Top 10 Most Reliable Car Brands of 2024

According to a 2024 report from J.D. Power, vehicle owners are experiencing lower levels of dependability just three years after taking ownership of their vehicles - a troubling sign that points to lower levels of overall long-term dependability and more issues in the near term. According to J.D. Power's 2024 "Vehicle Dependability Study," the rate of problems has increased by 17 percent from 90 days and three years of ownership.

Some key pain points identified in the study include trouble with infotainment and driver assist systems. Other issues identified include problems with electric vehicle drivetrains. No matter which way you slice it, any problems just mean more money spent on maintenance costs and a lesser return on investment over the long term.

One way to avoid problems with vehicle dependability is to make sure you're purchasing a brand and model that's known for its reliability. In this post, we'll discuss the top reliable car brands, what makes them so reliable, and more. Read on or contact your local GreatWater garage for more information.

What Makes a Car Reliable?

Before we get into the most reliable car brands of 2024, let's take a moment to discuss just what makes them so reliable. While many automotive consumer sources score reliability differently, there are some commonalities. For instance, Consumer Reports polls its members directly to assess the number of problems they've experienced over the last year and their severity, then scores them accordingly.

J.D. Power follows a similar strategy. It polled 30,595 vehicle owners of 2021 model year vehicles to conduct its most recent 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study. These studies don't take into account routine maintenance, like tire rotations, fluid changes, brake service, and more.

10 Most Reliable Car Brands

While there may be some variability in the scoring model between sources, the results are very similar. On that note, here's a look at the most reliable car brands. For the purpose of this post, data included here is according to Consumer Reports unless otherwise noted.

Lexus

Lexus - the luxury brand of Toyota - took top marks with a predicted reliability score of 79. You'd expect any luxury brand to have higher levels of quality, which often translates to higher levels of reliability and dependability. More specifically, Lexus' ES and RX models are known for their longevity and dependability. As if the data wasn't good enough to support Lexus' case as a reliable car brand, its warranties certainly back it up. Standard warranties are four years/50,000 miles and include a six-year/70,000 powertrain warranty. The aforementioned RZ comes with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on its electric drivetrain.

Toyota

Toyota finishes narrowly behind Lexus with a 76 predicted reliability score. In fact, reliability and dependability are what Toyota has hung its hat on as it emerged as a global automotive leader. From the basic Camry to the RAV4 to the Tacoma, Toyota vehicles stand up to the test of time. Toyota also offers a standard three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty plus a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Its EVs come with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Mazda

Mazda is up there too, with a predicted reliability score of 67. These upscale vehicles score particularly high when it comes to value and quality. Mazda has a simple lineup only consisting of cars and minivans. It offers similar warranties on its internal combustion vehicles and electric vehicles compared with other leading reliability brands.

Honda

Honda clocks in at 70 on Consumer Reports' predicted reliability study. Honda tends to score big with engine reliability. Drivers also come to like Honda vehicles for their generous warranties, which include complimentary maintenance for the first two years of ownership or the first 24,000 miles.

Subaru

Subaru vehicles aren't just known for safety - they're also known for their reliability, scoring a 69 score on Consumer Reports' reliability study. With a wide range of model options at affordable price points, Subaru is a regular on top-10 lists for reliability year after year.

Hyundai

Hyundai clocks in at a 56 on the reliability report, which is a bit further down than it's often listed. That still shouldn't dissuade anyone from shopping for Hyundai, as this one-time budget brand has routinely scored well in terms of quality and reliability. This stems largely from an enhanced focus on building customer loyalty.

Kia

Kia comes in at a 61 reliability score, holding true to its reputation of building high-quality vehicles with solid warranty coverage. It's Kia's cars that score the best in terms of reliability. Helping the automaker's case is an extremely generous 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Genesis

Though newer to the market, Genesis continues to climb the chart on reliability. Though it only scored a 44 on Consumer Reports' study, this luxury brand continues to earn respect and gain popularity.

Chevrolet

The only domestic automaker on this list, the Chevrolet brand from General Motors scores a 43 on Consumer Reports' reliability report, but that doesn't tell the full story. A brand once synonymous for its lack of dependability, Chevy has really turned things around over the years to the point where it offers good predicted reliability compared to many of its domestic competitors.

BMW

When BMW says "behold the power of German engineering," it's not kidding. Scoring a 64 on Consumer Reports' predicted reliability report, BMW is a luxury automaker known for its reliability. In fact, over the years, the brand has become well-known for its problem-free vehicles. BMW is routinely in Consumer Reports' top 10 in its predicted reliability reports.

Contact Us Today

For more information on vehicle reliability and what factors drivers should pay attention to when determining the reliability and dependability of any potential vehicle, contact your local GreatWater 360 Auto Care-affiliated shop today. And if you ever do need repair, your local GreatWater location can help with that too. As a full-service automotive maintenance and repair center, we service all makes and models - and with a customer-centric focus to boot. Contact us today to learn more.