Consumer Reports Says These 10 Vehicles Are the Least Reliable to Own

In the Garage Within the First Year

Earlier we’ve reported on how that choosing the vehicle type can make a significant difference in how often that vehicle will wind up in a garage for repairs within its first year if purchase.

This came from a CARFAX analysis of data from vehicles purchased new covering models from 2015-2019, that alerts car-buying customers that just because it is new, does not mean that their vehicle is immune from any problems during the first year of ownership.

And it’s not getting any better.

Today we are finding out that quite a few of the 2022 models out today are not performing very well when it comes to reliability and is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of car owners who believed that by spending the extra bucks on a new car meant no problems…at least for the immediate future…but are discovering this is not always the case.

According to a recent Consumer Reports news release, after taking a deep dive into their customer surveys, car owners are reporting numerous problems in 17 trouble areas, that range “…from nuisances—such as squeaky brakes and broken interior trim—to major bummers, such as out-of-warranty transmission repairs and trouble with four-wheel-drive systems.”

Related article: Six Vehicles with Fatal Engines or Transmissions to Avoid

The New Reliability List

Using data from the past two years of a wide range of models, CR analysts typically create a predictive reliability rating for each new model---usually on a scale of 1-5.

In their latest reliability list you will find that from CR’s model-by-model evaluations, all of the vehicles listed as being the least reliable were given a predicted reliability rating of 1/5.

However, to help consumers know which vehicles are the worst of the worse, they’ve created a second reliability list that puts each model on a magnified scale of 1 to 100 to enable fair comparisons between different makes and models.

That said, here is a summary of their list of the least reliable vehicles with both reliability scales include. Please note that the models listed are presented in rank order, counting down to the least reliable model.

The significance of this information to used car buyers is that it highlights the importance of investigating the reliability ratings of used vehicle models against newer models before deciding on one model over another based solely on its age. In other words, the older model used just might be a better deal than its younger counterpart.

LEAST RELIABLE CAR LIST

1. 2022 Subaru Ascent (18/100)
Price Range: $32,795 - $45,945
CR MPG: Overall 22 / City 14 / Hwy 32 mpg
Rated #11 of 14 Midsized sport-utility vehicles 3-row
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Transmission, power equipment, brakes, in-car electronics, climate system.

2. 2022 Chrysler Pacifica (18/100)
Price Range: $37,095 - $58,050
CR MPG: Overall 21 / City 13 / Hwy 33 mpg
Rated #4 of 6 Midsized minivans
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Transmission, power equipment, drive system, engine.

3. 2022 Tesla Model Y (18/100)
Price Range: $62,990 - $67,990
CR MPGE: Overall 121 / City 127 / Hwy 114 mpge
Rated #14 of 32 Luxury compact sport-utility vehicles
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Body hardware, paint & trim, climate system, noises & leaks.

4. 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan (17/100)
Price Range: $26,490 - $37,320
CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 16 / Hwy 35 mpg
Rated #13 of 22 Compact sport-utility vehicles
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Brakes, noises & leaks, drive system, power equipment.

5. 2022 Volvo XC90 (17/100)
Price Range: $50,900 - $72,600
CR MPG: Overall 20 / City 14 / Hwy 28 mpg
Rated #12 of 30 Luxury midsized sport-utility vehicles
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Brakes, climate system, body hardware, drive system.

6. 2022 Chevrolet Corvette (13/100)
Price Range: $60,900 - $79,850
CR MPG: Overall 19 / City 12 / Hwy 29 mpg
Rated #7 of 24 Sports/sporty cars over $40,000
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Engine, transmission, drive system, paint & trim.

7. 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (11/100)
Price Range: $30,400 - $68,400
CR MPG: Overall 17 / City 11 / Hwy 24 mpg
Rated #5 of 21 Full-sized pickup trucks
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Engine, drive system, transmission, power equipment, in-car electronics.

8. 2022 Ford Mustang (9/100)
Price Range: $27,205 - $76,555
CR MPG: Overall 19 / City 13 / Hwy 27 mpg
Rated #8 of 24 Sports/sporty cars over $40,000
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Steering/suspension, transmission, power equipment, brakes, drive system, in-car electronics.

9. 2022 Ford Explorer (8/100)
Price Range: $33,745 - $55,115
CR MPG: Overall 21 / City 14 / Hwy 29 mpg
Rated #13 of 14 Midsized sport-utility vehicles 3-row
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Transmission, power equipment, in-car electronics, drive system, noises & leaks.

10. 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE (5/100)
Price Range: $56,150 - $79,800
CR MPG: Overall 20 / City 13 / Hwy 29 mpg
Rated #19 of 30 Luxury midsized sport-utility vehicles
Predicted reliability: 1/5
Prone to have problems involving: Power equipment, climate system, engine, in-car electronics, noises & leaks.

And finally…

For additional articles about CR recommended vehicles that ARE recommended for 2022, here are a few recent selections for your consideration:

• Recommended Compact Cars with the Roomiest, Most Comfortable Interiors Per Consumer Reports Testing

• SUVs With the Roomiest and Most Comfortable Interiors Per Consumer Reports Testing

• Consumer Reports Best Used Older Cars for Under $10,000 That You Can Buy Right Now

• Worst Deals on New Cars are Dominated by This One Popular Make

COMING UP NEXT: Consumer Reports 10 Most Reliable Cars You Can Buy Today

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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