America’s 9 ‘Most Popular’ Used Car Brands Score Last—80% More Breakdowns Than Japanese Rivals

Consumer Reports surveyed 380,000 vehicle owners across model years 2000 through 2025, and the results should make every used car shopper nervous. The bottom of the brand reliability rankings is dominated by American nameplates, while Japanese automakers claim seven of the top 10 spots. Toyota scored 66 out of 100. Rivian scored 24.

J.D. Power data shows plug-in hybrids generate 237 problems per 100 vehicles versus 184 for gas cars—a gap that widens with every model year as unproven electric platforms age into the used market. Here are the 10 popular brands that finished at or near the bottom.

Rivian — Reliability Score: 24 Out of 100

Rivian finished dead last among all 26 ranked brands for the second consecutive year. Its R1T pickup scored just 18 out of 100, while the R1S SUV managed 29—both among the worst individual model scores Consumer Reports has ever recorded. Yet 85 percent of owners say they would buy one again, the highest owner satisfaction of any brand surveyed.

That paradox between loyalty and reliability is unmatched in the industry. Most failures surface around the 36-month mark, right when standard warranties expire, meaning second owners absorb the full cost.

Ram — Reliability Score: 26 Out of 100

Ram scored 26 out of 100, anchoring itself near the bottom of Consumer Reports’ rankings for the second straight year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints dominate owner feedback.

Used Ram buyers approaching the warranty cliff face some of the highest out-of-pocket exposure in the truck segment. Consumer Reports found Ram remains stuck at the bottom regardless of model year, a pattern that separates systemic engineering problems from isolated production issues.

Jeep — Reliability Score: 28 Out of 100

Jeep scored 28 out of 100 and has ranked near the bottom of Consumer Reports’ brand standings for three consecutive years. The Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid compounds the problem, combining a gas engine and electric motor into a single drivetrain that multiplies failure points.

J.D. Power’s data shows PHEVs like the 4xe generate 237 problems per 100 vehicles versus 184 for gas-only models. Buyers of three-year-old 4xe units inherit every engineering shortcut once warranty coverage disappears.

GMC — Reliability Score: 31 Out of 100

GMC scored 31 out of 100, weighed down by the Acadia, which hit 14—the lowest individual model score in Consumer Reports’ entire survey. The Acadia has drawn widespread owner complaints for transmission failures, brakes, and electrical issues across 2020 through 2025 models.

Consumer Reports stripped the model of its recommended rating in December 2025. GMC’s other entries have not offset the damage, leaving the brand firmly in the bottom tier year after year.

Chevrolet — Six Models on the Avoid List

Chevrolet placed six models on Consumer Reports’ 42-car avoid list, among the highest of any brand. The all-electric Blazer EV scored particularly poorly in predicted reliability.

Chevrolet’s push into electrification has produced first-generation platforms that break at rates its established gas-powered lineup never approached. The brand’s dependable workhorses like the Suburban and older Silverado trims are being overshadowed by troubled new electric and redesigned entries.

Cadillac — Previously Ranked Among the Worst

Cadillac scored 27 out of 100 in Consumer Reports’ prior-year reliability rankings, placing it in the bottom four. The brand has since moved up slightly, but its luxury pricing makes even modest reliability gaps harder to justify.

Software-heavy vehicles like the Lyriq EV source components from multiple global suppliers, and when one system fails, integrated software can trigger cascading malfunctions. Cadillac buyers paying premium prices still face below-average dependability compared to Japanese luxury rivals like Lexus, which scored 60.

Buick — Best of the Bottom, Still Below Average

Buick scored 51 out of 100, the highest-ranked American brand in Consumer Reports’ reliability survey—and still seven points below Honda at 59. Among GM’s four consumer brands, Buick is the only one that cracks the top 10. Its smaller, simpler lineup avoids the PHEV and full-EV platforms dragging down its corporate siblings.

But “best among American brands” still means trailing every Japanese competitor ranked above it. For used car buyers, that gap translates into more repairs over time.

Ford — PHEV Platforms Drive Repair Costs

Ford’s reliability problems center on its plug-in hybrid offerings. EV battery replacements across the industry range from $5,000 to $22,000 depending on pack size, and these failures typically surface around the three-year mark when second owners absorb the full cost.

Ford has explored extended warranty programs to slow customer defections, but the fundamental engineering gap between its newer electric platforms and mature gas models remains. Multiple Ford models sit in the lower half of Consumer Reports’ reliability rankings.

Chrysler — Pacifica Hybrid Under Pressure

Consumer Reports does not rank Chrysler as a standalone brand due to limited model volume, but the Pacifica Hybrid has drawn multiple NHTSA recalls. The plug-in hybrid minivan combines two powertrains into a family vehicle, multiplying the failure points that already plague simpler designs.

Battery replacement costs for plug-in hybrids can represent a significant share of the vehicle’s total value. Chrysler’s shrinking lineup leaves it almost entirely dependent on a model with a troubled reliability record.

Sources:
Consumer Reports, “Who Makes the Most Reliable Cars?” November 2025
Consumer Reports, “2026 Automotive Brand Report Card,” December 2025
J.D. Power, “2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study,” June 2025
J.D. Power, “2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study,” February 2026
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicle complaints database, accessed April 2026
AutoWeek, “Rivian Owners Love Their Trucks—Even If They Are Less Reliable,” December 2025