Based on owner surveys of nearly 400,000 vehicles, Consumer Reports identified these ten models as the most likely to cause headaches:
When shopping for a vehicle in 2026, experts from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power suggest that "new" does not always mean "trouble-free." The current automotive landscape shows a significant trend: electrified vehicles (EVs and PHEVs) average than traditional gas-powered cars.
Beyond individual models, certain brands have consistently low marks across their entire lineups.
This brand makes the least reliable cars for 2026, according to J.D. Power
Below are the top cars and brands to avoid in 2026 based on the latest reliability and maintenance data.
: Holds the record-low reliability score of 14/100 .