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10 Dependable 2010s Vehicles Worth Considering—With an Important Caveat

J.D. Power recognized these 2010s model-year vehicles for dependability, but its three-year owner surveys do not prove they outperform current successors or guarantee the condition of a used car.
Entry663 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Several 2010s model-year vehicles earned strong dependability results, but the available evidence does not prove that they are more reliable than their current counterparts. J.D. Power’s studies measured problems reported by original owners of specific vehicles after three years—not lifetime durability or a matched comparison with today’s models. The ten vehicles below are historical candidates, not a ranked list or a guarantee about every year, trim, or powertrain.

What “solid” means in this comparison

Here, “solid” means favorable owner-reported dependability during a defined three-year period. J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) surveys original owners about problems they experienced. Its score is problems per 100 vehicles (PP100); a lower score indicates fewer reported problems.

The VDS is not a controlled test of how long vehicles last, and an award for one model year does not establish that every version carrying the same name is equally dependable. The cited results also do not compare these 2010s vehicles directly with their current successors.

In its 2025 VDS, J.D. Power reported an industry average of 202 PP100 for 2022 model-year vehicles after three years. Across the study’s 27 newly launched 2022 models, four performed better than their segment average. New launches averaged 241 PP100, compared with 196 PP100 for carryover models; carryovers performed better in all nine categories. That finding supports caution about launch-year redesigns in that sample, but it does not show that any vehicle on this list beats its current counterpart. J.D. Power’s 2025 VDS results cover 184 problem areas across categories including powertrain, infotainment, interior, and driving experience.

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Ten historical dependability candidates

The first five vehicles below were among the segment awardees in J.D. Power’s 2017 VDS, which examined original owners of 2014 model-year vehicles after three years. The remaining five are supported by the 2020 study of 2017 model-year vehicles after three years. These are distinct cohorts, not ten results from one matched comparison. The 2017 study and the 2020 study identify the awardees; they do not provide evidence that these vehicles outperform current successors.

2014 model-year awardees in the 2017 study

  1. Toyota Camry: Named a segment awardee in the 2017 VDS. The result applies to the studied 2014 model-year cohort, not every Camry generation or powertrain.
  2. Toyota Avalon: A 2017 VDS segment awardee for the 2014 model year. The 2020 study also recognized the 2017 Avalon, providing a second favorable result for a different cohort—not proof that all Avalons are alike.
  3. Toyota Prius: A segment awardee in the 2017 VDS for the 2014 model year. The award is historical evidence about that cohort, not a lifetime reliability rating.
  4. Toyota Sienna: Recognized in the 2017 VDS for the 2014 model year, and again in the 2020 VDS for the 2017 model year. Those results support considering the specific generations studied; they do not establish that every Sienna year or configuration shares the outcome.
  5. Toyota Venza: A segment awardee in the 2017 VDS for the 2014 model year. This is a model-year-specific result and does not, by itself, establish how a later or current vehicle compares.

2017 model-year awardees in the 2020 study

  1. Toyota 4Runner: Received a segment award in the 2020 VDS for the 2017 model year. That result concerns owners’ reported problems after three years, not expected service life.
  2. Lexus ES: The highest-ranked model overall in the 2020 VDS, which studied 2017 model-year vehicles after three years. It is the strongest overall placement among the listed candidates in that study, but it is not a direct comparison with a current ES.
  3. Lexus RX: A 2017 VDS segment awardee for the 2014 model year. The supplied 2020 study results do not add a second RX award to this list.
  4. Ford F-150: A segment awardee in the 2017 VDS for the 2014 model year. The result should not be generalized across all F-150 engines, trims, or model years.
  5. Honda Ridgeline: A segment awardee in the 2017 VDS for the 2014 model year. The study result is evidence for that cohort, not a guarantee about a specific used truck.

How to use these results when shopping

A favorable population-level result can help narrow a search, but it cannot establish the condition of an individual used vehicle. Before choosing one of these candidates, compare the exact model year and generation, the trim and powertrain, and the car’s mileage, service records, accident and repair history, and present condition. Arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection when appropriate.

Use the study evidence as one input alongside your needs and budget. A model award does not replace checking the specific vehicle, and the 2025 launch-versus-carryover finding is not a prediction about an individual car or a direct verdict on any 2026 model.

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What the studies can—and cannot—tell you

The VDS measures owner-reported problems in the first three years of ownership. It is useful for comparing reported dependability within the study’s stated cohorts, but it does not establish how a vehicle will perform across its full useful life. The J.D. Power VDS methodology page describes the study as a measure of problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles.

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J.D. Power’s 2017 release also reported that the ten top-selling 2014-model-year vehicles averaged 134 PP100, versus 156 PP100 for the industry average. That statistic describes those ten top-selling models as a group; it is not the score for the ten candidates in this article. The 2017 release quoted Dave Sargent, then J.D. Power’s vice president of global automotive, saying consumers “don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a very dependable vehicle.” The finding is useful context, not a promise that any particular used car will be trouble-free.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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