The most reliable car brands

Avtotachki.com together with the carVertical Internet resource have prepared a detailed study on which car brands can be considered the most reliable.

A constantly breaking car is a headache for the owner. Wasted time, inconvenience and repair costs can make your life a nightmare. Reliability is a quality to look for in a used car.

So, which brands are the most reliable cars? Below is the vehicle reliability rating according to carVertical. We hope this data will help you make an informed decision when buying a car from the aftermarket. But first, let's briefly explain the process.

How was the vehicle's reliability assessed?

We have compiled a list of the most reliable car brands according to the indicative criterion - breakdowns. Conclusions based on reports carVertical about the history of cars.

The used car rankings below are based on the percentage of breakdowns of each brand of the total models analyzed.

Let's start with a list of the most trusted used car brands.

1. KIA - 23,47%

The Kia slogan “The power to surprise” (from English - “The power to surprise”) definitely justified the hype. Despite producing more than 1,4 million vehicles annually, the South Korean automaker ranks first with only 23,47 breakdowns of all models analyzed.

But even the most reliable car brand is not perfect, the most common malfunctions are:

• Breakdown of the electric power steering;
• Parking brake malfunction;
• Problems with catalyst.

The company's commitment to building reliable vehicles shouldn't surprise you - Kia models are equipped with advanced safety features including frontal collision avoidance, autonomous emergency braking and vehicle stability control.

2. Hyundai - 26,36%

Hyundai's Ulsan plant is the largest automotive plant in Asia, covering an area of ​​approximately 5 square kilometers. Hyundai ranks second with breakdowns on 26,36% of the analyzed models.

But supported Hyundai also have typical faults:

• Rear subframe corrosion;
• Parking brake malfunction;
• Weak windshields.

Why is the vehicle reliability rating so good? Hyundai is perhaps the only car company that produces its own ultra-high-strength steel. The plant also produces Genesis vehicles, which are some of the safest in the world.

3. Volkswagen - 27,27%

The German automaker has produced the legendary Beetle, a truly people's car, a symbol of the 21,5th century, which has sold over 27,27 million copies. The manufacturer ranks third among the most reliable brands according to car Vertical. Faults were found in XNUMX% of the analyzed models.

Despite the fact that Volkswagen cars are very durable, they have the following faults:

• No, thanks dual-mass flywheel;
• Failure of a mechanical transmission;
• Systems problems ABS / ESP.

Volkswagen is committed to protecting vehicle occupants with systems such as adaptive cruise control, imminent collision braking and blind spot detection.

4. Nissan - 27,79%

Nissan was the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer before Tesla took the world by storm. Together with space rockets among its past creations, the Japanese manufacturer has an indicator of 27,79% of damaged cars among those analyzed.

But for all their reliability, Nissan vehicles are prone to the following problems:

• No, thanks differential;
• Corrosion of the center rail of the chassis;
• Failure of the automatic transmission heat exchanger.

Nissan has always focused on safety, developing innovative technologies such as zoned body structure, 360-degree visibility, and intelligent mobility.

5. Mazda - 29,89%

Since its inception, the Japanese company has adapted the first engine to cars, although it was originally intended for ships, power plants and locomotives. Mazda has a 29,89% failure rate according to carVertical.

The most common model sores:

• Turbine breakdowns on SkyactiveD diesel engines;
• Failure of the fuel injector seal on diesel engines;
• Very often - ABS failure.

The mediocre appearance does not negate the fact that the model has several impressive safety features. For example, Mazda'si-Activesense includes advanced technologies that recognize potential hazards, prevent accidents and reduce the severity of collisions.

6. Audi - 30,08%

Audi - this is how the word "Listen" sounds in Latin. This word is the name of the founder of the company in German. Audi is renowned for luxury and performance even among used cars. Before acquiring the Volkswagen Group, Audi once merged with three other brands to form AutoUnionGT. The four rings in the logo symbolize this fusion.

Audi missed fifth place in our ranking by a small margin - 30,08% of cars have problems.

The company's vehicles are prone to the following failures:

• High clutch wear;
• Power steering malfunction;
• Manual transmission malfunctions.

Ironically, Audi has a long history of safety, having performed its first crash test over 80 years ago. Currently, the cars of the German manufacturer are equipped with some of the most advanced active, passive and auxiliary safety systems.

