Special Report
This Is the Most Dependable Car Brand in America
Published:
Last Updated:
It appears the American auto industry is booming. New car sales in the United States increased 13% through the first six months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, including a 20% year-over-year increase in June alone. Contributing to this increase is likely a recovering supply chain, after periods of shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, there are reportedly plenty of vehicles available to buy, and Americans can once again be selective in choosing which car will be right for them, considering different factors, including dependability.
One widely-used benchmark for how likely a new car is to stay out of the shop is consumer product research company J.D. Power’s annual U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which measures problems original owners experience over the first three years per 100 cars. Problems fall into nine categories: climate, driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, features/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertrain, and seats.
To find the most dependable car brands in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the findings of the 2023 edition of the study, which looked at how 2020 model year vehicles have performed. All 32 car brands J.D. Power rated in the study are listed from least dependable (those with the most problems per 100 vehicles) to the most dependable (those with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles). We used one-year sales from 2023 US Auto Sales by Brand to break ties. (These are the deadliest cars in America.)
Land Rover is once again the worst-ranked brand on this list, with 273 reported problems per 100 vehicles in the past three years, compared to an industry average of 196. Providing some evidence that these annual reports reflect an actual trend, the Tata Motors brand has been in this spot every year since 2020. It was also second-worst in 2018 and 2019.
It might be assumed that Luxury brands might dominate the most reliable car brands, but in fact, while the No. 1, Lexus, is a luxury brand, many of the car makes with the fewest reported problems are mass-market brands. Meanwhile, luxury brands such as Land Rover, Lincoln, and Audi make up the worst performers on the list. Also check out: America’s best and worst new cars.
Click here to see the most dependable car in America.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
32. Land Rover
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 273
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 284 (No. 31 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 60,112, -24.3% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +2.3% (27,871 to 28,503)
> Parent company: Tata Motors
[in-text-ad]
31. Lincoln
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 259
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 180 (No. 13 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 79,277, -2.0% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: -9.8% (42,893 to 38,684)
> Parent company: Ford Motor Co.
24/7 Wall St.
30. Audi
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 252
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 232 (No. 25 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 200,909, +26.1% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +27.1% (85,150 to 108,190)
> Parent company: Volkswagen Group
29. Ford
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 249
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 188 (No. 16 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 1,865,894, +7.8% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +11.4% (866,839 to 965,232)
> Parent company: Ford Motor Co.
[in-text-ad-2]
28. Tesla
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 242
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: N/A (No. N/A in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 596,999, +34.2% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +21.6% (282,071 to 343,001)
> Parent company: Tesla Inc.
27. Mercedes-Benz
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 240
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 195 (No. 18 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 344,355, +9.3% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +0.9% (167,981 to 169,449)
> Parent company: Daimler AG
[in-text-ad]
26. Jaguar
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 229
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 233 (No. 26 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 9,271, -28.6% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: -8.3% (4,766 to 4,369)
> Parent company: Tata Motors
25. Chrysler
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 226
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 240 (No. 27 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 127,708, +4.3% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +22.7% (66,048 to 81,042)
> Parent company: Stellantis
24. Volkswagen
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 216
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 217 (No. 21 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 253,165, -17.5% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +1.8% (142,280 to 144,784)
> Parent company: Volkswagen AG.
[in-text-ad-2]
23. Volvo
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 215
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 256 (No. 29 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 111,203, +0.9% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +18.3% (50,524 to 59,750)
> Parent company: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
22. Subaru
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 214
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 226 (No. 22 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 596,875, +10.3% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +15.3% (263,795 to 304,089)
> Parent company: Subaru Corp.
