Car shoppers are walking into showrooms at a time when prices are high, technology is changing fast and the gap between the best and worst brands is widening. Consumer Reports’ latest reliability and satisfaction data show that some automakers are struggling badly enough that buyers should slow down and scrutinize the fine print before signing anything. I want to walk through where those red flags are flying the highest, and how to use the numbers to avoid an expensive mistake.
The headline warning is simple: a handful of brands and specific models are now chronic underperformers on reliability, cost of ownership or owner happiness, even as rivals quietly rack up strong scores. If you are weighing a new electric SUV, a plug-in minivan or a prestige off-roader, the data suggest you may want to think twice, or at least negotiate and plan as if problems are likely.
How Consumer Reports builds its warning list
Before deciding which automakers to be wary of, it helps to understand how the scorecards are built. Consumer Reports relies on a large annual survey of owners and then weighs the severity of each type of problem to create an overall reliability verdict for every make and model. That means a glitchy infotainment screen does not count the same as a failed transmission, and a pattern of serious engine or battery issues can drag an entire brand down the rankings.
On top of that, the organization publishes an annual automotive brand report card that rolls together road-test scores, safety performance, predicted reliability and owner satisfaction into a single view. In the latest 2026 brand report card, the group describes a comprehensive analysis of vehicle quality designed to guide shoppers amid steep prices, and it is this blend of hard data and owner feedback that underpins the “proceed with caution” list. When I talk about brands being flagged, I am referring to how they land in this combined picture, not just a single bad model year.
EVs and plug‑ins: 80 percent more trouble on average
The sharpest warning in the latest data is aimed at electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. According to the brand report card, the group’s survey shows both EVs and PHEVs continue to experience growing pains and, on average, they have about 80 percent more problems than conventional vehicles. That figure is not a minor gap, it is a sign that the industry’s rush into new drivetrains and software-heavy platforms is still outpacing its ability to make them bulletproof.
For buyers, the implication is not that every battery-powered car is a lemon, but that the odds of dealing with repairs, software updates or range-related quirks are materially higher. I would treat that “80 percent” gap as a reason to scrutinize warranty coverage, dealer service capacity and real-world owner feedback before committing to any EV or plug-in. It also helps explain why some of the most talked-about electric brands, including startups and legacy automakers that embraced cutting-edge tech early, are now being hammered in the reliability rankings even as they tout their green credentials.
Tech early adopters under pressure: Rivian, Tesla and Detroit’s big names
Nowhere is that tension clearer than among the companies that leaned hardest into new electric platforms and software-centric design. A detailed reliability analysis notes that From EV startups like Rivian and Tesla to established brands like Chevrolet, Ford and Jeep, the tech early adopters are being hammered in the latest reliability report. The pattern is consistent with what the broader survey shows: ambitious new drivetrains and complex electronics are creating more opportunities for things to go wrong, especially in the first few model years.
Both Rivian and Tesla remain central to the EV conversation, but they are facing different kinds of scrutiny. The official Rivian site highlights adventure-ready electric trucks and SUVs, yet reliability data show that these EV-only automakers are still working through quality issues. Tesla’s own Tesla lineup continues to push over-the-air updates and driver-assistance features, but those same systems are frequent sources of owner complaints. When I see Chevrolet, Ford and Jeep mentioned alongside these startups in a list of brands struggling with reliability, it reinforces the idea that buyers should not assume a familiar badge guarantees trouble-free ownership once a company pivots aggressively into new tech.
Startups with sky‑high satisfaction and shaky reliability
One of the more counterintuitive findings in the latest data is that poor reliability does not always translate into unhappy owners. A detailed satisfaction analysis points out that Rivian tops Rivian in the 2025 owner-satisfaction rankings, even as its vehicles struggle with reliability. In other words, many owners love how their trucks and SUVs drive, look and feel, and they are willing to tolerate more trips to the service bay because the overall experience still feels special.
At the same time, the reliability-focused report is blunt that Both Rivian and Lucid continue to struggle to produce reliable vehicles, and that these EV-only brands are relatively new to the market, which is significantly hurting their rankings. For a buyer, that split means you might adore the way a Rivian drives and still find yourself dealing with more issues than you would in a more conservative hybrid or gasoline model. I see this as a classic early-adopter tradeoff: if you want cutting-edge design and are emotionally invested in the brand, you may accept the risk, but if you simply need a dependable family hauler, the data suggest looking elsewhere.
Land Rover and the cost of keeping a prestige badge running
Luxury off-road brands have long carried a reputation for being finicky, and the latest warnings reinforce that image. A detailed breakdown of brands to avoid notes that Land Rover is a standout example, with Consumer Reports shining a spotlight on exactly how much keeping one of its vehicles on the road could cost you. When the analysis singles out a brand for eye-watering maintenance and repair bills, it is a sign that the problems go beyond the occasional nuisance and into the realm of serious long-term expense.
From my perspective, this is where prestige can most easily mislead buyers. The badge, the interior materials and the marketing all promise a certain lifestyle, but the reliability data and cost-of-ownership estimates tell a different story. Another part of the same analysis stresses that this information can be important for pessimists and optimists alike, since it helps them cross potential problem brands off their list before they fall in love with a test drive, a point underscored in the line that begins with But that info can actually be important. If you are considering a Land Rover, the data suggest budgeting not just for a high purchase price but for years of elevated running costs.
