Certain used cars from American manufacturers are more reliable than others. We've all driven or heard about brands or models that are notoriously untrustworthy. Consumer Reports named Jeep as one of the least reliable American-made brands, but how do the others rank? It might surprise some to know that CR ranked Buick and Lincoln highly for reliability. Chevrolet and Ford also make reliable cars.
Consumer Reports listed Toyota, Lexus, and BMW as their top three most reliable brands. In case you didn't know, those aren't American brands. Seven of the top ten spots are held by Asian automakers, surely not looking so good for U.S. brands. CR uses a reliability scale from 0-100. Asian manufacturers average 59, while European automakers score 51 on the scale. American manufacturers average 40. Hopefully, this article can help you avoid some American-made cars with costly maintenance and repairs.
10 2016 Lincoln MKZ - Average Used Price $13,625 - $18,775
The 2020 Lincoln MKZ seems to be a fantastic luxury sedan, but things were different in 2016. With 5 recalls, the 2016 Lincoln MKZ clearly has a history of problems. These recalls were for exterior lighting that reduced visibility, and three other affected areas. Apparently, doors might not latch securely and risk opening up while the vehicle is moving. The steering required two recalls, both of which could result in a loss of control. One of the most worrying recalls involved the fuel tank, which is susceptible to cracking and potentially leaking fuel.
9 2016 Cadillac ELR - Average Used Price $22,275
J.D. Power gave the 2016 Cadillac ELR a rating of three out of five. That rating is average for cars in its class. The strange thing is, the 2014 Cadillac ELR scored four out of five. Some drivers report battery capacity issues, display problems, and other touchscreen issues. It's not a classic car yet, but it seems to be as reliable as some of them. This probably isn't one of the 5 best Cadillacs ever made. Having said that, it's still better than the 2005 Cadillac DeVille.
8 2019 Buick Cascada - Average Used Price $21,375 - $24,150
The 2019 Buick Cascada has a base MRSP of $33,070 and a four-year/50,000-mile warranty. Customers report issues with brakes, construction quality, and some convertible roof issues. Buick ranked 11th out of 24 car manufacturers in the Consumer Reports evaluation.
7 2019 Ford EcoSport - Between $10,750 and $26,999
It's sometimes difficult to find data and reports on vehicles that are relatively new. Consumer Reports didn't have anything to mention about the 2019 Ford EcoSport's reliability, but the drivers on Edmunds do. Many users were disappointed with the engine's sluggishness, terrible fuel economy, and overall low build quality. Many reviews warn others not to buy the 2019 Ford EcoSport. It also doesn't have comparable interiors to rivals like Hyundai and Kia.
6 2016 Jeep Patriot - Between $4,788 and $20,990
The 2016 Jeep Patriot scored 2.5 out of 5 with J.D. Power, an American data analytics firm. On top of that, it scored very poorly in the IIHS crash tests. They found that the door pillar intrudes a lot into the driver's space on impact, and the seat belt allowed the crash test dummies to move too much. Jeep doesn't have a reliable reputation. Two of their other cars, the Wrangler and Gladiator, made it into the Consumer Reports Least Reliable Cars list. There's also one recall for a potential crankshaft problem, which the next Jeep on this list shares.
5 2016 Jeep Compass - Between $9,800 - $10,800
The new Jeep Compass Trailhawk is a fantastic car, but the 2016 Compass is plagued by reliability issues. Recalls are never a good sign when you're researching a used American-made car. The 2016 Jeep Compass had an engine recall because the "crankshaft or camshaft sensor may only work intermittently, causing the engine to stall". Some owners report that the Compass is a total gas guzzler and makes a lot of noise. A few users mention that it doesn't handle damp or snowy conditions very well, which is Jeep's entire identity.
4 2017 Tesla Model X - Between $39,300 - $53,050
The 2017 Tesla Model X has a whopping six recalls on its Consumer Reports record. That's one of the many reasons it might not be a good buy. The recalls affect the seats, parking brakes, backup camera, steering, and electrical systems. Ironically, the fault collision avoidance system had the potential to cause collisions. There's a chance of the emergency brake activating by mistake, which could cause huge problems for anyone inside the vehicle. This recall affected four other Tesla vehicles.
3 2017-2018 Ford F-150 - Between $17,925 - $48,475
This might not be the best generation of Ford F-150. In a thorough reliability evaluation from Consumer Reports, Ford ranked 16th out of 24. Additionally, they have more than double the amount that the 2017 Tesla Model X had, with a total of 15 recalls. The engine, fuel system, powertrain, and electrical system are just a few of the areas that the NHTSA issued recalls in. The IIHS rated the 2018 Ford F-150 headlights Poor, the lowest possible rating. F-150s are popular trucks, but it's good to compare them with the competition.
2 2016 Dodge Durango - Between $12,498 and $32,618
Consumer Reports didn't evaluate enough Dodge models in their report, so we don't know their CR reliability rank. The Kelley Blue Book shows 3 recalls for the 2016 Dodge Durango. They involve parts of the fuel system, the hydraulics and calipers, and the electrical wiring. Some users reported brake issues too. The Structure and Safety Cage test run by the IIHS produced a Poor rating, which is the lowest possible score
1 2011-2012 Chevrolet Suburban - Between $4,900 and $37,746
Chevrolet ranks 20th out of 24 vehicle manufacturers on the Consumer Reports reliability list. Because of that, it's not surprising that the 2012 Chevrolet Suburban has four NHTSA safety recalls on record. There are also a large number of active complaints on the NHTSA website. The recalls concern the electrical system and two airbag problems. The steering recall is the most concerning. The steering gear pitman shaft may not have been hardened enough during the manufacturing process, leading to potential fractures.