2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: 10 best and worst models

Just because a model is reliable doesn’t mean it is recommended by Consumer Reports. Four out of the top 10 most reliable vehicles don’t perform well enough in our tests for us to recommend them. The opposite happens as well—some vehicles that score well in our testing are not recommended because they have below average reliability. Seven out of the 10 least reliable vehicles have high enough test scores to be recommended, but their poor reliability prevents them from reaching that recommended status. So, it’s important to look at both performance in our tests as well as reliability because a high scoring car isn’t always a smart purchase choice if it isn’t reliable.

Our 2009 Annual Auto Survey reveals the best and worst vehicles in reliability based on our subscribers’ experiences with 1.4 million vehicles over the past 10 years (2000-2009). Our data helps determine which used cars to choose as well as to forecast how the 2010 models will hold up.

The vehicles listed below are the top 10 most and least reliable new cars in our reliability survey. Models with an asterisk (*) are based on data of one model year only. Click on the vehicles below to visit the model overview pages to see how they performed in our tests and also view a more-detailed look at reliability broken down by 17 potential trouble spots. (Model overview pages are available to online subscribers.)

Most reliable vehicles, listed in order of Ratings score starting with the best score.

1. Honda Insight*
2. Lexus SC*
3. Toyota Venza (4-cyl.)*
4. Mercedes-Benz GLK*
5. Toyota Yaris Hatchback
6. Toyota FJ Cruiser
7. Honda Fit*
8. Toyota Prius
9. Scion xD
10. Toyota 4Runner (V6)

Least reliable vehicles, listed in order of Ratings score starting with the worst score.

1. Volkswagen Touareg*
2. Jaguar XF*
3. Chevrolet Colorado (4WD)
4. GMC Canyon (4WD)
5. Ford F-250 (turbodiesel, 4WD)*
6. BMW 535i (AWD)*
7. Chrysler Town & Country
8. Dodge Grand Caravan
9. Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (turbodiesel)*
10. Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (V8)

For more details on our 2009 Annual Auto Survey including the full list of most and least reliable new cars by vehicle type, see our reliability report. Also, check out our guide to car reliability for more details on new and used car reliability, as well as owner satisfaction.

—Liza Barth 

2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: Domestics vs. the imports

Asian vehicles continue to lead in car reliability, but a number of domestic and European automakers are showing improvements. Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 are Asian—Toyota accounts for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each. The rest come from Ford with eight; Mercedes-Benz, one; Volkswagen, two; and Volvo, one.

European brands continue to improve in reliability with a significant rebound from Mercedes-Benz and improvements from Volkswagen and Audi. Most Volvo and Porsche models have also done well in our survey.

Ford leads the domestics with about 90 percent of models scoring average or better in our survey. Overall 20 of the 48 GM models have average reliability, but only the Chevrolet Malibu V6 has above average reliability in our survey. Last year, we couldn’t recommend any Chrysler product due to low test scores and poor reliability, but this year the 4WD Dodge Ram did well in our tests and has average reliability. However, more than one-third of Chrysler products are much worse than average in reliability.

The graphs below show the percentage of models that rate above average, average, and below average for Asian, European, and American brands.

 

For more details on our 2009 Annual Auto Survey including the full list of most and least reliable new cars by vehicle type, see our reliability report. Also, check out our guide to car reliability for more details on new and used car reliability as well as owner satisfaction.

—Liza Barth 

2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: A high price doesn’t mean it’s reliable

Paying more for a new car doesn’t guarantee that it will be reliable. Inexpensive small cars and midsized family sedans are the most reliable vehicles according to our 2009 Annual Auto Survey, which is based on our subscribers’ experiences with 1.4 million vehicles.

Twenty of out of 37 small cars and 21 out of 41 family cars have above-average predicted reliability. Minivans are at the bottom of the list, but there are not as many minivan options. See how the other vehicle categories fare below.

Car type	% of models rated average or better
Family cars	91%
Small cars	84%
Small SUVs	83%
Upscale cars	78%
Compact pickups	74%
Midsized SUVs	74%
Full-sized pickups	68%
Luxury cars	67%
Sporty cars	62%
Upscale/luxury SUVs	55%
Large SUVs	50%
Minivans	43%

When it comes to buying a new car, you do not need to spend top dollar. It pays to do your research and find the model that meet Consumer Reports’ stringent requirements to be recommended, as well as your budget.

