Last updated: 2026-10-10
The most reliable used car in 2026 is the 2022 Lexus RX with a reliability score of 90/100, based on 0 recalls and 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Rankings are updated as new data becomes available from federal safety databases and cover 209 vehicles across sedans, SUVs, trucks, and minivans.
Most Reliable Used Cars — Ranked by Data
Every model is scored on four signals — complaint severity, repair costs, recall impact, and issue diversity — and normalized by sales volume so popular nameplates aren't unfairly penalized. The inputs come from NHTSA recall records, owner-filed complaints, and independent repair-cost databases. The 2022 Lexus RX leads the pack with a score of 90/100.
These rankings are fully algorithmic — no paid placements, no reputation adjustments. Drill into any model to see the recall count, complaint breakdown, and sub-scores behind its rating. Full methodology lives on our data sources page.
Top 10 Most Reliable Used Cars
5Honda HR-V
2021
7Toyota Crown
2023
Editor's Analysis
What the data tells us: the gap between a top-ranked car and the middle of the pack is usually narrower than buyers expect — often a few complaints per thousand vehicles sold separate an 85 from a 75. Below 50, though, the story changes: those scores consistently track with higher repair frequency and more severe issues, especially in powertrain and safety-critical components.
Brand vs. model matters: a few manufacturers show up repeatedly in the top 10, but reliability still varies model-to-model and year-to-year within the same brand. A top-ranked sedan can share a parent company with a poorly-ranked SUV. Check the specific model and year, not just the badge.
What to look for beyond the score: The reliability score is a starting point, not the full picture. Before buying, check the years-to-avoid page for your chosen model to identify specific model years with known issues. Look at complaint categories (not just totals) to understand whether problems are cosmetic or safety-related.
Found Your Next Car? Check Its History
Before you buy, a VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Complete Reliability Rankings
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexus RX | 2022 | 90/100 | Excellent | 0 | 3.7 | 5 | |
| 2 | Lexus ES | 2021 | 88/100 | Excellent | 0 | — | 4 | |
| 3 | Kia Sedona | 2021 | 88/100 | Excellent | 0 | — | 4 | |
| 4 | Mazda CX-5 | 2022 | 87/100 | Excellent | 0 | 3.3 | 4.5 | |
| 5 | Honda HR-V | 2021 | 86/100 | Excellent | 3 | 3.8 | 5 | |
| 6 | Nissan Altima | 2023 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 1.9 | 4 | |
| 7 | Toyota Crown | 2023 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | |
| 8 | Nissan Frontier | 2021 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 2021 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | |
| 10 | Lexus UX | 2020 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 0.0 | 4 |
Reliability Score Comparison
Visual comparison of reliability scores across all vehicles in our database. Longer bars indicate higher reliability.
Rankings by Category
Most Reliable Used Sedans
See all 63→Most Reliable Used SUVs
See all 117→Most Reliable Used Trucks
See all 17→Most Reliable Used Minivans
See all 6→Most Reliable Used Coupes
See all 6→Rankings by Powertrain
Shopping by powertrain rather than body style? Electric vehicles have a different reliability profile from gas cars — no engine, no transmission, but battery software and charging hardware introduce their own failure modes.
Best Budget Used Cars by Price
The highest-scoring used cars in each price bracket. Estimates reflect current dealer listings.
