PlainCars

Reliability

Vehicle reliability ratings

Reliability scores computed from NHTSA complaint density, recall frequency, and crash/injury/death rates across 500 models with 3+ years of data.

A

138 models

B

166 models

C

121 models

D

45 models

F

30 models

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Our reliability score (0-100) combines three NHTSA data signals:

  • Complaint Rate (50%) — Complaints per year of production. Fewer complaints = higher score.
  • Recall Rate (25%) — Recalls per year. Fewer recalls = higher score.
  • Severity Score (25%) — Weighted incidents: deaths × 100, injuries × 10, fires × 5, crashes × 2 per year.

Models with fewer than 3 years of data are excluded to avoid small-sample bias.

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database and Recall Campaigns. This is not an opinion — it's math from public safety data.

Top 25 Most Reliable Vehicles

# Vehicle Grade Score
1 BMW 635 A+ 90
2 FERRARI FERRARI A+ 90
3 FORD F250 LD A+ 90
4 GMC C2500 PICKUP A+ 90
5 LINCOLN MARK VI A+ 90
6 SUZUKI GS1100 A+ 90
7 SUZUKI GSF1200 A+ 90
8 WORKHORSE P3500 A+ 90
9 CHEVROLET K1 A+ 90
10 SUZUKI DR-Z400S A+ 90
11 SUZUKI GS650 A+ 90
12 CHEVROLET T7500 A 89
13 FORD L SERIES A 89
14 FORD B SERIES A 89
15 DODGE D50 A 89
16 HONDA CB250 A 89
17 CHEVROLET K30 A 89
18 BMW 325ISA A 88
19 BMW 850CI A 88
20 LOTUS ESPRIT A 88
21 VOLVO GL A 88
22 SUZUKI KATANA A 88
23 BMW R100 A 88
24 CHEVROLET EL CAMINO A 88
25 MERCURY XR7 A 88

25 Least Reliable Vehicles

# Vehicle Grade Score
1 BMW 440I F 8
2 VOLVO VNL (4) F 17
3 FORD GT F 19
4 MERCEDES-BENZ S 450 F 23
5 JAGUAR XKR F 24
6 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 350 F 25
7 BMW XM F 25
8 AUDI SQ7 F 27
9 MERCEDES-BENZ S320 F 28
10 WESTERN STAR 4700 F 30
11 ASTON MARTIN DB9 F 31
12 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG S63 F 31
13 MAZDA MAZDA TRUCK F 32
14 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG CLA35 F 33
15 AUDI RS E-TRON GT F 33
16 MACK RD F 34
17 RAM C/V TRADESMAN F 34
18 NISSAN VAN F 34
19 BMW K 1300 S F 35
20 CHRYSLER CHRYSLER TRUCK F 35
21 GMC CONVENTIONAL F 35
22 HONDA CRX F 35
23 FORD EXPLORER HYBRID F 37
24 BMW 325IT F 37
25 PETERBILT 320 F 38

Data from NHTSA. Reliability scores are statistical calculations from public data, not editorial opinions.