7. Ford - 32,18%

Henry Ford, founder of the automotive company, shaped the modern automotive industry by inventing a revolutionary moving assembly line that reduced vehicle production times from 700 to an incredible 90 minutes. In view of this, the fact that Ford is so low in our ranking is puzzling. But carVertical data shows faults in 32,18% of all Ford models analyzed.

Fords tend to experience:

• Failure of the dual-mass flywheel;
• Faulty clutch and power steering;
• CVT breakdown.

The American auto giant has long emphasized the importance of driver, passenger and vehicle safety. A prime example of this is the Safety Canopy System, which activates the curtain airbags in the event of a side collision or rollover.

8. Mercedes-Benz - 32,36%

The well-known German manufacturer claimed to be considered a pioneer in the creation of gasoline-powered cars in 1886. Whether new or used, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle is the epitome of luxury, yet a whopping 32,36% of the brand's vehicles analyzed were faulty, according to carVertical.

Despite their superior quality, Mercedes suffer from several common problems:

• Moisture can get into the headlights (read about the reasons for this here);
• Defective fuel injector seal on diesel engines;
• Very frequent failure of the Sensotronic brake system

But the brand with the logo "The best or nothing" (from English - "The best or nothing") became a pioneer in automotive design, technology and innovation. From early versions of ABS to Pre-Safe, Mercedes-Benz engineers implemented several safety features that are now commonplace in the industry.

9. Toyota - 33,79%

The Japanese car company produces over 10 million vehicles a year. The company manufactures the Toyota Corolla, which is the world's best-selling car. More than 40 million units sold worldwide. Amazingly, 33,79% of all Toyota models were malfunctioning.

The most common problems with Toyota cars:

• Rear suspension height sensor malfunction;
• Air conditioner malfunction;
• Severe corrosion tendency.

Despite its rating, Japan's largest automaker began producing crash tests in the 1960s. Most recently, the company introduced the second generation Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of active safety technologies capable of detecting pedestrians at night and cyclists during the day.

10. BMW - 33,87%

The Bavarian automaker started out as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. However, after the end of the First World War, he switched to car manufacturing. It is now the world's leading premium car company. It was only 0,09% behind Toyota in the reliability rating. Among the analyzed BMW cars, 33,87% had faults.

In a used BWM, the following problems are common:

• Failure of ABS sensors;
• Electronics problems;
• Problems with correct wheel alignment.

BMW's last place in the rankings is confusing in part because BMW is known for its innovation. The German manufacturer has even developed a safety and accident research program to help develop safer vehicles. Sometimes security doesn't mean reliability.

Do you buy reliable cars more often?

Obviously, the most reliable brands are not in demand when buying a used car.

Most people avoid them like the plague. With the exception of Volkswagen, the top 5 most trusted car brands are not among the most bought brands in the world.

Wondering why?

Well, the most bought brands are some of the largest and oldest car manufacturers in the world. They have invested millions of dollars in advertising, marketing and image building for their vehicles.

People are starting to create favorable associations with the car they see in movies, on television, and on the internet.

Often the brand is sold, not the product.

How reliable is the used car market?

The used car market is a minefield for a potential buyer, especially because of the twisting mileage. a detailed study of this issue is in another review.

Mileage rollback, also known as odometer rollback or fraud, is an illegal tactic used by many sellers to pass off the condition of a car as being better than it actually is.

As you can see from the chart above, the top-selling brands suffer from mileage rolls more often, with used BMWs accounting for more than half of the reported cases.

Rolling allows the seller to unfairly charge a higher price, which means potential fraud with buyers forcing them to pay extra for a car in poor condition. Moreover, the buyer may face costly repairs in the future.

Hack and predictor Aviator

Undoubtedly, brands that have a reputation for being reliable don't always make the most reliable cars. However, their models are in high demand. Unfortunately, the most reliable car brands are not that popular.

If you are planning on buying a used car, do yourself a favor and get a car history report before paying a hefty sum for outright junk.

Questions and answers:

Which car brand comes first? In 2020, the most popular model in the world was the Toyota Corolla. 1097 of these vehicles were sold that year. After this model, the Toyota RAV556 is popular.

What are the most reliable cars? In the reliability rating, 83 points out of 100 were given to Mazda MX-5 Miata, CX-30, CX-3. Toyota took second place. The Lexus brand closes the top three.

What is the most unkillable car? A minimum of hassle in repair (depending on operating conditions) is brought to their owners by: Audi A1, Honda CR-V, Lexus RX, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Porsche 911, Toyota Camry, Mercedes E-Classe.