Which Brands Have the Best Long-Term Car Reliability?

Elek says that other brands have much less consistent reliability across their model lines. For example, over the seven years that the latest generation of the Chevrolet Equinox was sold, only the 2019 and 2022-2024 years have above-average reliability. Compare that with the entire 2014-2018 generation of the Chevrolet Silverado, which has below-average reliability for all four years. “This is why it’s best to check the reliability ratings for each model year when buying a used car,” he says. “Making assumptions can prove both costly and inconvenient.”

It’s also important to remember that when buying a used car, the reliability of individual models can vary from the brand’s average. Each option you might consider is unique, with its own history of use and service.

It’s no surprise that our used-car brand reliability findings often differ from our predicted reliability ratings for new cars. With new cars, we base our analysis on the latest three years of reliability, along with brand history and other factors, such as whether a brand uses the same proven components across multiple cars.

The cars in our analysis of used models are often from an earlier generation, meaning they might not look like the current new models or share the same components. Additionally, automaker portfolios can undergo significant changes over time, particularly in the past decade, when many companies transitioned from sedans and hatchbacks to SUVs and trucks. (This trend is best exemplified by Ford, which currently offers a single car, the Mustang.)

Tesla, for instance, is ranked low in terms of used-car reliability when looking at how their models from 5 to 10 years ago hold up. The company faced numerous issues years ago, as it introduced all-new models and ramped up production, sometimes even working on cars in a factory parking lot. However, the American automaker has made significant strides, and its latest models have demonstrated better-than-average reliability, placing the brand in the top 10 of our new car predicted reliability rankings.

Trends can go in the other direction as well. Among used 5- to 10-year-old models, Mazda placed 3rd for used-car reliability. But in our new-car brand reliability rankings, it ranked 14th (among 26 brands). A key impact for Mazda was that the brand pivoted from conservative redesigns in the past, to ground-up brand new designs for the CX-70, CX-70 PHEV, CX-90, and CX-90 PHEV.

Then there are brands like Toyota and Lexus that perform consistently, whether new or used. On both brand rankings, these brands can be found in the top three positions. At the other end of the spectrum are Jeep and Ram, both consistently among the bottom three positions. 

However, there are brands that exhibit significant variance between the lists, underscoring the importance of verifying the latest data down to the model level to ensure an informed purchase decision.

To calculate reliability, we compare a car’s number of problems to the average number of problems for cars of that model year. For newer cars, the reliability differences tend to be narrow because the average problem rate for a newer model year like 2025 is so low. However, over time, problems can develop, resulting in a significantly greater variation among vehicles from the same model year.

“Taking this longer view, looking at reliability over five to 10 years, gives a clear picture of what used-car buyers can expect,” Elek says.