Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports: Most, Least Reliable Cars

Consumer Reports just released reliability ratings covering more than 300 models. This year the winners are the Lexus CT 200H and the Toyota Prius, which are both hybrids.

The worst is the Cadillac Escalade. Its trouble spots include the transmission, power equipment, and infotainment system. 

"We survey Consumer Reports subscribers and we have data on 500,000 vehicles and we use that information to determine which cars are going to be more reliable and which are going to give you more problems," says the Director of Consumer Reports Auto Testing, Jake Fisher.

Ford came in at the bottom in two categories. The Ford Focus is the least reliable compact car and the Ford Fiesta among subcompacts. 

Felix Garza knows how frustrating it can be. He had to replace the transmission on his Fiesta much earlier than expected.

"I was pretty upset," he said. "I thought i wouldn't have this issue, especially with a brand-new car."

The compact Honda Civic, once a very reliable car, also took a tumble with this year's redesign.

"This is the biggest redesign the Civic has had in many years. And as we've often seen, when they change a lot of things, sometimes you get a lot of problems, too," says Fisher.

The most reliable new compact car? The Chevy Cruze and the Toyota Corolla. In the popular compact SUV category, Consumer Reports data shows that the Jeep Cherokee is at the bottom. On top, the Toyota RAV4.

Among pickup trucks, the Ford F-150 reliability score dropped to the point where Consumer Reports no longer recommends it. The most reliable pickup, is the Toyota Tundra.

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