Explore Consumer Reports automotive reliability rankings, see which brands ranked No. 1, and learn how Lexus earned eight first-place finishes.

 

Reliability is one of the most important considerations when purchasing a new or pre-owned vehicle. Performance, comfort, design, safety, and technology may make the first impression, but long-term reliability can determine how satisfying—and how expensive—a vehicle is to own.

Consumer Reports first published its annual automotive brand reliability rankings in 2001. Since then, the organization has used owner surveys, vehicle histories, statistical analysis, and the severity of reported problems to predict how reliably new vehicles are likely to perform.

The historical record reveals several strong performers, including Toyota, Scion, Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura. However, during the consistently brand-separated portion of the publicly available rankings, Lexus earned more No. 1 finishes than any other automotive brand.

This article explains how Consumer Reports calculates vehicle reliability, reviews the brands that ranked first, compares Lexus with other familiar manufacturers, and discusses what these findings may mean for Bay Area luxury-vehicle shoppers.

What Is Consumer Reports?

Consumer Reports is an independent nonprofit consumer organization that conducts product testing, collects survey data, publishes ratings, and advocates for consumers.

Its automotive reliability information is based heavily on experiences reported by Consumer Reports members who own or lease the vehicles being studied. This makes the reliability survey different from a short-term road test or one automotive reviewer’s opinion.

Consumer Reports also purchases the vehicles it formally road-tests rather than relying exclusively on manufacturer-supplied test vehicles. Reliability, however, is evaluated primarily through owner surveys and statistical analysis rather than through the road test alone.

What Does Consumer Reports Measure?

Consumer Reports asks members about vehicle problems they experienced during the previous 12 months.

Its current survey evaluates as many as 20 potential trouble areas, including:

• Major and minor engine problems
• Engine cooling
• Major and minor transmission problems
• Drive systems
• Hybrid batteries
• Electric-vehicle batteries
• Electric motors
• EV charging systems
• Fuel systems
• Electrical accessories
• Climate systems
• Suspension
• Steering
• Brakes
• Exhaust systems
• Paint and exterior trim
• Body hardware
• Interior trim
• Water leaks
• In-car electronics and infotainment

These categories cover everything from relatively minor annoyances, such as squeaks, rattles, or broken trim, to potentially expensive problems involving the engine, transmission, EV battery, or charging system.

Does Consumer Reports Treat Every Problem Equally?

No. Consumer Reports weighs problems according to their seriousness.

A major engine or transmission repair can have a greater effect on a model’s overall reliability verdict than a minor interior rattle. Problems involving electric motors, EV batteries, and charging systems can also carry substantial weight because of their potential cost and effect on vehicle operation.

This is an important difference between Consumer Reports and some other dependability studies. Consumer Reports attempts to account for both the frequency and the severity of reported problems.

How Is Predicted Reliability Calculated?

Consumer Reports uses owner-survey data and statistical modeling to estimate the likelihood that a vehicle will experience problems.

Its current predicted brand reliability methodology estimates problem rates during approximately the first five years of ownership. Consumer Reports may consider:

• Recent reliability results for the model
• Performance of previous model years
• Whether the vehicle was recently redesigned
• Reliability of the previous generation
• Reliability of related models with shared components
• The manufacturer’s broader reliability history
• The amount of available survey data

A completely redesigned vehicle may receive a more cautious prediction because new engines, transmissions, software, electronics, or production processes can introduce problems that were not present in the previous model.

Current reliability verdicts are generally displayed on a 1-to-100 scale, with a higher score representing stronger predicted reliability.

Why Are Some Brands Missing From Certain Rankings?

Consumer Reports requires enough survey information to produce a statistically useful result.

For its current brand ranking, Consumer Reports requires sufficient information for at least two models and multiple recent model years. When a brand does not meet that minimum, it may be left out of the ranking entirely.

This is especially relevant for:

• Low-volume luxury manufacturers
• Newly established vehicle brands
• Brands with very small model lineups
• Manufacturers whose models have recently been discontinued
• Brands that do not generate enough Consumer Reports member responses

An unranked brand did not necessarily finish last. It simply means Consumer Reports did not have enough qualifying information to assign it an official position.

Why Does the Historical Winner Chart Begin in 2009?

Consumer Reports began publishing annual brand reliability rankings in 2001, but its older public reports did not always present brands in the same manner.

Some early reports:

• Combined related brands under one manufacturer
• Ranked corporate families rather than individual nameplates
• Focused on geographic manufacturing groups
• Emphasized individual models rather than a complete brand table
• Used different publication-year and model-year labels

For example, some early reports grouped Toyota, Lexus, and Scion together, while later rankings treated them as three separate brands. Combining those formats would unfairly credit Toyota with early corporate-level results while counting Lexus and Scion independently in later years.

