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Jeep, Rivian, Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Land Rover are the clearest reliability concerns in the 2025 data, but there is no single definitive list of the worst car brands. Consumer Reports evaluates current vehicles using predicted reliability, road-test results, safety, and owner satisfaction. J.D. Power measures problems reported by owners of three-year-old vehicles. Those different methods produce different results.
The useful conclusion is not that every vehicle from one of these brands is destined to fail. It is that shoppers should apply more scrutiny to the exact model, model year, engine, transmission, electrical system, and service history before buying.
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The least reliable brands that appear most often in the 2025 evidence
Across the two major 2025 studies, five names deserve the most caution from reliability-focused shoppers:
- Jeep: The clearest recurring concern. It ranked last overall in Consumer Reports and recorded 275 problems per 100 vehicles in J.D. Power’s dependability study.
- Rivian: Near the bottom of Consumer Reports’ overall report card and the weakest brand in its separately presented predicted-reliability data.
- Chrysler: The lowest-positioned brand in J.D. Power’s published chart, at 282 PP100, and also in the lower portion of Consumer Reports’ overall ranking.
- Volkswagen: Recorded 285 PP100 in J.D. Power’s study and appeared among Consumer Reports’ weaker predicted-reliability brands.
- Land Rover: Near the bottom of both Consumer Reports’ overall ranking and J.D. Power’s dependability results, with no Consumer Reports-recommended model in the 2025 report card.
GMC is the important exception. Consumer Reports placed it near the bottom overall and recommended no GMC model, while J.D. Power recorded 181 PP100—better than that study’s 202 PP100 industry average. GMC shows why a brand should not be labeled unreliable from one ranking alone.
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Sources: Consumer Reports’ 2025 brand report card and predicted-reliability presentation; J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study.
Consumer Reports’ 2025 weakest overall brands
Consumer Reports ranked 32 brands in its 2025 report card. This is an overall brand score, not a pure breakdown of mechanical failures. It combines average road-test scores, safety results, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction.
| Consumer Reports position | Brand | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Jeep | Lowest overall brand score in the report card |
| 31 | Rivian | Second from last overall; no recommended model |
| 30 | Land Rover | Near the bottom; no recommended model |
| 29 | GMC | Low overall score despite a better J.D. Power result |
| 28 | Dodge | Near the bottom; no recommended model |
| 27 | Alfa Romeo | Near the bottom; no recommended model |
| 26 | Volkswagen | Weak overall position and weak predicted reliability |
| 24 | Lincoln | Lower-ranked; no recommended model |
| 21 | Cadillac | Lower half of the report card |
| 16 | Chrysler | Not among the very bottom overall, but still in the lower portion |
Consumer Reports specifically warned readers to pay attention to GMC, Land Rover, Rivian, Alfa Romeo, Dodge, and Jeep because those brands tend to occupy the bottom of its rankings. It also reported that seven brands had no recommended model in the 2025 report card: Lincoln, Alfa Romeo, Dodge, GMC, Land Rover, Rivian, and Jeep.
That last point needs careful wording. A brand having no recommended model does not mean that every vehicle it sells is unreliable. It means that, based on the available model data and Consumer Reports’ recommendation requirements, no vehicle from that brand qualified for a recommendation in that report card.
Consumer Reports’ separate predicted-reliability ranking
Consumer Reports’ overall score should not be confused with its predicted-reliability ranking. A separate presentation of the 2025 predicted-reliability data identified the weakest brands in this order:
- Rivian
- Maserati
- Chrysler
- Jeep
- Volkswagen
- GMC
- Cadillac
- Alfa Romeo
- Land Rover
- Dodge
This list is narrower than the overall report card because it addresses predicted reliability rather than combining reliability with testing, safety, and owner satisfaction. Rivian’s position is particularly sensitive to its small and relatively young product range, so it is better understood as a warning about limited long-term data and early-product reliability than as proof that every Rivian will be costly to repair.