For more details on our 2009 Annual Auto Survey including the full list of most and least reliable new cars by vehicle type, see our reliability report. Also, check out our guide to car reliability for more details on new and used car reliability as well as owner satisfaction.

—Liza Barth 

2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: Where Ford really stands

Since we announced the results from our latest auto reliability survey, there has been a lot of buzz—and a wide range of interpretation—in the media and blogosphere about Ford’s strong showing. On one hand, I’ve seen a headline that said Ford is number one. (It’s not.) And I’ve seen writers wondering aloud if we’re shilling for the company—casting it in an overly rosy light. (We’re not.)
 
We are always glad to see an automaker raise the level of quality and reliability in its cars. It’s good for consumers who don’t want the hassle and expense of a lot of problems down the road. But, let’s be clear: while Ford is easily the best of the domestic automakers in terms of reliability, it’s still no Toyota or Honda. (Read our full report on car reliability.)
 
Here’s the picture in nutshell:
Toyota and Honda clearly dominate in reliability. They have five of the top seven brands in our ranking: Scion, Honda, Toyota, Acura, and Lexus. All of their models are average or better. Of the 48 models that get our top predicted-reliability rating, 17 are built by Toyota and seven by Honda. That’s half. If you just look at the top 10 models, seven are built by Toyota and two by Honda. (The other is a Mercedes-Benz.) And of the 16 vehicle categories for which we have predicted-reliability ratings, nine are topped by a Toyota-built vehicle and two by Hondas. Overall, that’s a pretty convincing case.
 
When it comes to Ford, we’ve said that it’s the only Detroit automaker that’s building cars with world-class reliability. What do we mean by “world class”? Ninety percent of the 51 models for which we have data are average or above. It is the only American automaker to earn our top rating, received by eight of its models. And only five models are below average. That’s also impressive.
 
Here are some highlights:
The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan are among the top models in the family cars class, under only the Toyota Prius. Six versions rate higher than any versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, which have typically done very well in our survey results and are often perceived as the paradigms of reliability.
 
The front-wheel-drive Lincoln MKZ tops the upscale cars category, beating out such high-scoring competitors as the Acura TL and Lexus ES. The front-wheel-drive Ford Edge and V6 Mustang rank near the top of their classes. And most other Ford-built models are in the upper half of their categories.
 
Despite all of this goodness, Ford still has its weaknesses. The mighty Ford F-250 turbodiesel 4WD pickup has the fifth worst score in the survey results. The front-wheel-drive Lincoln MKS is at the bottom of the upscale cars category. And three all-wheel-drive Lincolns (MKS, MKX, and MKZ) were also below average.

So, of the 33 brands that we rank, Mercury came in at number 10.  Ford ranked at 16th (still made the top half), and Lincoln’s problematic models sank it to 20th place. (In contrast, Buick, which is GM’s highest-ranked brand, is 19th and Jeep, Chrysler’s highest, is 30th.)

The bottom line
Ford has made some very reliable vehicles, right in there with other generally reliable Asian automakers Honda, Toyota, and the company has been able to maintain that consistency for several years now. So, yes, we think that’s worth a hearty attaboy. But, no, Ford is not yet at the top of the heap.

For more information, visit our guide to reliability. See how the automakers compare (available to online subscribers).

 —Rik Paul

2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: Best and worst models by car maker

It is easy to assume that certain automakers build only reliable cars and others don’t, however, nearly every manufacturer have their share of winners and losers in our annual reliability survey. Each company and even brand product portfolio runs a spectrum of reliability performance, with its own best and worst examples. For some, the range can span from much better than average to much worse than average, whereas other may be centered around average. The key lesson from scanning the data within an automaker is not to make assumptions.

For example, the best Toyota Motor Company model in our reliability survey is the Lexus SC—its predicted reliability score is the second highest out of over 300 vehicles, but the worst is the Lexus GS (AWD), which scores in the bottom 10 percent, and receives a much worse than average rating, and is not recommended in our testing. While it is true that Lexus models tend to be reliable and test well, this is not the case for all Lexus vehicles.

