CarMD's Report Reveals Reliable Vehicles

Feb. 12, 2019

The report analyzes check engine repairs and costs—and ranks the 10 brands and 100 vehicles least likely to have a check engine light on.

Feb. 12, 2019—CarMD.com Corp. released its 2018 CarMD Vehicle Health Index Make and Model Reliability ratings, according to a report by Auto Connected Car. The report analyzes check engine repairs and costs and ranks 10 brands and 100 vehicles least likely to have a check engine light on, Auto Connected Car reports.

Data from the report was measured from Oct. 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2018.

The findings revealed that Toyota was the least likely brand to have a check engine light come on after a year, followed by Acura and Hyundai. The report also showed that Mazda was identified as the brand with the lowest average repair cost of $286, followed by Kia with $320, Dodge with $326, and Hyundai with $328, Auto Connected Car reports.

“The CarMD Vehicle Health Index Make and Model Reliability Ranking is the only report that statistically measures check engine failures and repair costs,” said David Rich, CarMD’s technical director said to Auto Connected Car. “Understanding which makes and models have which kinds of problems, how frequently they occur and what those repairs cost can be useful to vehicle owners, used car buyers, as well as repair professionals looking to increase their knowledge of trends within the industry.”

CarMD found the following brands were least likely to need a check engine repair over the past year:

1. Toyota
2. Acura
3. Hyundai
4. Honda
5. Mitsubishi
6. Subaru
7. Buick
8. Mercedes
9. Lexus
10. Nissan

The vehicle makes with the lowest average check engine light-related repair costs in 2018 were:

1. Mazda ($286)

2. Kia ($320)

3. Dodge ($326)

4. Hyundai ($328)

5. Chrysler ($329)

6. Jeep ($339)

7. Chevrolet ($341)

8. Volkswagen ($358)

9. Honda ($427)

10. Toyota ($426)

The vehicles with the lowest check engine-light related repair frequency, which results in fewer trips to the repair shop, parts store or dealership this past year, according to CarMD:

1. 2016 Audi Q5
2. 2017 Honda Civic
3. 2017 Subaru Crosstrek
4. 2017 Honda CR-V
5. 2017 Hondra HR-V
6. 2017 GMC Acadia
7. 2015 Subaru Forester
8. 2016 Honda CR-V
9. 2016 Honda Civic
10. 2016 Volvo XC-90

According to CarMD, these 10 ranked vehicles were found to have the lowest average repair cost among the variety of 9,030 different year, make and model vehicles today:

1. 2017 Hyundai Tucson ($67)
2. 2017 Hyundai Accent ($69)
3. 2016 Kia Rio ($70)
4. 2014 Toyota Prius C ($83)
5. 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage ($84)
6. 2017 Kia Soul ($88)
7. 2016 Kia Forte ($90)
8. 2016 Hyundai Tucson ($91)
9. 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ($92)
10. 2017 Toyota 4Runner ($107)

The full report can be can found here.