Therefore, the following cumulative chart begins with the 2009 annual survey, when a clearer and more consistently separated brand comparison can be reconstructed.

Consumer Reports No. 1 Reliability Finishes

The following chart covers the comparable brand-level rankings from the 2009 annual survey through the current 2026 report.

Recent Consumer Reports results are sometimes promoted using the following report year. For clarity, the Subaru victory is identified as the 2024 survey/2025 report, while Toyota’s latest victory is identified as the 2025 survey/2026 report.

Standing	Brand	No. 1 finishes	Years ranked No. 1
1	Lexus	8	2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023
2	Scion	4	2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
3	Toyota	3	2017, 2022, 2025 survey/2026 report
T-4	Mazda	1	2020
T-4	Subaru	1	2024 survey/2025 report
T-6	Acura	0	—
T-6	BMW	0	—
T-6	Honda	0	—
T-6	Infiniti	0	—
T-6	Mercedes-Benz	0	—
T-6	Nissan	0	—
T-6	Tesla	0	—

Scion led the survey for four consecutive years through 2011 and remained at the top in 2012, when Scion, Toyota, and Lexus swept the first three positions. Lexus then led from 2013 through 2016.

Toyota moved ahead of Lexus in 2017. Lexus returned to first in 2018 and 2019, Mazda led in 2020, Lexus returned in 2021, Toyota ranked first in 2022, and Lexus regained the top position in 2023.

Subaru earned its first No. 1 brand reliability result in the survey released in December 2024. Toyota returned to first place in the December 2025 results published as part of Consumer Reports’ 2026 automotive reporting.

What Does a Zero Mean in the Chart?

A zero means only that the brand did not finish No. 1 overall during the comparable period.

It does not mean that the brand:

• Was unreliable every year
• Always ranked near the bottom
• Never produced a reliable model
• Never earned a Consumer Reports recommendation
• Was included in every annual ranking

Honda and Acura, for example, finished fourth and fifth in the 2024 survey, behind Subaru, Lexus, and Toyota. BMW achieved its first top-three Consumer Reports brand reliability result in 2022.

Nissan, BMW, Acura, Honda, and Tesla have also appeared among the stronger-ranked brands in recent Consumer Reports research, even though none earned an overall No. 1 reliability finish during the period shown.

Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz have occasionally been left unranked because Consumer Reports lacked sufficient qualifying model data. Tesla was also excluded from earlier brand rankings when it sold only one qualifying model.

Lexus Earned Eight No. 1 Reliability Finishes

Lexus ranked first in:

• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2018
• 2019
• 2021
• 2023

Its first four victories were consecutive. Consumer Reports reported that Lexus and Toyota occupied the top two positions for four straight years through the 2016 survey.

Lexus then returned to the top in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, Lexus and Toyota held the first two positions for the sixth consecutive year. In 2019, Lexus remained first while Mazda moved into second place and Toyota dropped to third.

After Mazda led in 2020, Lexus returned to first place in 2021. Toyota led in 2022, and Lexus again ranked first in 2023.

Across the comparable period, Lexus earned eight No. 1 finishes—twice as many as second-place Scion and more than any currently active automotive brand.

Why Did Scion Perform So Well?

Scion was Toyota’s youth-oriented brand and offered a relatively small lineup based heavily on established Toyota engineering.

It ranked first from 2009 through 2012. However, its high ranking needs context. A brand with only two or three qualifying models can move more dramatically than a manufacturer with a large and diverse lineup.

In the 2011 survey, for example, Consumer Reports noted that Scion ranked first based on only two models with sufficient information.

Scion was discontinued after the 2016 model year, and several of its vehicles were subsequently sold under the Toyota name.

Why Do Reliability Rankings Change?

A brand’s reliability position can change substantially from one year to the next.

Vehicle redesigns

All-new or substantially redesigned vehicles may introduce:

• New engines
• New transmissions
• New electrical architectures
• New infotainment systems
• New driver-assistance technology
• New hybrid or electric powertrains
• New manufacturing processes

Consumer Reports has repeatedly cautioned that newly redesigned models can experience more problems than mature vehicles that have already undergone several years of refinement.

Small model lineups

One weak model can have a large effect on a brand offering only two or three qualifying vehicles.

The reverse is also true: A small brand with two exceptionally reliable models can rise quickly.

Infotainment and electronics

Touchscreens, digital displays, Bluetooth, smartphone integration, cameras, sensors, and climate-control interfaces are common sources of owner complaints.