The greatest disparity comes from Volkswagen. The VW Golf (aka Rabbit) is one of the most reliable small cars you can buy, but the Volkswagen Touareg has the lowest predicted reliability score in our 2009 Annual Auto Survey.

In most cases, the best model for reliability is a recommended model and the worst is not. However, Honda’s top reliable vehicle in our survey, the Honda Insight, is not recommended due to low scores in our testing. The least reliable Honda vehicle is the Acura RL, but it has an average reliability score and is recommended. Honda is one of the more consistent manufacturers and has no model that scored below average in reliability.

The two more reliable General Motors products are from two brands that are leaving the GM umbrella. The Saturn Aura (4-cyl.) is newly recommended this year and the Pontiac Vibe will be phased out in the coming months.

Below are the best and worst models in reliability. Models with an * are based on data of one model year only.

BMW
Best: BMW 328i (RWD)
Worst: BMW 535i (AWD)*

Chrysler
Best: Jeep Patriot
Worst: Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan

Ford
Best: Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan (4-cyl.)
Worst: Ford F-250 (turbodiesel, 4WD)*

General Motors
Best: Chevrolet Malibu (V6)
Worst: Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon (4WD)

Honda
Best: Honda Insight*
Worst: Acura RL

Hyundai/Kia
Best: Hyundai Tucson
Worst: Kia Sedona

Mazda
Best: Mazda3 sedan
Worst: Mazda CX-7

Mercedes-Benz
Best: Mercedes-Benz GLK*
Worst: Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (turbodiesel)*

Nissan
Best: Infiniti M35 (RWD)
Worst: Nissan Versa sedan*

Subaru
Best: Subaru Impreza Outback Sport
Worst: Subaru Impreza WRX*

Toyota
Best: Lexus SC*
Worst: Lexus GS (AWD)

Volkswagen
Best: Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit)
Worst: Volkswagen Touareg*

Volvo
Best: Volvo S40 (FWD)*
Worst: Volvo XC90 (V8)*

The main take away from this information is don’t judge a book by its cover. Avoid assumptions and do your research before you buy your next vehicle. It takes just a few minutes to browse the model overview pages, or use the interactive new car selector tool, which sorts and filters by the parameters that matter most to you.

Either path will reveal Consumer Reports recommended models that did well in our road tests, score average or better in reliability, and performs at least adequately if included in government or insurance industry safety tests.

For more details on our 2009 Annual Auto Survey including the full list of most and least reliable new cars by vehicle type, see our reliability report. Also, check out our guide to car reliability for more details on new and used car reliability as well as owner satisfaction.

—Liza Barth 

Consumer Reports 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey – Who’s up and who’s down

Ford has secured its position as the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability, according to Consumer Reports’ 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey. About 90 percent (46 of 51) of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products were found to have average or better reliability. The results now available online in the car types pages, new car selector, and on the model overview pages—all available to online subscribers.
 
Ford’s sustained production of vehicles that are as dependable—or better than—some of the industry’s best dispels the notion that only Japanese manufacturers make reliable cars. Other than the Toyota Prius, the reliability of the four-cylinder Fusion and Milan ranks higher than that of any other family sedan. Both of those Ford Motor Company products continue to beat the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, while the upscale Lincoln MKZ tops its rivals, the Acura TL and Lexus ES.
 
The findings are based on responses on 1.4 million vehicles owned or leased by subscribers to Consumer Reports or its Web site—the biggest response in the Annual Auto Survey’s history. Consumer Reports’ expert team of statisticians and automotive engineers used the survey data to predict reliability of new 2010 models. Predicted reliability is CR’s forecast of how well models currently on sale are likely to hold up. 
 
Other key findings:

The Lin­coln division has had mixed results: some models score below their Ford equivalents. All-wheel-drive versions of the Lincoln MKS, MKX, and MKZ are below average.
 
The least reliable vehicle, the Volk­swagen Touareg, is 27 times more likely to have a problem than the most reliable car, the Honda Insight.
 