[in-text-ad]
21. Acura
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 211
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 244 (No. 28 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 123,088, +1.0% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +39.3% (52,860 to 73,642)
> Parent company: Honda Motor Company
20. Porsche
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 208
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 162 (No. 7 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 73,832, +12.9% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +11.7% (32,540 to 36,336)
> Parent company: Volkswagen Group
19. Infiniti
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 205
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 228 (No. 23 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 57,098, +31.5% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +48.1% (21,802 to 32,284)
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
[in-text-ad-2]
18. Honda
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 205
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 230 (No. 24 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 985,744, -3.0% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +23.1% (453,347 to 557,890)
> Parent company: Honda Motor Co.
17. Jeep
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 196
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 201 (No. 19 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 639,486, -13.7% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: -11.9% (379,945 to 334,818)
> Parent company: Stellantis
[in-text-ad]
16. Ram
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 189
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 266 (No. 30 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 539,905, -5.7% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: -1.9% (276,026 to 270,736)
> Parent company: Stellantis
15. BMW
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 184
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 187 (No. 15 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 348,747, +8.6% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +11.3% (152,615 to 169,819)
> Parent company: BMW Group
14. GMC
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 175
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 192 (No. 17 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 550,795, +21.9% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +13.1% (253,495 to 286,627)
> Parent company: General Motors
[in-text-ad-2]
13. Mazda
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 174
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 179 (No. 12 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 337,579, +17.9% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +29.9% (142,803 to 185,473)
> Parent company: Mazda Motor Corp.
12. Cadillac
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 173
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 168 (No. 9 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 148,004, +24.4% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +21.5% (61,900 to 75,197)
> Parent company: General Motors
[in-text-ad]
11. Dodge
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 172
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 166 (No. 8 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 216,753, +24.0% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +29.8% (85,315 to 110,721)
> Parent company: Stellantis
24/7 Wall St.
10. MINI
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 170
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 173 (No. 11 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 32,364, +2.6% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +23.9% (12,004 to 14,868)
> Parent company: BMW Group
9. Nissan
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 170
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 205 (No. 20 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 768,172, +4.5% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +23.6% (362,459 to 447,882)
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
[in-text-ad-2]
8. Hyundai
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 170
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 148 (No. 3 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 770,322, +19.8% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +15.9% (336,513 to 389,924)
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
7. Toyota
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 168
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 158 (No. 5 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 1,754,446, +5.2% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: -1.0% (887,040 to 878,195)
> Parent company: Toyota Motor Corp.
[in-text-ad]
6. Mitsubishi
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 167
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 183 (No. 14 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 83,074, -14.3% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: -5.7% (48,269 to 45,538)
> Parent company: Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
5. Chevrolet
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 162
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 171 (No. 10 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 1,636,236, +25.9% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +17.0% (726,435 to 849,796)
> Parent company: General Motors
4. Buick
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 159
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 147 (No. 2 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 136,336, +14.8% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +68.4% (48,023 to 80,891)
> Parent company: General Motors
[in-text-ad-2]
3. Kia
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 152
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 145 (No. 1 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 750,919, +17.5% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +22.5% (321,916 to 394,350)
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
2. Genesis
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 144
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 155 (No. 4 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 61,444, +9.7% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +20.4% (25,668 to 30,914)
> Parent company: Hyundai Motor Group
[in-text-ad]
1. Lexus
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2023: 133
> Problems per 100 vehicles in past 3 yrs, 2022: 159 (No. 6 in 2022)
> Unit sales in 12 months through June 2023: 276,759, -7.8% YOY
> Change in sales, 1H 2022 to 1H 2023: +14.0% (131,088 to 149,413)
> Parent company: Toyota Motor Corp.
Methodology
To find America’s most dependable car, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed product research company J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. The study measures problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old vehicles, taking into account problems in nine categories: climate, driving assistance, driving experience, exterior, features/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertrain, and seats, ranking the vehicles by problem per 100 cars. Details can be found here. We used one-year sales to break ties, with brands with higher sales ranking higher. Sales figures came from 2023 US Auto Sales by Brand from GoodCarBadCar. Information about the parent company of each car brand came from Consumer Reports.
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)
Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.
Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.
Click here now to get started.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