J.D. Power’s lowest dependability results
J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study surveyed 34,175 original owners of 2022-model-year vehicles after approximately three years of ownership. Fieldwork took place from August through November 2024.
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The study uses problems per 100 vehicles, or PP100. Lower is better. The industry average was 202 PP100, which J.D. Power described as the highest industry problem level since 2009.
| Brand | Reported PP100 | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen | 285 | Among the highest reported problem rates in the study |
| Chrysler | 282 | Published chart positioned Chrysler last overall |
| Jeep | 275 | One of the weakest recurring performers |
| Audi | 273 | Well above the 202 PP100 industry average |
| Land Rover | 270 | Near the bottom of the study |
| Mitsubishi | 256 | Above the industry average |
| Acura | 249 | Above the industry average |
| Mercedes-Benz | 243 | Above the industry average |
| Ram | 242 | Tied with Volvo |
| Volvo | 242 | Tied with Ram |
| GMC | 181 | Better than the 202 PP100 industry average |
The published summary positions Chrysler last at 282 PP100 while listing Volkswagen at 285 PP100. Since lower PP100 is better, Volkswagen’s reported raw figure is actually higher. The practical takeaway is not to overinterpret the ordering of those two entries: both are substantially above the industry average, and both belong on a careful shopper’s research list.
J.D. Power’s study does not measure only engine or transmission breakdowns. Its reported problems span nine categories:
- Climate
- Driving assistance
- Driving experience
- Exterior
- Features and displays
- Infotainment
- Interior
- Powertrain
- Seats
Consequently, a high PP100 score can reflect numerous software, screen, connectivity, sensor, or driver-assistance complaints rather than a vehicle that has suffered catastrophic mechanical failure. PP100 is also not a percentage failure rate. A figure of 275 PP100 does not mean 275% of vehicles failed; it means owners reported an average of 275 problems for every 100 vehicles in the study.
Brand-by-brand interpretation
1. Jeep
Jeep is the strongest recurring warning in the 2025 data. Consumer Reports ranked it No. 32 overall, while J.D. Power recorded 275 PP100—well above the 202 PP100 industry average.
These results measure different ownership windows, but they point in the same direction. A Jeep buyer should investigate the exact model, engine, transmission, infotainment system, and model year rather than relying on the badge. A good individual model-year result can exist inside a weak brand average, and a well-maintained used example can be a better purchase than a neglected vehicle from a higher-ranked brand.
2. Rivian
Rivian ranked No. 31 of 32 brands in Consumer Reports’ overall report card and was identified as the weakest brand in the separate predicted-reliability presentation. It also had no Consumer Reports-recommended model.
Rivian deserves a different kind of caution from an established brand with decades of repair data. Its product range is small and its vehicles are relatively new, so the brand average is highly sensitive to a limited number of models and to early-production issues. This is evidence of uncertainty and early-product reliability risk—not proof that every Rivian will experience expensive repairs.
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New electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids can also have reliability growing pains as manufacturers refine software, thermal systems, charging hardware, and other new technology. That observation should not be expanded into a claim that all EVs are unreliable. It means buyers should check the specific vehicle’s software history, recalls, service updates, battery warranty, charging equipment, and local repair support.
3. Chrysler
Chrysler was placed at the bottom of J.D. Power’s 2025 dependability chart with 282 PP100 and appeared in the lower portion of Consumer Reports’ overall report card. Its Consumer Reports result needs additional context because the brand has a small product line, including the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, and the new-for-2025 Voyager.
When a brand sells only a few models, one unusually troublesome or unusually strong vehicle can move the brand average substantially. Chrysler’s ranking is therefore a reason to examine the exact minivan, powertrain, model year, and repair history—not a reason to reject every Chrysler automatically.