Twenty of 37 small cars have above-average predicted-reliabil­ity including the Honda Fit, Scion xD and Volkswagen Golf.
 
Even good brands falter. Among the least reliable vehicles in their respective classes are the all-wheel-drive Lexus GS, the Nissan Versa sedan, and the Subaru Impreza WRX. The Lexus GS AWD is the only Toyota mod­el with below average reliability.
 
Some newer GM products are bright spots. Overall 20 of the 48 GM models Consumer Reports surveyed have aver­age reliability scores. (GM has a number of strong contenders either just released or in the pipeline, but they are too new for CR to have reliability data on them.)
 
More than one-third of Chrysler products are much worse than average, including its new car-based SUV, the Dodge Journey. Last year, Consumers Reports couldn’t Recom­mend any of its products either because of mediocre performance, poor reliability scores, or both. However, this year CR can rec­ommend: the four-wheel-drive ver­sion of the redesigned Dodge Ram 1500 pickup.
 
Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 are Asian—Toyota ac­counts for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each.

With only a few exceptions, Japanese vehicles are consistently good. All Honda and Acura products have average or above average reliability.

Hyundai and Kia continue to make reliable cars. The Hyundai Elantra and Tucson, and the Kia Sportage get top marks. Only Kia’s Sedona minivan and Sorento SUV score below average.

European brands continue to improve. Mercedes-Benz has significantly rebound­ed, with most models average or better. Scores from rival BMW are more mixed.

Volkswagen and Audi are also staging a nice reliability recovery. The Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf) and the new CC earn top scores.

Porsche has one serious hic­cup this year: The Boxster drops to below average, which strikes it from Consumer Reports Recom­mended list. But the Cayenne SUV im­proved to average.

Full reliability history charts and predicted-reliability ratings on hundreds of 2010 models, plus a list of what’s up and what’s down, best and worst models, and a comparison chart of brands can be found online in the Guide to Reliability, in the December issue of Consumer Reports, and in the latest Consumer Reports Cars publication, Best & Worst for 2010 on sale November 17, 2009, everywhere magazines are sold.

Consumer Reports 2009 Car Reliability chat

Today, Consumer Reports released the findings from the 2009 annual car reliability survey. As in past years, there are significant revelations to be found in the 2009 data, with some brands and models rising, while others are falling, in predicted reliability.
 
The data will be updated throughout the Cars section of ConsumerReports.org, including on the new car selector and on the model overview pages, available to online subscribers. Further information can be found in our Guide to Reliability and Owner Satisfaction hub, including a detailed Reliability FAQ.

Below is an archived, interactive chat with our automotive experts to discuss the findings.

The live video chat via the Consumer Reports Facebook page has been canceled.

Join the Consumer Reports car reliability chat

Tuesday, October 27th, Consumer Reports will release the findings from the 2009 annual car reliability survey at 2 p.m. Join us an hour later on the Cars Blog for a live, interactive chat with our automotive experts to discuss the findings from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST.
 
That afternoon, we will post reports to ConsumerReports.org covering the latest findings, as well as upload new data that will be available to online subscribers throughout the Cars section to help car shoppers make informed purchase decisions.
 
As always, there are significant revelations to be found in the 2009 data, with some brands and models rising, while others are falling, in predicted reliability. Join us at 3 p.m. right here to engage with our team and explore the results from our reliability analysis. Questions can be submitted through the blog using an integrated chat window once the discussion is opened.
 
In addition, Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. EST we will be hosting a live video chat via the Consumer Reports Facebook page. Questions can be submitted via Facebook, and we will answer them on camera.

—Jeff Bartlett

Fiat 500: Driving impressions from the U.K.

Fiat lists some 24 different cars and minivans on the company Web site, and Alfa Romeo, which is owned by Fiat, shows nine more on theirs. There has been a lot of speculation about which, if any, of these models might make it to the United States in the wake of Fiat taking an ownership stake in Chrysler. The only model the new Chrysler has confirmed it plans to bring here is the Fiat 500. Company officials have said the goal is to begin U.S. sales of the 500 in about 18 months, allowing time for government safety and emissions testing. (See "Is there a Fiat in your future?")