Consumer Reports identified infotainment problems as a major reliability concern well before today’s vehicles became heavily software-dependent.

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric technology

Conventional hybrids often perform well because many manufacturers have spent decades refining those systems.

Plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles can introduce additional potential trouble areas, including:

• High-voltage batteries
• Charging hardware
• Electric motors
• Power electronics
• Thermal-management systems
• Software
• Electrical accessories

The reliability of a particular powertrain should therefore be evaluated separately from the brand average.

Consumer Reports Reliability vs. J.D. Power Dependability

Consumer Reports and J.D. Power both evaluate ownership problems, but they do not use identical methods.

Category	Consumer Reports	J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study
Primary source	Consumer Reports member surveys	Verified original vehicle owners
Main focus	Predicted reliability	Problems after approximately three years
Scoring	Usually a 1-to-100 reliability score	Problems per 100 vehicles, or PP100
Problem severity	Weighted according to seriousness	Public brand score emphasizes problem frequency
Model history	Used to predict future performance	Focuses primarily on the studied model year
Better result	Higher score	Lower PP100
Brand eligibility	Requires sufficient data for multiple models	Requires adequate sample size and study eligibility

The rankings may differ because the organizations survey different owners, ask different questions, examine different ownership periods, and calculate their scores differently.

A brand can rank first in J.D. Power while finishing second or third in Consumer Reports without either result necessarily being incorrect.

What Do These Results Mean for Lexus Shoppers?

The most meaningful part of Lexus’s performance is not one isolated victory.

Its eight No. 1 Consumer Reports finishes occurred across:

• Multiple generations of Lexus vehicles
• Sedans, crossovers, and SUVs
• Gasoline and hybrid powertrains
• Changing infotainment systems
• New safety and driver-assistance technology
• Significant changes throughout the automotive industry

Lexus has also continued to rank near the top when another manufacturer finished first. It placed second behind Subaru in the 2024 survey and third behind Toyota and Subaru in the current 2026 report.

However, shoppers should still research the exact model and model year they are considering. A highly ranked brand can produce an individual vehicle with average or below-average reliability, just as a lower-ranked manufacturer can produce an exceptionally reliable model.

Why Reliability Matters

Reliability can affect much more than the cost of a repair.

A dependable vehicle may provide:

• Fewer unexpected service appointments
• Less disruption to work and family schedules
• Greater confidence beyond the warranty period
• Lower risk of major unplanned expenses
• A more satisfying ownership experience
• Greater confidence when purchasing pre-owned
• Stronger trade-in and resale appeal

Proper maintenance remains essential. Even a highly ranked Lexus needs scheduled service, tire care, fluid inspections, software updates, and prompt attention to warning lights.

Why Lexus of Concord Is a Premier Lexus Destination in the San Francisco Bay Area

Selecting a dependable vehicle is only part of the ownership experience. The dealership that helps a customer choose, purchase, maintain, and eventually replace that vehicle also matters.

Lexus of Concord is a family-owned and operated dealership that has served Concord and surrounding Bay Area communities since 1991. The dealership is located at 2001 Market Street in Concord, California.

Lexus expertise

Lexus of Concord’s Lexus-certified consultants can help shoppers understand:

• Model and trim differences
• Gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains
• Lexus safety and driver-assistance systems
• Connectivity and technology features
• Leasing and financing choices
• New versus L/Certified ownership

The dealership describes its consultants as providing guidance from the initial shopping experience through years of ownership.

New, pre-owned, and L/Certified selection

Lexus of Concord offers new Lexus models, carefully inspected pre-owned vehicles, and L/Certified by Lexus inventory.

L/Certified vehicles undergo a comprehensive inspection performed by Lexus technicians and include factory-backed program benefits.

Professional service and parts support

The ownership relationship continues after the sale through:

• Factory-trained Lexus technicians
• Genuine Lexus parts and accessories
• Routine maintenance
• Diagnostic and repair services
• Online service scheduling
• Loaner and transportation assistance where available

These resources help customers maintain their vehicles according to Lexus standards.

Financing and trade-in assistance

Lexus of Concord offers financing assistance, online credit applications, payment tools, and trade-in resources for new and pre-owned shoppers.

Guest-focused amenities

Available dealership amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee, snacks, and local shuttle service.

Long-term community presence

More than three decades of family ownership and community involvement have helped Lexus of Concord build relationships with drivers throughout Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Oakland, Berkeley, San Ramon, and the broader San Francisco Bay Area.

