Lexus, Buick And Mini At Prime of The Most Dependable Automobiles In 2026

February 16, 2026

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With trendy automobiles now operating extra strains of code than early house missions, proprietor perceptions of car dependability have change into more and more influenced by expertise efficiency and software program glitches. In keeping with the JD Energy 2026 U.S. Car Dependability StudySM (VDS), launched at the moment, persistent issues with infotainment techniques, spotty efficiency of over-the-air (OTA) software program updates, and points with car exteriors have pushed long-term dependability issues to new highs. In contrast with 2025 outcomes, car issues after three years of possession have elevated by 2 issues per 100 automobiles (PP100), leading to an {industry} common of 204 PP100. A decrease rating signifies larger car high quality.

This 12 months’s outcomes mark the highest-recorded drawback rely for the reason that VDS was redesigned in 2022, highlighting an ongoing industry-wide development by which car dependability has degraded throughout the previous three years. Of the 9 drawback classes that comprise the research, infotainment stays probably the most problematic (56.7 PP100), adopted by exterior (27.5 PP100).

Lexus, Buick And Mini At Prime of The Most Dependable Automobiles In 2026

“As homeowners maintain onto their automobiles longer, the long-term possession expertise issues greater than ever,” mentioned Jason Norton, director of auto benchmarking at JD Energy. “Software program updates and new applied sciences ought to improve the possession expertise over time, but many car homeowners cite ongoing cell phone integration issues and little to no profit after an replace is carried out. A lot of this comes right down to proprietor schooling and ongoing communication. Automakers ought to deal with delivering significant enhancements and clearly speaking the supposed advantages of software program updates so homeowners perceive how they’re designed to reinforce their car and possession expertise.”

Following are some key findings of the 2026 research:

Premium phase sees rising points: After 2 years of stability, issues amongst premium automobiles have jumped 8 PP100 12 months over 12 months to 217 PP100—the very best for the reason that research’s 2022 redesign. The hole between premium and mass market automobiles has widened to 17 PP100, with premium underperforming mass market in seven of the 9 research classes, notably in options/controls/shows (FCD) (5.8 PP100 delta) and driving expertise (3.4 PP100 delta). Solely the powertrain and seats classes present higher efficiency amongst premium makes.

OTA software program updates ship combined outcomes: As automobiles change into extra software-driven, receiving updates is now a routine expertise for a lot of homeowners, with 40% saying they obtained a software program replace prior to now 12 months. Of these homeowners, solely 27% say the replace improved their car, whereas 58% say they perceived no noticeable distinction. Greater than half (63%) of the software program updates had been carried out OTA and resulted in an almost 14% enhance in issues this 12 months (2.5 PP100).

Cell phone integration drives high {industry} issues: Of the highest 5 {industry} issues, 4 are instantly associated to proprietor integration of cellphones to their automobiles, together with the highest concern within the {industry} for a 3rd consecutive 12 months—Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity (8.9 PP100). Coupled with built-in Bluetooth techniques (5.5 PP100), wi-fi charging pads (5.1 PP100), and OEM app connectivity (4.7 PP100), these points account for twenty-four.2 PP100, almost half of the infotainment class issues in complete. Points with the car exterior, equivalent to irregular noises, additionally contribute to the general enhance in reported issues.

Issues enhance throughout all electrified powertrain sorts: Plug-in hybrid electrical automobiles (PHEVs) stay probably the most problematic of any powertrain sort within the research, growing 39 PP100 12 months over 12 months to 281 PP100. Issues amongst battery electrical automobiles (BEVs) and hybrids additionally enhance by 14 PP100 every to 237 PP100 and 213 PP100, respectively. Against this, the long-term dependability of gas-powered automobiles improves barely by 2 PP100 to 198 PP100—the least problematic amongst all powertrains.

HIGHEST-RANKED BRANDS

Lexus ranks highest general in car dependability amongst premium manufacturers for a fourth consecutive 12 months, with a rating of 151 PP100. Cadillac (175 PP100) ranks second and Porsche (182 PP100) ranks third.

Buick ranks highest within the mass market phase for a second consecutive 12 months, with a rating of 160 PP100. MINI (168 PP100) ranks second and Chevrolet (178 PP100) ranks third.

Toyota Motor Company has the highest general mannequin within the research—Lexus IS—and receives probably the most model-level awards with eight. Mannequin-level award recipients are Lexus IS, Lexus UX, Lexus GX, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Sienna, and Toyota 4Runner. Common Motors Firm receives 4 model-level awards for Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Equinox, and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The research, now in its thirty seventh 12 months, covers 184 particular drawback areas throughout 9 main car classes: local weather; driving help; driving expertise; exterior; options/controls/shows; infotainment; inside; powertrain; and seats. The 2026 research relies on responses from 33,268 unique homeowners of 2023 model-year automobiles after three years of possession. The research was fielded from December 2024 by means of November 2025.

Methodology Updates Deliberate for 2027 Research

Constructing on this 12 months’s findings, notably the frustration many homeowners expertise with over-the-air (OTA) updates, the improved 2027 U.S. Car Dependability Research will assist automakers establish dependability points a lot earlier. With the addition of year-round knowledge assortment, steady reporting, and built-in verified restore knowledge starting in April 2026, producers can pinpoint and replace associated issues sooner and ship clearer, extra proactive communication to homeowners by means of in-vehicle messaging electronic mail campaigns and supplier schooling. This enhanced visibility helps simpler troubleshooting and quicker deployment of enhancements, finally reinforcing belief, satisfaction, and long-term loyalty.