The 5 Least Dependable Car Brands, According to Consumer Reports

Car prices have shot up in recent years, along with the cost of just about everything else. That means a lot of people who own cars are hoping to hold on to them for longer.

Of course, if you plan to drive a car for a long time, it is essential that the vehicle remains dependable. Unfortunately, some car models fail to meet that requirement.

Recently, Consumer Reports asked its members to report the problems they have had with their vehicle during the past 12 months. The publication then compiled the data on more than 330,000 vehicles for the model years 2000 to 2023, plus a handful of 2024 models.

Based on their study of 20 problem areas — from minor to serious — here are Consumer Reports least reliable car brands.

Jeep

Average predicted reliability for this automaker: 26 (on a scale of 1 to 100)

Consumer Reports is not the only publication to give Jeep low marks for reliability. Last year, CarDealer named Jeep as the most unreliable manufacturer, saying Jeep models “were panned throughout the survey by owners for their unreliability.”

Volkswagen

Average predicted reliability for this automaker: 26 (on a scale of 1 to 100)

Jerry, a website that lets people compare and buy insurance, says Volkswagen vehicles can be subject to a host of problems. They include overheating, coolant leaks, antilock brake system failures and electrical issues.

Rivian

Average predicted reliability for this automaker: 24 (on a scale of 1 to 100)

Owners of electric vehicles from the startup Rivian have reported some issues with those vehicles, according to Autoweek. These range from trucks that suddenly stop for no reason to cracks in roof glass.

Mercedes-Benz

Average predicted reliability for this automaker: 23 (on a scale of 1 to 100)

Mercedes cars come with complicated technology, and some people believe that makes them less reliable. Some critics have noted that new technology often does not have the bugs worked out yet, which can lead to problems down the road.

Chrysler

Average predicted reliability for this automaker: 18 (on a scale of 1 to 100)

Chrysler has a storied history. Yet, the Jerry website notes that the brand is falling into “obscurity,” and it’s largely because of reliability issues.