
Acura ranks seventh with a score of 53 out of 100, securing the second-highest position among premium brands. Honda’s luxury division benefits from the parent company’s engineering prowess, with all Acura models receiving average or better reliability scores and the Integra sport sedan leading at 56 out of 100.
8. Buick Tops American Brands
Buick maintained eighth place and its position as the highest-ranked domestic brand for the eighth consecutive year with a score of 52. The brand distinguishes itself from General Motors’ other divisions through superior reliability and achieves the lowest projected ten-year ownership costs across the entire automotive industry.
9. Tesla’s Historic Leap
Tesla has surged from 17th place to ninth with a score of 50—the survey’s most dramatic improvement—as the electric vehicle maker demonstrates manufacturing maturity.
The Model Y earned recognition as the most reliable EV available, signaling Tesla has “graduated from the problems that a startup automaker faces,” according to Consumer Reports analysts.
10. Kia Rounds Out Top Tier
Kia ranks tenth with a score of 48 out of 100, with average reliability across most models. The Carnival Hybrid minivan achieved the brand’s highest score at 72—the most reliable vehicle in its category—while the brand’s electric models struggle with scores below 25 due to battery and charging issues.
11. Ford Achieves Best Showing in Years
Ford reached eleventh place with a score of 47—its highest reliability ranking in fifteen years—driven by substantial F-150 family improvements.
All three F-150 versions improved from below-average to average reliability, representing a significant accomplishment for America’s best-selling vehicle that required sustained engineering focus rather than rapid model proliferation.
12. Hyundai Faces EV Challenges
Hyundai occupies twelfth place with a score of 46, with conventional gas and hybrid models performing adequately while electric vehicles experience significant problems.
The brand’s EVs share a faulty Integrated Charging Control Unit with corporate siblings Kia and Genesis—a component prone to failure that can cause loss of propulsion while driving.
13. Audi Drops Ten Positions
Audi ranks thirteenth with a score of 45, dropping ten positions from 2025 due to deteriorating reliability of the Q4 e-tron electric SUV. Owners report problems with climate systems, electrical accessories, in-car electronics, EV battery malfunctions, and charging issues, while the brand’s conventional models perform adequately.
14. Mazda’s Dramatic Collapse
Mazda plummeted eight positions to fourteenth place with a score of 43 due to severe problems with the all-new CX-90 and CX-70 SUVs.
The turbocharged CX-90 scored a dismal 23 out of 100, with owners reporting premature timing chain failures, turbocharger issues, and complete engine replacements devastating the brand’s reputation.
15. Volvo Completes Top Rankings
Volvo ranks fifteenth with a score of 42, achieving middling reliability across its lineup. The XC60 plug-in hybrid scored below average due to problems with the EV battery, electric motor, drive system, climate control, electrical accessories, and in-car electronics typical of first-generation electrified vehicles.
Hybrids Emerge as Reliability Champions
Conventional hybrid vehicles demonstrate 15% fewer problems than gas-only cars, establishing themselves as the reliability sweet spot after nearly three decades of technological refinement.
Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ Senior Director of Auto Testing, explained: “Hybrids have been around for nearly three decades, and the technology is tried and true” compared to newer EV designs still working out kinks.
Bottom Rankings Dominated by Stellantis
Five Stellantis brands occupy catastrophic territory beyond the top fifteen, with Rivian (26th, score of 20), Ram (25th, 26), Jeep (24th, 28), GMC (23rd, 31), and Chrysler (22nd, 33) anchoring the bottom. Jeep combines the worst reliability, worst road test scores, and worst owner satisfaction ratings for the third consecutive year.
Comprehensive Testing Methodology
Consumer Reports surveyed members about vehicle problems experienced during the preceding twelve months, generating responses covering approximately 380,000 vehicles spanning model years 2000 through 2025.
The evaluation examines 20 distinct trouble areas including major mechanical systems, electrical components, build quality indicators, and charging systems, with problems weighted by severity and repair costs.
What Buyers Should Know
Consumer Reports advises prioritizing Asian brands with decades of refinement, selecting conventional hybrids over plug-in variants for electrification benefits, and avoiding first-year production models.
Brand reputation for dependability predicts long-term ownership satisfaction more reliably than vehicle type, with Toyota products comprising six of the ten most reliable vehicles demonstrating sustained engineering excellence that saves buyers thousands.