A two-door hatchback with retro styling and slightly smaller than a Mini Cooper, the 500 is already a hit in Europe. But Americans know little about this stylish four-seater, and whether it will succeed here is anybody’s guess. Younger Americans will likely not be familiar with Fiat at all, or know that Fiat had a poor reputation for reliability when it pulled out of the U.S market in 1983. And those who owned Fiats (or will admit to owning a Fiat) don’t always have the fondest of memories.

Which?, a U.K. publication that like Consumer Reports does not accept advertising, recently tested a 500 and offered some thoughts from their review to share with our readers. (For the full original test, visit the Which? new car buyer's guide, a premium service.)

In a nutshell, Which? found the 500 to be a decent enough small car, but one best suited for cities. Its small size makes it easy to maneuver and park, but its stiff suspension made for a bumpy ride and testers found it tiring over long distances. They also found engine noise intrusive. The 500 did earn points for its handling, with responsive steering, little body lean, and plenty of grip. Brakes were also very good.

Our Which? counterparts tested a 500 with the most powerful engine available in their market, a gas-powered, 1.4-liter, 100-hp, four-cylinder. Which? recorded 41.5 mpg overall.

Electronic stability control is standard with the 1.4-liter engine, but optional with the 1.2-liter gasoline or 1.3-liter diesel-powered engines. Crashworthiness is a strong suit, and the 500 earned the top five-star rating in European safety testing. Room for two passengers up front is adequate, but limited in the rear— not altogether surprising for a car seven inches shorter than a Mini.

Unfortunately, Fiat reliability remains an area of concern. Like Consumer Reports, Which? conducts an annual reliability survey of car owners--the largest of its kind in the U.K. Their methods differ from ours, and some of the manufacturers and models are different, but Fiat, overall, ranks 35th out of 38 manufacturers. Because it is a relatively new model, there is insufficient data on the 500 for our colleagues to make a determination on its reliability. The larger, less expensive Panda on which it is based gets an average rating. (See "Chrysler and Fiat reliability – Merger of equals?")

We look forward to testing a 500, and we’ll keep you posted as its U.S. debut approaches. Let us know what you think of the 500, or would like to see in a U.S.-spec model.

—Jim Travers

Perils of being an auto tester

Returning home from an evening walk with the family, an oncoming car slowed down at it approached us: a 2009 Toyota Camry. I didn’t recognize the sedan as belonging to anyone I know. Then it stopped, the driver’s window motored down, and I immediately see it is one of my neighbors. Before I can say a word he says, “Gene, thank you for recommending the Camry. The previous Camry that I bought based on your recommendation was absolutely reliable just like Consumer Reports said it would be. I put over the 250,000 miles on that car over the last eight years, and it never let me down. So I bought another Camry. Thanks again, Gene, I really appreciate the advice.”

After some small chit-chat, the neighbor drove away. My wife and son think I’m “The Man” for giving out such great advice. I must admit I felt pretty good, too.

We continued walking toward our home when a Honda Odyssey passed us and cut into a driveway. It’s another neighbor, and I can see the mother is remotely opening the passenger-side power sliding door to let in her daughter. The retracting door caught my eye; it was binding on the track as it opens. I heard it scraping against the body-side of the car. I tried to walk by quietly, but then I saw the mother peering out from the rear-view mirror. She saw me. I think that I’m only a heartbeat away from being busted.

As I passed the driver’s side of the car, she opened the door and yelled to me, “Gene, did you see that door open? It’s scraping a gash across the rear panel of the car. I thought you said the Odyssey was a reliable, recommended minivan? That’s the last time I listen to you.” I tried to reply quickly that Honda did have some reliability issues with power doors, but that is not what she wanted to hear. She backed out quickly and was gone before I can get another word out.

My witty wife looked at me and said, “You’re an idiot. From now on, you take your walks alone and don’t give anyone in the neighborhood car advice.”

Yep, in less than five minute I went from expert car guy to just another chump. Such is life. Consumer Reports performs extensive testing and research on cars, though anecdotal problems do occur that defy our results and survey ratings. Hopefully we are making more people satisfied buyers than not.

As for me, I think I will buy a treadmill. Anyone have any advice on a good model to buy?

—Gene Petersen