Toyota Tops Consumer Reports Reliability List Again

Toyota is Consumer Reports’ top car brand for reliability for the fifth consecutive year.

The magazine’s annual survey (right) predicts reliability for 27 brands based on feedback from 640,000 vehicle owners, who report problems encountered within the previous 12 months.

Ranking second this year is Toyota’s Lexus luxury brand, followed by Kia, Audi and BMW. This year’s least reliable marques in descending order are Volvo, Dodge, Ram, GMC and Cadillac.

The only domestic brand among this year’s Top 10 is Buick, which fell five positions to eighth. CR says scores for specific models were dragged down by complaints about balky transmissions, glitch-plagued infotainment systems and such electronic features as backup cameras with displays­ that freeze up.

As usual, redesigned or all-new models receive the most criticism. That penalized companies such as General Motors Co., which has a relatively high ratio of new models in its lineup.

CR says this year’s list shows plenty of movement both good and bad among brands. The most improved brand for 2017 is Chrysler. It climbed 10 positions but still remains in the lower half of the list. Other nameplates that posted big gains are Volkswagen, up six positions, and Subaru, up five spots.

Brands that fell in reliability this year are Acura (down seven positions) and Mazda and Cadillac (both down six). Overall, 16 brands improved, 10 worsened and one (Audi) was unchanged.