4. Volkswagen
Volkswagen recorded 285 PP100 in J.D. Power’s study, one of the highest raw problem rates in the published results, and appeared among the weaker brands in Consumer Reports’ predicted-reliability presentation.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesOwners’ reported problems are not the same thing as long-term repair cost. A vehicle can generate many minor infotainment or electrical complaints without suffering a major powertrain failure, while a vehicle with fewer total complaints can still incur an expensive repair. Volkswagen shoppers should compare the exact model and year, identify the powertrain, check warranty coverage, and budget for maintenance instead of treating the brand number as a repair-cost forecast.
5. Land Rover
Land Rover ranked No. 30 overall in Consumer Reports, recorded 270 PP100 in J.D. Power’s study, and had no Consumer Reports-recommended model in the 2025 report card.
That combination supports describing Land Rover as a high-risk choice for buyers who prioritize predictable reliability. Reliability frequency and ownership expense are separate, however. Luxury equipment, complex electronics, specialized parts, and limited independent repair availability can make a vehicle expensive to own even when a ranking does not capture every cost. Anyone considering a used Land Rover should place unusual emphasis on documented maintenance, a specialist pre-purchase inspection, warranty options, and access to qualified service.
6. GMC: the methodology-conflict example
GMC ranked No. 29 in Consumer Reports’ overall brand report card and had no recommended model, yet J.D. Power recorded 181 PP100—better than the 202 PP100 industry average.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThis is not necessarily a contradiction. Consumer Reports’ overall score also considers road-test performance, safety, owner satisfaction, and predicted reliability. J.D. Power’s PP100 focuses on problems reported by owners of three-year-old vehicles. GMC can therefore look acceptable in one measure while performing poorly in a broader evaluation.
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The lesson applies to every brand: use rankings to identify questions, not to replace model-level research.
Why the 2025 lists disagree
They measure different vehicle ages
Consumer Reports’ predicted-reliability ratings are intended to inform shoppers considering current or near-current vehicles. J.D. Power’s 2025 dependability study looks backward at 2022-model-year vehicles after three years of ownership.
A new model may have no meaningful three-year history yet. Conversely, a 2022 vehicle may have received software revisions, component changes, or a redesign that makes its results less representative of a 2025 vehicle wearing the same badge.
They define trouble differently
J.D. Power counts owner-reported problems across categories that include infotainment, displays, driver assistance, climate controls, seats, and interior equipment. Consumer Reports combines its reliability evidence with road tests, safety, and satisfaction when producing its overall brand score.
Neither approach is automatically the right one. J.D. Power is useful for understanding what owners experienced during a defined three-year period. Consumer Reports is useful for a broader purchase assessment. A shopper interested only in avoiding mechanical repairs should not assume that either organization’s overall brand rank is a direct measure of engine and transmission durability.
Small lineups can distort brand averages
Consumer Reports notes that brands with small product lines can be strongly affected by the performance of one or two models. That matters for Rivian and Chrysler in particular, but it can affect any brand with a narrow range or a newly launched vehicle.
The reverse is also true: a large brand average can conceal a particularly good or bad individual model. Always move from the brand ranking to the exact vehicle.
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Electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, advanced driver-assistance systems, large infotainment interfaces, and connected-car features introduce more software and hardware that can produce owner complaints. Consumer Reports has warned that newly introduced EVs and plug-in hybrids may experience reliability growing pains.
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That does not make gasoline vehicles automatically safer reliability bets, and it does not make all EVs unreliable. It means a first-year redesign or new technology package deserves more research than a mature, proven configuration with a long service record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use these rankings before buying
A reliability ranking is a starting point. Use this checklist before committing to a new or used vehicle.
- Identify the exact vehicle. Record the model, model year, trim, engine, transmission, drivetrain, battery configuration, and major technology packages.
- Separate first-year vehicles from mature designs. A new generation, new engine, new transmission, or new electrical architecture may not have enough history to evaluate confidently.
- Look for model-specific patterns. Search for recurring problems involving the exact powertrain, cooling system, electrical system, infotainment, suspension, hybrid components, or charging equipment.
