Which Car Brands Actually Last? The 2026 J.D. Power Reliability Rankings Are In

Turning the key or pushing the start button shouldn’t feel like a coin toss. But for many American drivers, that basic moment of truth has become an expensive gamble. D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) cuts through the marketing noise to reveal which automakers actually build cars that hold up over time.

The study tracks 184 potential problem areas on three-year-old vehicles, meaning the 2023 model year, and scores each brand by problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Lower is better, and the results this year come with a few surprises.

Topping the list is Lexus, which posted a stunning 151 PP100, essentially eliminating manufacturing defects. The Lexus IS earned the industry’s highest individual dependability score of 90 out of 100 and recorded zero recalls over the past three model years. Buick quietly snagged second place with 160 PP100, thanks to proven GM powertrains and the Encore GX’s 90/100 reliability rating.

Mini shocked skeptics by landing third at 168 PP100, proving that BMW’s oversight has cured the brand’s old gremlins. Cadillac (175) and Chevrolet (178) round out the top five, showing strong domestic durability.

Further down the list, Subaru sits at sixth with 181 PP100, leaning on its boxer engine and a zero-recall 2026 for the Crosstrek. Porsche follows at 182, with the 911 earning a 90/100 score despite a few minor recall hiccups. Toyota, long the reliability king, dropped to eighth place at 185 PP100, dragged down by software glitches.

Kia (193) and Nissan (194) close out the top ten, with Nissan finally shaking its old CVT transmission problems. Whether you’re shopping for a car to keep for a decade or just want fewer trips to the repair shop, these numbers tell the real story.