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This Vehicle Received An Abysmal Score Of Only Five Points Out Of 100 For Reliability

Here's the latest update on cars and SUVs new car shoppers are warned by their owners and automotive experts not to buy in 2025. Plus, the one model with the highest reliability rating of 98/100.

Regarding the 2025 car and SUV models, reliability is much like respect―you must earn it. Unfortunately―or perhaps it is a good thing when you think about it―new car models suffer from the sins of their predecessors until proven otherwise, as shown in the latest 2025 model review from the Car Help Corner.

This begs the question: Can you really count on the predicted accuracy of reviews of new models that have been around for less than several months?

What makes this latest review interesting―aside from pointing out the models you will want to reconsider buying―is that the comments section includes some testimonies saying that the Consumer Reports' reliability inclusion of some models is wrong and that the info comes from flawed Consumer Reports analysis.

But is it flawed?

Some Reasons Why Car Owners Do Not Trust Consumer Reports

Critics argue that Consumer Reports (CR) vehicle reliability ratings have flaws due to the following reasons:

  1. Survey-Based Data ―CR relies on voluntary owner surveys rather than objective mechanical testing. This self-reported data can be subjective and biased, as people may exaggerate or underreport issues.
  2. Small Sample Sizes ―A small sample size of low-production or new models can skew results.
  3. New Model Personal Bias ―Owners may report more problems with newer, more complex vehicles. In contrast, older, simpler models might appear more reliable simply because they have fewer features that could fail.
  4. Model Year Generalization ―CR sometimes groups model years together, assuming reliability trends continue, even when manufacturers make mid-cycle improvements.
  5. Bias Toward Certain Brands ―Some consumers believe CR favors Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda while being more critical of domestic and European brands.

However, one more justifiable criticism of CR reviews and other reviews is that they do not account for the severity of the fault or issue listed.

In other words, if a systematic review treats all reported issues equally, whether it's a minor infotainment glitch or a major engine failure, it may not accurately reflect real-world reliability concerns.

Your Best Car Review Protection

As with any studies and reports, some of the contrary advice given in the comments section is not without merit. As the Latin phrase goes, "Cum Grano Salis" ―you have to take the info with a grain of salt to make it more palatable, i.e., acceptable but will remain unconvinced until proven otherwise.

Despite some criticisms of Consumer Reports, it does have a history of trust due to its independence (it does not accept advertising), motto "We Are Not Loyal to Brands. We Are Loyal To You," and has a long positive history of consumer advocacy.

However, as always with any review, it is often best to combine multiple sources for a fuller picture of a vehicle's reliability.

CR-Based Review of Cars and SUVs Owners Had The Most Problems With

That said, here are the models you should likely reconsider before buying:

  1. Most Unreliable Luxury SUV: Cadillac Lyriq (Reliability Score of 5/100) ― According to the host, "The biggest problems reported with this vehicle are the electronics, the electronic accessories, EV battery malfunctions, or complete battery failure. I was not too surprised by this one. GM tends to build low-quality vehicles, and they rarely get things right when they introduce all-new technology, especially EV tech. It will likely take another year or two before GM sorts out the bugs with this new vehicle."
  2. Most Unreliable Small SUV: Volkswagen Taos (Reliability Score of 24/100) ― "The biggest problem with this one is the engine and the electronics. And I can't say I'm really surprised. I've consistently ranked the Taos as easily one of the worst small SUVs out there, with poor reliability and tons of engine and transmission complaints. It's just a total mess," warns the host.
  3. Most Unreliable Sedan: Volkswagen Jetta (Reliability Score of 25/100) Mechanically very similar to the Taos, the Jetta too, suffers from multiple engine and transmission complaints from owner surveys. Another factor is that repair costs are higher than their Japanese counterparts.
  4. Most Unreliable Midsized SUV: Mazda CX-90 PHEV (Reliability Score of 15/100) ―" The complaints include the transmission, suspension, electronics, and battery. I admit I was a bit surprised to see this one rank this low, but the CX-90 was an entirely brand-new model for 2024. As mentioned, most companies can have problems when they introduce brand new vehicles that have brand new technology―even historically reliable brands like Mazda, which is why it's always best to wait a year or two for all the bugs to get sorted out before you take a chance on a brand new vehicle."
  5. Most Unreliable Pickup Truck: Ford F-150 Hybrid (Reliability Score of 7/100) ― "For 3 years straight now, the major problems with this one include the battery hybrid drive system, the transmission, and electronics. The F-150 is a nice truck, but if you want the best shot at avoiding headaches, just stick with the regular V8 engine and avoid the power boost hybrid," states the review.
  6. Most Unreliable EV Sedan: Chevrolet Balzer EV (Reliability Score of 5/100)― "It was really no surprise the Blazer EV was a new electric model for 2024 and had a terrible market launch with tons of electronic problems that were so severe that GM actually had to stop selling them to sort out all the issues," stated the host, who added "…in fact, electric vehicles, in general, were the real losers of the survey this year many of them received poor reliability scores including the popular models brands including Hyundai, Kia, Ford, General Motors, Tesla, and Audi. The company Rivan, which only makes electric vehicles, was the worst rated brand in the entire survey, with their only two models receiving a score of 20 out of 100 and 9 out of 100 for reliability."

Other problematic models were left out of the review because the number of CR's Customer Survey Data was insufficient to include their analysis.

CR-Based Review of Cars and SUVs Owners Had the Least Problems With, Earning Them the Highest Reliability Ratings

Without going into the details, here are models that made the reviews list of those that are the most reliable cars and SUVs:

  1. BMWi4: Reliability Score of 82/100.
  2. Lexus NX Hybrid and Pug-In Hybrid: Reliability Score of 82/100
  3. Toyota Rav 4 Hybrid and Rav 4 plug-in Hybrid: Received exceptional reliability scores of 84 and 86 out of 100, respectively.
  4. Toyota Corolla Gas-Only and Hybrid: Reliability Score of 84/100.
  5. Subaru Impreza: Reliability Score of 89/100.
  6. Subaru Forester: Reliability Score of 98/100.

If you wish to watch the review in its entirety for all of the details, here is the video review provided below for your convenience:

Most Unreliable Cars By Consumer Reports For 2025 (And What To Buy Instead)

 

For additional articles related to vehicle reliability, here are two recommendations for your consideration:

  1. Least Reliable Cars That Won't Even Last 60,000 Miles
  2. Least Reliable Cars That Don't Make It Past Their Warranty

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: So I'm Getting A Brand New RAV4 Hybrid Soon, And I'm Wondering If The Extended Warranty Is Worth It? ―This Happened to Me, and Here is What I Did But Wished I Had Done

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