Tech, Powertrain Glitches Drive Low Scores in J.D. Power Dependability Study
What Consumers Need to Know
- Issues with infotainment systems and problematic plug-in hybrid powertrains top the list of problems in J.D. Power’s 2026 Dependability Study, experiences mirrored by Cars.com’s long-term fleet: a glitchy infotainment system in the 2025 Toyota 4Runner and myriad of issues with the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid.
- The most reliable brands are Lexus, for the fourth year in a row, and Buick, for the second year in a row.
- The most reliable compact car is the Toyota Corolla. The most reliable compact SUV is the Chevrolet Equinox.
As cars increasingly become more like computers on wheels, they’re also becoming more glitchy, according to the 2026 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study. This study marks the highest-recorded overall problems experienced since a study redesign in 2022, and the biggest offenders include problems with infotainment systems and spotty performance of over-the-air software updates.
Related: What Are the Most Reliable Cars and Brands?
Of the nine categories evaluated, infotainment problems are the most common. That surprises no one here given we’ve seen the same trend with many cars we test. For example, the infotainment system in Cars.com’s long-term 2025 Toyota 4Runner routinely annoys for its inconsistent smartphone connection abilities. J.D. Power says that on the whole, mobile phone integration is a big driver of infotainment problems.
Other issues are blooming, too, including problematic plug-in hybrid electric powertrains. According to J.D. Power, problems with PHEVs increased 39 problems per 100 vehicles year over year to 281 PP100, a trend that’s been developing for a few years. Again, we’ve lived through these problems: Cars.com’s long-term 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was no stranger to vehicle recall notices and trips to the dealership.
How well did Toyota and Jeep fare overall in the study? Below is the 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study’s list of brands in order of most to least reliable, followed by the number of problems per 100 vehicles, the lower the number the better.
What Are the Most Reliable Brands?
- Lexus, 151 (winner, fourth year in a row)
- Buick, 160 (second year in a row)
- Mini, 168
- Cadillac, 175
- Chevrolet, 178
- Subaru, 181
- Porsche, 182
- Toyota, 185
- Kia, 193
- Nissan, 194
- BMW, 198
- Hyundai, 198
- Industry average, 204
- Genesis, 208
- Mitsubishi, 208
- Mazda, 210
- Honda, 211
- Ram, 216
- Lincoln, 217
- Tesla, 226 (Note: because Tesla does not meet the study’s award criteria, the brand’s result is unofficial.)
- Ford, 228
- GMC, 229
- Acura, 233
- Infiniti, 233
- Mercedes-Benz, 235
- Audi, 244
- Jeep, 267
- Land Rover, 274
- Volvo, 296
- Volkswagen, 301
What Are the Most Reliable Vehicles?
Below are the 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study’s most reliable vehicles by segment:
- Compact Car: Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Kia Forte
- Compact Premium Car: Lexus IS, BMW 4 Series, BMW 3 Series
- Mid-Size Car: Toyota Camry
- Small SUV: Subaru Crosstrek, Mini Countryman, Buick Encore GX (tie), Hyundai Venue (tie)
- Small Premium SUV: Lexus UX, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3
- Compact SUV: Chevrolet Equinox, Buick Envision, Subaru Forester
- Compact Premium SUV: BMW X4, Cadillac XT4, Genesis GV70
- Mid-Size SUV: Nissan Murano, Chevrolet Blazer, Hyundai Santa Fe
- Mid-Size Premium SUV: Lexus GX, Cadillac XT5, Lexus RX
- Upper Mid-Size SUV: Buick Enclave (tie), Toyota 4Runner (tie), Chevrolet Traverse
- Upper Mid-Size Premium SUV: Cadillac XT6, BMW X6, Porsche Cayenne
- Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
- Large Light-Duty Pickup: Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 (tie), GMC Sierra (tie)
- Mid-Size Pickup: Toyota Tacoma, Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Minivan: Toyota Sienna
How Is the Study Performed?
The 2026 J.D. Power survey, which is based on 33,268 responses from drivers who purchased model-year 2023 vehicles new and still own them, looks at issues in 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features, controls and displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats.
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