Chrysler, Buick and other legacy brands sliding down the rankings
It is not only niche luxury players that are drawing caution flags. In the latest brand report card, Buick, Chevrolet and Chrysler placed 20, 24 and 25, respectively, in the overall rankings. Landing that low on a list that covers the full market is a sign that these brands are lagging behind on a mix of reliability, safety and owner satisfaction, even if individual models still perform well. For shoppers loyal to Detroit nameplates, that should be a prompt to dig into model-specific scores rather than assuming the brand as a whole is competitive.
Chrysler in particular is under pressure because one of its flagship models is now a fixture on the least-reliable lists. A rundown of the top 10 least reliable vehicles for 2026 highlights the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid as a leading example of a model that generates far more complaints than rivals. When a brand is already near the bottom of the overall rankings and its showcase plug-in minivan is singled out for reliability trouble, I read that as a clear signal to approach with caution, or at least to consider the non-hybrid version or a competitor if you need a family van.
Least reliable and least satisfying: Pacifica Hybrid and Volkswagen ID.4
Drilling down to specific models, the warnings become even more concrete. The list of 10 Least Reliable Cars for 2026 again features the Least Reliable Cars label attached to the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, reinforcing that this plug-in minivan is a statistical outlier for problems. A separate satisfaction-focused ranking notes that the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid appears among the 10 least satisfying cars and SUVs, with only 43% of owners saying they Would Buy Again, a figure explicitly listed as “43%” next to the model. That combination of poor reliability and low repeat-intent is exactly the kind of double red flag I look for when advising buyers.
The same satisfaction list calls out the Volkswagen ID.4, reporting that just 45% of owners would buy the Volkswagen ID.4 again, with the “45%” figure underscoring how divided its customer base is. When a relatively new EV has both the complexity of an electric drivetrain and a sub-50 percent repeat-intent score, it suggests that early adopters are encountering enough real-world frustrations to outweigh the appeal of the badge and the technology. For shoppers, these numbers are a reminder that not all green or high-tech options are created equal, and that some of the most heavily marketed models may be the ones you want to avoid.
Video deep dives and the brands “no one wants to buy”
Beyond the formal scorecards, there is a growing ecosystem of video explainers that translate the data into plain-language warnings. One widely viewed breakdown titled “Car Brands No One Wants To Buy! They’re Getting Worse Now” walks through how some automakers talk a big game but leave owners frustrated, using the latest reliability and satisfaction data as a backdrop. The clip, available on Jun in a popular video, underscores that the brands drawing the harshest criticism are often those that combine flashy marketing with below-average durability.
Another video segment, framed around the most reliable car brands, highlights how Toyota, Subaru and Lexus have pulled away from the pack. In that piece, the narrator notes that Toyota, Subaru and Lexus topped Consumer Reports’ list of the most reliable car brands, reinforcing the idea that some automakers are quietly delivering consistent quality while others chase headlines with risky tech. I see these videos as a useful complement to the raw data: they put names and faces to the numbers and can help shoppers who are less comfortable with spreadsheets understand why certain brands are being flagged as ones to avoid.
Who still gets it right: The Scores and the 100‑point scale
Amid all the warnings, it is important to remember that some brands are still getting the fundamentals right. A detailed breakdown of the most reliable automakers presents a table explicitly labeled The Scores, with columns for Rank, Brand and Predicted Reliability Score on a 100-point scale. In that table, Toyota, Subaru and Lexus sit at or near the top, with Predicted Reliability Score values that put them well ahead of the industry average. When I compare those figures to the brands languishing in the 20s on the overall report card, the gap is stark.
For shoppers, the existence of a 100-point Predicted Reliability Score is a gift, because it turns vague impressions into a concrete number you can compare across brands and models. If a Toyota or Subaru model you are considering has a score in the high range while a rival from a flagged brand sits much lower, that should weigh heavily in your decision. It is also a reminder that you do not have to accept the risk profile of an early-adopter EV or a prestige off-roader if your priority is simply a car that starts every morning and keeps repair bills predictable.
How to use these warnings when you shop
All of this data only matters if it changes how you shop. I recommend starting with the latest automotive brand report card, which offers a comprehensive analysis of vehicle quality to help guide car shoppers amid steep prices. Use that to identify which brands are consistently near the bottom, such as Buick, Chevrolet and Chrysler in the 20s, and which are near the top, like Toyota, Subaru and Lexus. Then, drill down to model-level reliability and satisfaction scores, paying special attention to vehicles that appear on the 10 Least Reliable Cars list or the 10 least satisfying cars and SUVs list.
From there, bring the numbers into your negotiations. If you are considering a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, a Volkswagen ID.4, a Land Rover or an EV from a startup like Rivian or Lucid, treat the documented reliability and satisfaction issues as leverage to push for a better price, extended warranty coverage or a more flexible return policy. Remember that the survey data show EVs and PHEVs having about 80 percent more problems on average, and that tech early adopters like Rivian and Tesla, along with Chevrolet, Ford and Jeep, are being hammered in reliability reports. In a market where the stakes are this high, thinking twice before buying is not pessimism, it is just smart use of the information owners have already paid to learn the hard way.
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