Consumer Reports’ Dec. 4, 2025 brand survey shows U.S. automakers again lagging behind Asian peers in new-car reliability, though Buick and Ford made measurable gains. Toyota, Subaru, Lexus and Honda held the top four reliability positions, while Rivian finished last at No. 26. The ranking is drawn from data on 380,000 individual vehicles submitted by members and factors into broader brand ratings that include owner satisfaction, road tests and safety. Consumer Reports analysts highlighted that advanced features and recent electrified powertrains continue to complicate reliability for many models.
Key Takeaways
- Toyota, Subaru, Lexus and Honda took the top four positions in Consumer Reports’ 2025 new-car reliability list, with BMW the top European brand at No. 5.
- Rivian ranked last at No. 26; Chrysler, GMC, Jeep and Ram occupied the lower tier of the list.
- Buick rose to No. 8 and Ford to No. 11, moving both Detroit Three marques into the top half of the 26-brand ranking.
- Chevrolet and Cadillac placed No. 17 and No. 18 respectively; Lincoln ranked No. 20 among reliability scorings.
- Consumer Reports analyzed responses for roughly 380,000 vehicles to produce the reliability ranking this year.
- EVs and plug-in hybrids generated about 80% more problems than gasoline cars in the dataset; non-plug hybrids reported roughly 15% fewer problems than gas-only models.
- Tesla improved to No. 9 for reliability and No. 10 overall, aided by better Model 3 and Model S results; Cybertruck remains below average.
- In the combined overall brand quality ranking (reliability, owner satisfaction, road tests, safety), Subaru led while Jeep finished last.
Background
Consumer Reports publishes annual brand reliability rankings based on member surveys of vehicles in real-world use; the 2025 list tallies reports on 380,000 cars and trucks. Historically, manufacturers that iterate conservatively on proven platforms — many Japanese brands among them — tend to score highly because fewer large-scale redesigns reduce exposure to new faults. European and American makers have pockets of strong performance, but the broader transition to electrified powertrains and increasingly complex vehicle features has shifted failure modes and reporting patterns.
The Detroit Three (Stellantis, Ford Motor Co., and General Motors) have faced recurring reliability criticism over the past decade, with pickup trucks and feature-rich new models often cited as trouble spots. Consumer Reports and other testing bodies track not only mechanical failures but owner-reported issues with electronics, charging systems and driver-assist features — all of which have proliferated across midrange and premium models. That context helps explain why certain high-selling U.S. trucks can drag down brand scores even when other product lines perform closer to average.
Main Event
On Dec. 4, 2025 Consumer Reports released its 26-brand reliability ranking, reaffirming the top positions for Toyota, Subaru, Lexus and Honda and placing BMW fifth. At the bottom of the reliability list were Chrysler, GMC, Jeep and Ram; Rivian occupied the final slot, No. 26. Separately, when Consumer Reports combined reliability, owner satisfaction, road-test results and safety to produce an overall brand quality ranking, Subaru emerged first while Jeep finished last.
Among Detroit makers, Buick climbed to No. 8 and Ford improved to No. 11 in reliability, marking notable upward movement into the ranking’s top half. Chevrolet and Cadillac landed at No. 17 and No. 18, with Lincoln and other Ford-affiliated entries showing mixed but generally improving results. Consumer Reports singled out Lincoln as the highest-ranked Detroit Three brand in the overall standings at No. 7.
Analysts presenting the findings to the Automotive Press Association emphasized that electrified drivetrains remain a major source of owner complaints. Consumer Reports quantified that plug-in hybrids and battery EVs generate about 80% more problems than conventional gasoline cars, while hybrids without a plug tend to be about 15% more reliable than gas-only models. The organization attributed much of that difference to the relative maturity of the technologies: longer-developed systems show fewer faults.
Analysis & Implications
The persistence of Asian brands at the top reflects the payoff from incremental engineering and a conservative approach to redesigns. When manufacturers refine a platform over several model years instead of deploying radical changes, suppliers and service networks adapt and failure rates typically fall. That pattern benefits legacy brands that prioritize reliability metrics in product planning, and it explains why Toyota and Honda remain consistent performers.
