The Detroit Three automakers, which include General Motors (GM), Ford Motor Company, and Stellantis, have once again failed to impress in the latest annual auto reliability study from Consumer Reports. This year’s top five brands are Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Acura, and Lexus, with GM’s Buick being the only Detroit Three brand to make it into the top 20.
According to Consumer Reports, the gap between internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) is narrowing in terms of reliability issues. EVs had 42% more problems than ICE vehicles this year, down from 79% last year. However, both EVs and plug-in hybrids still lag behind their ICE counterparts.
The study, which evaluates data on over 300,000 vehicles from the 2000 to 2024 model years, found that Subaru ranked as the top brand for reliability, followed closely by Toyota and Honda. BMW AG took second place, with Lexus, Porsche, Audi, Kia, Hyundai, and Infiniti rounding out the top 10.
For the Detroit Three brands, Buick’s performance was the only bright spot, coming in at No. 11 overall. However, Chevrolet and GMC were struggling, with the Colorado and Canyon having well-below-average reliability. Cadillac’s Lyriq electric SUV also ranked as one of the least reliable models in the survey.
The study’s findings highlight the importance of consistency in automotive manufacturing, with brands that prioritize long-term strategy and quality control performing better than those that focus on short-term gains. As Consumer Reports’ senior director of Auto Test Center Jake Fisher noted, “It’s all about consistency… The more new you have, the more problems you’re going to have.”
Source: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2024/12/05/detroit-three-trail-asian-rivals-in-consumer-reports-reliability-study/76709793007