The reliability of a car is the top priority for many buyers. A newly launched car may be affordable, sporty, luxurious, or economical, yet these characteristics will not be enjoyed for long if it is not a reliable car. Even those who do not think twice before buying a car may change their viewpoints once their cars empty their pockets through constant repairs and maintenance expenses. After all, nobody wants a car that spends more time in a garage than on the road.

In the past decades, many Japanese cars have proven to be the most dependable, while many performance car manufacturers have been known to overlook dependability in favor of style and performance. However, a recent study published by J.D. Power examined car reliability based on a sample of 30,595 original owners of 2021 model-year vehicles throughout the previous three years to find the most and least dependable models. While this list is not necessarily fully comprehensive due to sample size, it offers a very valuable look into the dependability of car brands in the past several years. Here are 15 brands that failed to deliver.

UPDATE: 2024/02/16 18:33 EST BY RON FP

15 Least Reliable Car Brands According To J.D. Power's 2024 Dependability Study

How we chose the brands: HotCars analyzed the results of J.D. Power's 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and selected the lowest-ranking brands, i.e. those with the most Problems Per 100 Vehicles (PP100) after three years of ownership. This study, which was conducted from August through November 2023, took in the responses of more than 30,000 American owners of 2021 model-year vehicles. As a benchmark, the study's average was 190 PP100, and the highest-ranking brand (Lexus) had 135 PP100.

For additional information, we also included the brands' latest predicted reliability scores from Consumer Reports (CR), average reliability ratings from RepairPal (RP), average annual maintenance costs from RepairPal, and average 10-year maintenance costs from CarEdge (CE), whenever available.

The brands below are arranged from the lowest PP100 (most reliable) to the highest PP100 (least reliable) VDS scores.

15 Genesis: 200 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Genesis Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 44/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: N/A, not rated
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $524
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: N/A, not computed

Genesis Was A Nameplate Before It Was A Brand

Created as the luxury division of the Korean automaker Hyundai, Genesis offers vehicles made to rival Toyota's Lexus, Honda's Acura, and Nissan's INFINITI. Hyundai initially launched the BMW 5 Series-inspired Genesis executive sedan in 2008. However, 9 years and 2 successful generations later, the Hyundai group decided to make Genesis a standalone luxury brand. Check out these facts about the Genesis brand to see just why it captured a significant following in North America.

14 Ram: 201 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Ram Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 46/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $858
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $16,802

Ram Produces Pickup Trucks Exclusively

The Ram Truck line (called the Dodge Ram until 2010) has been one of America's best-selling pickup truck nameplates since its launch in 1981. As is the case with the other truck brands of America's "Big Three," the full-size, half-ton Ram 1500 is the most popular model, as it brawls against rivals like the Chevy Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Toyota Tundra, and the Nissan Titan. The Ram 1500 TRX, powered by a supercharged Hemi Hellcat V8 engine, is one of Ram's most awe-inspiring models, as it is one of the fastest pickup trucks in 2023.

13 Honda: 206 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Honda Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 70/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 4/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $428
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $7,827

Honda Used To Be One Of The Most Reliable Car Brands

Honda's inclusion in this list may come as a huge surprise for many automotive enthusiasts, especially since Honda has been known as one of the brands that sold the most reliable cars for the past few decades. For example, last 2015, Honda placed 5th in J.D. Power's dependability study. Unfortunately, J.D. Power's recent results have demoted the brand to the bottom half of this year's reliability rankings.

Nevertheless, Honda fans may be happy to know that the 2021 model years of the brand's most popular gas-powered nameplates – the Civic, Accord, and CR-V – all received "great" quality and reliability scores of 82, 82, and 84 out of 100, respectively, from J.D. Power itself. This was the specific model year that the latest J.D. Power dependability study was based on, so many Honda fans can still have some confidence in these models. The 2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, however, received quality and reliability scores in the '70s.

