Recent brand-level evidence puts Toyota and Honda ahead of Volkswagen for reliability or dependability, but it does not tell you whether a particular car will be trouble-free. In J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Toyota had the fewest reported problems of the three, followed by Honda and then Volkswagen. Consumer Reports’ December 2025 brand ranking also placed Toyota among its leaders and Honda in its top five. The studies use different methods, so their results should be read separately.
What the latest brand-level comparisons say
The clearest direct comparison comes from J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. It reports problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower number indicating fewer reported problems in the study:
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| Brand | J.D. Power 2025 result |
|---|---|
| Toyota | 162 problems per 100 vehicles |
| Honda | 201 problems per 100 vehicles |
| Volkswagen | 285 problems per 100 vehicles |
These are reported-problem scores, not failure rates or counts of mechanical breakdowns. J.D. Power’s study covers issues in nine broad categories, including climate, driving assistance, features and controls, infotainment, powertrain, and seats. J.D. Power’s 2025 study therefore measures a wider ownership experience than mechanical reliability alone.
Consumer Reports provides a separate comparison rather than another score on the PP100 scale. Its December 4, 2025 article says Lexus, Subaru, and Toyota lead its brand reliability rankings, with Honda in the top five. The ranking draws on owner data submitted by Consumer Reports members. A brand needs data for at least two models and at least two of the 2023, 2024, 2025, or early 2026 model years to receive a ranking. Consumer Reports explains its brand reliability results.
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How to interpret the scores
J.D. Power: problems reported by a specific owner cohort
The 2025 study is based on responses from 34,175 original owners of 2022 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. Survey fielding ran from August through November 2024. Its figures describe that cohort and period; they are not forecasts for every used 2022 vehicle or for newer model years.
Consumer Reports: member-owner data across qualifying recent models
Consumer Reports’ ranking reflects data from its members who own vehicles from the listed brands and applies a minimum data threshold. It is useful as a broader recent-brand signal, but it does not mean every model from a ranked brand was assessed or performs equally well. Its ranking also cannot be numerically combined with J.D. Power’s PP100 figures: the two organizations collect and report different measures.
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So, are Volkswagens reliable?
The cited evidence does not establish that Volkswagens are universally unreliable. It does show Volkswagen behind Toyota and Honda in the J.D. Power 2025 comparison, while the Consumer Reports ranking favors Toyota and places Honda in its top five. If minimizing the likelihood of reported problems is your priority and you are choosing only by these brand-level findings, Toyota is the strongest of the three in J.D. Power’s study, with Honda ahead of Volkswagen.
That is a starting point, not a verdict on an individual car. A brand average cannot establish the condition or expected reliability of the exact vehicle you are considering. The available comparisons also do not establish which specific model is best or how the brands compare on repair costs.
Quick Recap
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- DETAILED DESIGN: Features include chrome-style bumpers, realistic headlights, detailed wheels, and accurate body styling
- DIMENSIONS: Approximately 5 inches in length, perfect size for display or play
- INTERIOR FEATURES: Detailed cabin with beige interior, visible dashboard, and clear windows
- CONSTRUCTION: Durable die-cast metal body with plastic components and rolling rubber wheels
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How to compare the cars you are actually considering
- Match the model and model year. Look for information about the exact vehicle rather than relying only on a manufacturer-wide ranking.
- Check what a rating measures. Keep owner-reported problems, reliability rankings, mechanical failures, and repair costs distinct; the figures above do not represent all of those things.
- Read the study context. Note the survey year, the model years represented, and who supplied the data. J.D. Power’s cited figures concern original owners of 2022 vehicles after three years; Consumer Reports’ ranking uses qualifying recent models and member-owner responses.
- Assess the individual used car. For a used vehicle, the car’s condition and history matter alongside brand-level evidence. Do not assume a particular Volkswagen is unreliable—or that a Toyota or Honda is trouble-free—based on a brand result alone.
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