For U.S. automakers, the mixed results reveal both progress and structural challenges. Ford’s jump to its best Consumer Reports reliability ranking in 15 years suggests targeted quality improvements and effective corrective actions following recalls, but weaknesses concentrated in best-selling trucks can still depress overall scores. Stellantis brands clustered near the bottom point to uneven quality control across a complex multi-brand portfolio, with a few models — such as Jeep’s Compass — bucking the trend by scoring closer to average.
The elevated problem rate for EVs and plug-in hybrids has commercial and policy implications. Automakers investing heavily in electrification face a dual task: accelerate deployment to meet emissions and market goals while simultaneously shrinking the learning curve for new powertrain technologies. Until battery packs, charging hardware and EV-specific software architectures reach similar maturity to long-established gasoline systems, owners and third-party testers will likely report higher incident rates, which can influence buyer perception and purchase cycles.
Finally, Tesla’s movement into the top ten for reliability and overall ranking signals that quality improvements on high-volume models can materially shift brand perception in a single year. That trajectory suggests that model-level fixes and software updates remain potent levers for reputational recovery — but outcomes vary widely by model, as the Cybertruck’s below-average reliability demonstrates.
| Brand | Reliability Rank (2025) |
|---|---|
| Toyota | 1 |
| Subaru | 2 |
| Lexus | 3 |
| Honda | 4 |
| BMW | 5 |
| Buick | 8 |
| Tesla | 9 |
| Ford | 11 |
| Chevrolet | 17 |
| Cadillac | 18 |
| Lincoln | 20 |
| Rivian | 26 |
The table highlights how a small set of high-performing brands dominate the top ranks, while several legacy U.S. and Stellantis marques remain in the lower tier. Because Consumer Reports combines many model-level reports, a problematic high-volume model can materially affect a whole-brand score. That dynamic helps explain why truck-focused brands may underperform relative to more car-centric makers.
Reactions & Quotes
Consumer Reports staff explained how modern feature sets increase exposure to failures, particularly on pickup trucks and electrified models. Their remarks framed the reliability results as partly technological and partly organizational — rooted in how quickly manufacturers adopt new systems and how thoroughly those systems are validated.
“A lot of features and power equipment are on these that tend to go wrong,”
Steven Elek, Consumer Reports data analytics program leader
Ford responded to the ranking by characterizing the result as validation of recent quality initiatives and adjustments to its manufacturing and quality-control processes. The company noted that this is its best Consumer Reports reliability placement in 15 years and said internal metrics align with the external findings.
“The result confirms what we’re seeing in our data — quality is improving,”
Mike Levine, Ford spokesperson
Consumer Reports’ director of testing placed the improvements in historical perspective, urging readers to consider driving dynamics and in-cabin experience in addition to reported defects when assessing brand progress. He also encouraged potential buyers to consult model-level scores rather than relying solely on brand averages.
“There’s a lot of good there… the driving dynamics, the interior comfort, some of the innovation are really impressive,”
Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports director of testing
Unconfirmed
- Precise root causes for Rivian’s last-place rank: Consumer Reports documents owner complaints but does not publish a comprehensive root-cause analysis for every model.
- Long-term reliability trajectory for Cybertruck: ongoing updates and limited fleet exposure make future reliability trends for that model uncertain.
Bottom Line
Consumer Reports’ 2025 reliability ranking underscores a persistent advantage for brands that evolve vehicles slowly and prioritize platform maturity, a pattern that benefits several Japanese automakers. Detroit marques show signs of recovery at the brand level, with Buick and Ford moving into stronger positions, but uneven model-level outcomes — particularly among high-volume trucks and some Stellantis lines — keep U.S. brands behind the sector leaders.
Electrification remains the pivotal variable. Plug-in hybrids and BEVs currently generate more owner-reported problems than gas cars, creating near-term headwinds as manufacturers scale technologies and service networks adapt. For consumers, the practical takeaway is to weigh model-level reliability and recent updates as heavily as overall brand placement when shopping for a new vehicle.
Sources
- The Detroit News (news report summarizing Consumer Reports release)
- Consumer Reports (nonprofit testing organization: 2025 brand reliability and overall rankings)