12 GMC: 206 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

GMC Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 36/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $744
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $8,429

Some GMC Vehicles Retain Their Market Value Well

Many buyers widely appreciate GMC vehicles for their impressive power, bold and rugged designs, as well as the premium treatment that stands above its corporate cousin, Chevrolet. Moreover, some GMC vehicles are among the American cars with the best resale value. Unfortunately, both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power have given GMC below-average brand reliability ratings as GMC mainly produces pickup trucks and SUVs, both of which score lower than passenger cars like sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons.

11 Acura: 216 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Acura Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 70/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 4/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $501
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $10,730

Acura Was Originally For North America

As the more posh division of Honda, Acura produces luxury and performance cars mainly for the North American market. Some of its most popular models today include the MDX and RDX crossover SUVs and the sporty Integra and TLX sedans. However, perhaps one of the most monumental achievements of this Japanese brand is the evolution of the Acura NSX from a more affordable German sports car alternative to an iconic performance marque that knocks on hypercar territory.

Of course, not even luxury car brands can escape reliability problems, and there are quite a few things to watch out for when buying an Acura. According to RepairPal, some of these include problems with the fuel line, transmission, engine idle speed, sensors, and of course, the infotainment system.

10 Mercedes-Benz: 218 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 23/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $908
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $15,986

Mercedes-Benz Was Once The Embodiment Of German Over-Engineering

Aside from being revered as one of the benchmarks of luxury in the automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz was also previously considered one of the most reliable brands in the world due to the famed "German over-engineering". Unfortunately, J.D. Power's recent studies suggest that the Mercedes-Benz today is not what it used to be. Many of Mercedes-Benz's luxury cars can still last for years like the W124 E-Class, the W221 S-Class, and the 2007 SL. However, some newer models have less-than-stellar reliability ratings. One example is the 2019 C-Class, which only received an "average" 76/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power.

9 INFINITI: 219 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

INFINITI Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 53/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3.5/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $638
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $11,830

INFINITI SUVs Are Affordable To Maintain

Infiniti (styled as INFINITI) is the luxury vehicle division of Nissan. Officially launched in 1989, Infiniti initially targeted the North American market, just like Lexus and Acura did. Today, however, Infiniti has expanded to over 25 countries. Some of Infiniti's most popular models today include the QX50 and QX60, which are among the luxury SUVs that are actually affordable to maintain. However, as the latest J.D. Power study shows, cheap maintenance costs do not equate to reliability.

8 Ford: 239 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Ford Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 40/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3.5/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $775
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $9,860

Ford Remains America's Best-Selling Brand With Almost 2 Million Cars Sold In 2023

Ford is among America's pioneer carmakers, and its models like the Mustang and F-Series pickup trucks are still among the most popular today. In fact, F-150s and many used Mustangs are still great buys on the pre-owned market. However, Ford's low reliability ranking is mainly affected by the sheer volume of pickups it produces. After all, the Ford F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle nameplate in America for over 40 years now. According to Consumer Reports' latest predicted reliability study, the pickup truck segment is the least reliable segment, with an average reliability score of 41/100.

7 Volvo: 245 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Volvo Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 28/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3.5/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $769
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $13,513

Volvo Was Once The Benchmark For Safety

It is quite unexpected to see a brand like Volvo, which has long prided itself on safety and reliability, finding itself in a list of unreliable brands. But looking just a little beneath the surface, it's easy to understand why. The brands at the top of the reliability charts are innovating the least. Volvo, in turn, is innovating and investing in fully electric cars like the EX30, which competes against the Tesla Model 3. With new Volvo models testing the waters of this new but growing EV segment, one can expect a lot of growing pains and reliability issues.

6 Lincoln: 251 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Lincoln Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 38/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $879
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $12,099

Expect To Pay More Than $12,000 To Maintain Your Lincoln Over 10 Years

Lincoln is the luxury vehicle division of Ford. While Lincoln vehicles are known for excellent comfort and luxury, many of its models haven't been very dependable based on quality and reliability ratings from both J.D. Power and Consumer reports prior to 2021. To illustrate, models like the 2020 Corsair and the 2019 Nautilus only received average reliability scores from J.D. Power (76 and 78 out of 100, respectively), while the 2020 Lincoln Aviator's score was a very low 59/100. Furthermore, the 2020 Aviator is also one of the American SUVs that have high maintenance costs.

