Asian Brands Dominate RepairPal Reliability Rating

Nine of the top 10 U.S. vehicle brands in terms of repairs are Asian, according to an analysis by RepairPal Inc. Results are based on input from more than 2,000 independent auto service shops in the U.S.

Honda, Lexus, Hyundai, Mazda, Kia, Toyota and Acura all earned “Excellent” ratings of 4.5 on the study’s 5.0-point scale. Nissan, Mitsubishi and Chrysler rounded out the top 10 with “Good” ratings of 4.0.

The scores are based on the frequency (40%), severity (40%) and cost (20%) of repairs incurred by 2010-2017-model vehicles in 2016. RepairPal claims the inaugural study is the first in the industry to use real-world data from repair shops.

The weighted-average reliability score for all Asian brands was 4.5 compared with 4.0 for American nameplates and 3.0 for European-based marquees. Differences are attributed in part to the higher percentage of luxury models and large trucks among European and U.S. brands, respectively, which the authors point out tend to be more expensive to repair.

The Toyota Yaris entry-level car was the only vehicle to receive a 5.0 rating, thanks to a low-cost of ownership ($299 in annual repair costs) and infrequent visits to shops. The diesel-powered BMW 335d compact car was the worst-scoring model, due to a “high probability” of costly repairs.

Three Honda models—the Accord, Civic and CR-V, Civic—ranked among the top models. Mazda and Kia were deemed the most consistently reliable brands, with all their models earning a score of 4.0 or higher.

The average car visits a repair shop about once every two years for a major unscheduled repair, according to the study. The average annual repair cost (scheduled maintenance and unscheduled repairs) for all cars is $620 per year. The average cost per year for a Honda-badged model is $398.

San Francisco-based RepairPal was launched in 2007 and developed a repair price estimator to help inform consumers about the cost of auto repairs.