Together, its Lexus expertise, broad vehicle selection, service capabilities, financing support, and long-standing Bay Area presence make Lexus of Concord a premier destination for Lexus shopping and ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Consumer Reports begin ranking brands for reliability?

Consumer Reports first published its annual automotive brand reliability rankings in 2001.

Why does the winner chart begin in 2009?

Earlier public reports did not always separate brands and corporate families consistently. Beginning the win count in 2009 provides a more comparable brand-level historical record.

Are Consumer Reports rankings considered awards?

Consumer Reports generally describes them as survey-based ratings or rankings—not manufacturer awards.

It is more accurate to say that Lexus ranked No. 1 in reliability than to say it “won a Consumer Reports award.”

Which brand has the most No. 1 finishes?

Lexus has eight No. 1 finishes in the comparable 2009-through-current-report period.

Which years did Lexus rank first?

Lexus ranked first in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Which brand ranks first in the current report?

Toyota ranks first in Consumer Reports’ latest reliability survey, followed by Subaru and Lexus.

Does Consumer Reports count only mechanical breakdowns?

No. Its survey covers as many as 20 areas, including engines, transmissions, electrical equipment, paint, trim, leaks, climate systems, infotainment, EV batteries, and charging equipment.

Are serious mechanical problems weighted more heavily?

Yes. Consumer Reports weighs the severity of reported problems when determining the overall reliability verdict.

Can a touchscreen or Bluetooth issue affect reliability?

Yes. In-car electronics and infotainment problems are included, although they may not carry the same severity weight as a major engine or transmission failure.

Why is a brand sometimes unranked?

Consumer Reports may lack sufficient qualifying survey data for at least two models and multiple recent model years. Unranked does not mean last place.

Why did Tesla have no ranking in some older years?

Tesla initially had only one qualifying model. Consumer Reports historically required at least two models with sufficient information before assigning a brand ranking.

Does a high brand ranking mean every model is reliable?

No. The brand score represents the average predicted reliability of the qualifying models included in the survey.

Shoppers should always research the exact model, model year, powertrain, and equipment configuration they are considering.

Why can Lexus and Toyota have different rankings?

Consumer Reports evaluates Lexus and Toyota as separate brands. Although they share corporate ownership and some engineering resources, their model lineups, technology, features, and owner-reported problems are calculated separately.

Is Consumer Reports more accurate than J.D. Power?

The two studies measure reliability differently. Using both can provide a broader understanding of long-term vehicle quality.

Consumer Reports emphasizes predicted reliability and problem severity, while J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study focuses on problems reported after approximately three years of ownership.

Is Lexus still one of the most reliable brands?

Yes. Lexus ranks third in the current report and has earned more No. 1 finishes than any other brand in the comparable historical period reviewed.

Should I buy a vehicle based only on its brand ranking?

No. Also consider:

• Specific model reliability
• Model year and redesign history
• Maintenance records
• Recall history
• Warranty coverage
• Safety ratings
• Fuel economy
• Repair and ownership costs
• Condition and mileage
• A professional pre-purchase inspection

Is an L/Certified Lexus worth considering?

An L/Certified Lexus can provide pre-owned value combined with a comprehensive inspection and factory-backed benefits. Buyers should still review the vehicle’s service history, mileage, equipment, and condition.

Where can I shop for a Lexus in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Lexus of Concord is located at 2001 Market Street, Concord, California 94520 and offers new Lexus vehicles, L/Certified models, pre-owned inventory, financing assistance, genuine Lexus parts, and professional service support.

Experience Lexus at Lexus of Concord

Consumer Reports has studied automotive reliability for more than two decades. Although its methods and reporting formats have evolved, Lexus has repeatedly remained at or near the top.

With eight No. 1 finishes in the comparable historical period, Lexus has demonstrated consistent owner-reported reliability through changing vehicle generations, powertrains, electronics, and safety technology.

At Lexus of Concord, Bay Area drivers can explore new Lexus sedans, crossovers, luxury SUVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles, and L/Certified options with support from a team focused on the complete ownership experience.

Visit Lexus of Concord to discover the craftsmanship, comfort, thoughtful engineering, and long-term support that continue to make Lexus an appealing choice for luxury-vehicle shoppers.

Research note: Consumer Reports began publishing annual brand reliability rankings in 2001. Because early reports did not always separate brands and corporate families consistently, the cumulative No. 1 chart begins with the 2009 annual survey. Recent surveys may be promoted under the following report year.

Publication note: Consumer Reports restricts commercial use of its name, content, ratings, rankings, and reports without prior written permission. Lexus of Concord should obtain authorization before publishing this ranking table or using Consumer Reports logos, scores, screenshots, badges, or other proprietary materials.