- Check recalls by VIN. NHTSA’s VIN lookup can show unrepaired safety recalls for a specific vehicle. Its broader year, make, and model searches can show recalls, investigations, complaints, and manufacturer communications. A recall is not the same as a reliability rating, but an open safety recall must be addressed.
- Review maintenance records. For a used vehicle, confirm oil changes, fluid services, transmission maintenance, brake work, tire replacement, software updates, and completed recall repairs. Missing records increase uncertainty regardless of the brand’s ranking.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection. A qualified mechanic can look for leaks, accident repairs, worn suspension parts, corrosion, cooling-system problems, tire irregularities, and other conditions that a brand-level study cannot see.
- Scan the vehicle for diagnostic codes. An OBD2 scanner can help read diagnostic trouble codes when investigating a check-engine light or screening a used car. It is a diagnostic aid, not proof that a vehicle is reliable, and it cannot replace a professional inspection. A seller may also clear codes before showing a vehicle, so scan data should be interpreted alongside readiness monitors, service records, a road test, and mechanical inspection.
- Estimate support and cost. Check warranty coverage, dealer and independent-repair availability, parts pricing, roadside assistance, and the cost of specialized work. These factors matter especially for luxury brands, newer EV brands, and vehicles with complex electronics.
What these rankings do—and do not—prove
| The ranking can help you understand | The ranking cannot prove |
|---|---|
| Which brands deserve additional research | That every vehicle from a brand is unreliable |
| How owners of a defined group of vehicles reported their experiences | That a particular used vehicle will break down |
| Whether a brand looks weak under a specific methodology | That the brand will have the highest repair costs |
| That a new model or technology may carry more uncertainty | That all EVs, hybrids, or new vehicles are unreliable |
| That a particular vehicle should receive closer scrutiny | That recalls, complaints, and reliability are interchangeable measures |
For example, J.D. Power’s PP100 counts reported problems, including technology and convenience issues. Consumer Reports’ overall brand rank includes road-test and satisfaction factors. Neither result is a guarantee, a failure percentage, or a substitute for inspecting the individual vehicle.
The bottom of one list can still contain a good individual car
Brand rankings are useful because they reveal patterns, but they are too broad to make the final decision. A weak brand can sell one comparatively sound model, while a highly ranked brand can sell a model with an undesirable engine, transmission, or first-year design.
The most defensible approach is to treat Jeep, Rivian, Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Land Rover as prompts for deeper research. Treat GMC as a reminder that the methodology matters. Then compare exact model-year evidence, inspect the vehicle, verify recalls, and calculate ownership support before deciding.
Methodology note: Consumer Reports’ overall brand position is not the same as its predicted-reliability position. J.D. Power’s PP100 is a reported-problem metric, not a percentage of vehicles that failed or a direct measure of catastrophic mechanical breakdowns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a low brand ranking mean every car from that brand is unreliable?
No. Brand averages can hide substantial differences among models, engines, transmissions, model years, and production periods. A low ranking means the brand deserves more scrutiny; it does not guarantee that a particular vehicle will fail.
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No. PP100 means problems reported per 100 vehicles. It includes issues involving infotainment, displays, climate controls, driver assistance, interiors, seats, and other systems, in addition to powertrain concerns.
Are electric vehicles less reliable than gasoline vehicles?
The evidence in this comparison does not support such a broad conclusion. Consumer Reports has warned that newly introduced EVs and plug-in hybrids can experience growing pains, but reliability depends on the specific vehicle, software, battery system, model year, and maturity of the design.
What is more important than a brand reliability ranking when buying used?
The exact model year and powertrain, documented maintenance, open recalls, diagnostic history, and an independent pre-purchase inspection are usually more decision-relevant than a general brand headline.
The Bottom Line
Jeep, Rivian, Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Land Rover are the brands that warrant the most caution in the 2025 reliability data. But the rankings measure different vehicles, ownership periods, and types of problems. Use them to narrow your questions—not to make a purchase decision without checking the exact model, VIN, service history, and mechanical condition.
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