5 Tesla: 252 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Tesla Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 48/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: N/A, not rated
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $832
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $5,867

Tesla Currently Leads The World's EV Industry

Tesla has been the global leader in pure EV (non-hybrid, non-plugin hybrid) sales for the past few years. This doesn't come as a surprise to many car buyers, as Tesla has produced several electric cars that have redefined speed and power in the industry. However, as a relatively new vehicle manufacturer, it has faced troubles that many seasoned manufacturers have already outgrown over the past several decades. One of them is figuring out a robust vehicle that won't break down quickly. Many of the reliability issues with Teslas have been directly related to the active driver assistance, infotainment, and safety systems, and the company should address these quickly to retain customers.

4 Volkswagen: 267 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Volkswagen Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 26/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3.5/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $676
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $8,166

Many Volkswagen Vehicles Are Now Made In China

Volkswagen is one of the oldest and largest automotive companies in the world. Today, the Volkswagen group includes other global brands such as Audi, Bugatti, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati.

Originally, Volkswagen's main motto was to provide attractive and decent cars for the common folks - and this ideology led to the development of models like the 1960s Volkswagen Beetle – one of the best classic cars to restore. Some of its other vehicles, like the Golf, Jetta, Up, and the 2012 Bug, are among the most reliable cars in their respective segments. However, Volkswagen's recent attempts at reliable family sedans and hatchbacks have not been fruitful, and some Volkswagen enthusiasts attribute this to the fact that many of the German brand's vehicles are now made in China.

3 Land Rover: 268 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Land Rover Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: N/A, not rated
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 2.5/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $1,174
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $18,569

Land Rover Is Now Owned By India's Tata Motors

Land Rover vehicles are highly desirable for high-end SUV buyers, as they are among the most sporty and luxurious British offerings. The brand is fond of advertising its offerings by crossing rivers, ascending hills, and driving on dirt roads to show how tough and dependable they are. But Land Rovers haven't been reliable for a long time, since the Land Rover Defender days.

Indian manufacturer Tata, which makes some of the safest vehicles, bought the Jaguar Land Rover brand in 2008. Many had their hopes up, but the vehicles coming from Land Rover after that quickly diminished those hopes and any optimism left. It seems that both Jaguar and Land Rover may lose their British-rooted identities in the future.

2 Audi: 275 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Audi Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 43/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $987
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $13,222

Audi Is Famous For The Quattro Four-Wheel-Drive System

Audi used to be a proud German manufacturer with respectable reliability. Cars like the Ur-Quattro, A3, and TT are iconic for their ability to withstand the test of time, and with rugged usage at that. However, Audi seems to have lost its touch in the quality assurance department, with its more recent models not as reliable as older cars once were. For instance, both the top-selling 2020 Q3 and 2022 Q5 crossover SUVs received a "fair" 69/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power. Of course, there are still some reliable Audis to buy from the used car market - many of which were made between 2010 and 2017.

1 Chrysler: 310 Problems Per 100 Vehicles

Chrysler Brand Reliability

• 2023 Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability Score: 18/100
• RepairPal Brand Reliability Rating: 3.5/5
• RepairPal Brand Average Annual Maintenance Cost: $608
• CarEdge Average Brand 10-year Maintenance Cost: $11,364

The Chrysler Group Is Now Called Stellantis

Established in 1925, Chrysler is one of the longest-running car brands in the industry. A look at the history of Chrysler will reveal that it used to be one of the American "Big Three" car brands that hailed from Detroit before it was brought under the Amsterdam-based Stellantis group. Unfortunately, the corporate financial hardships of the past few decades have caused many design and manufacturing woes that eventually led to vehicles with sub-par quality and reliability. Only two nameplates remain in the lineup now, namely the Chrysler 300 luxury sedan and the Pacifica minivan.

Sources: J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, RepairPal, CarEdge.