Best Budget Cars Under $15,000
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Trax | 2021 | 81/100 | Excellent | 0 | 4.2 | 4 | |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla | 2018 | 80/100 | Excellent | 3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
| 3 | Nissan Rogue | 2020 | 79/100 | Good | 2 | 8.1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Nissan Pathfinder | 2020 | 78/100 | Good | 0 | 8.9 | 3.5 | |
| 5 | Hyundai Elantra | 2019 | 78/100 | Good | 1 | 11.1 | 4.5 | |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 2018 | 77/100 | Good | 2 | 8.5 | 4 | |
| 7 | Nissan Altima | 2018 | 76/100 | Good | 2 | 10.4 | 4 | |
| 8 | Chevrolet Malibu | 2021 | 74/100 | Good | 2 | 15.5 | 4 | |
| 9 | Kia Sportage | 2019 | 74/100 | Good | 2 | 7.1 | 4 | |
| 10 | Hyundai Sonata | 2019 | 71/100 | Good | 0 | 16.5 | 3 |
Best Budget Cars Under $20,000
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda HR-V | 2021 | 86/100 | Excellent | 3 | 3.8 | 5 | |
| 2 | Honda Civic | 2021 | 81/100 | Excellent | 3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
| 3 | Honda CR-V | 2021 | 77/100 | Good | 3 | 6.7 | 4.5 | |
| 4 | Toyota RAV4 | 2018 | 76/100 | Good | 3 | 7.7 | 4 | |
| 5 | Chevrolet Blazer | 2021 | 74/100 | Good | 1 | 14.8 | 4 | |
| 6 | Honda Accord | 2020 | 73/100 | Good | 8 | 17.2 | 4.5 | |
| 7 | Subaru Crosstrek | 2020 | 72/100 | Good | 1 | 76.3 | 4.5 | |
| 8 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2020 | 72/100 | Good | 3 | 9.9 | 3.5 | |
| 9 | Subaru Forester | 2020 | 71/100 | Good | 0 | 33.0 | 3.5 | |
| 10 | Kia K5 | 2021 | 71/100 | Good | 6 | 14.3 | 4 |
Best Budget Cars Under $25,000
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Colorado | 2020 | 81/100 | Excellent | 0 | 7.4 | 4 | |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 2022 | 80/100 | Excellent | 2 | 6.5 | 4.5 | |
| 3 | Toyota Venza | 2021 | 79/100 | Good | 1 | 1.1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Ford Ranger | 2022 | 75/100 | Good | 5 | 6.0 | 4 | |
| 5 | Chevrolet Tahoe | 2018 | 72/100 | Good | 3 | 8.4 | 3.5 | |
| 6 | Toyota Highlander | 2018 | 72/100 | Good | 5 | 9.9 | 4 | |
| 7 | Toyota Sienna | 2019 | 71/100 | Good | 7 | 5.6 | 3.5 | |
| 8 | Honda Ridgeline | 2020 | 70/100 | Good | 7 | 49.1 | 5 | |
| 9 | GMC Yukon | 2018 | 68/100 | Good | 4 | 14.5 | 3.5 | |
| 10 | Ford Maverick | 2023 | 60/100 | Good | 20 | 32.7 | 4 |
Model Highlights
1. 2022 Lexus RX — 90/100
Reliability is excellent and well above average for SUVs, and no model year is clearly weak. Used shoppers should favor 2022, which has no recalls and far fewer complaints than 2019 or 2021. The problems that matter most are airbag non-deployment in crashes and hesitation or power loss when accelerating. On 2022 cars, watch for an instrument cluster that dims or goes blank.
Best year: 2022 · Score: 90/100 · Recalls: 0 · Complaints: 35 · Avg across all years: 86/100
2. 2021 Lexus ES — 88/100
Owner complaints and federal recall records put this midsize sedan well above average among sedans, with an excellent standing overall. The 2022 model year is the pick, while 2019 drew the most complaints, led by stalling and weak throttle response. Owners also report airbags that did not deploy in crashes, so read those reports before you buy.
Best year: 2021 · Score: 88/100 · Recalls: 0 · Complaints: 0 · Avg across all years: 83/100
3. 2021 Kia Sedona — 88/100
Reliability is excellent, well above other SUVs on the site, and no year is a clear one to skip. Favor 2021 or 2020, and shop 2018 with more care. The biggest worry is the engine: sudden highway shutdowns, sometimes with no warning light, and seizures after heavy oil burning. Power sliding doors that misbehave are the next most common fault.
Best year: 2021 · Score: 88/100 · Recalls: 0 · Complaints: 8 · Avg across all years: 82/100
4. 2022 Mazda CX-5 — 87/100
Excellent reliability puts this compact SUV well above other SUVs, and 2022 is the best used buy, with few complaints and no recalls. Skip 2018, where cracked cylinder heads leak oil onto the exhaust and cause burning smells, smoke, and fumes in the cabin. Touchscreen ghost touch is the most common electrical complaint across years.
Best year: 2022 · Score: 87/100 · Recalls: 0 · Complaints: 50 · Avg across all years: 81/100
5. 2021 Honda HR-V — 86/100
Used HR-Vs hold up well, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly upkeep well below the subcompact SUV average. The 2021 is the year to favor, while 2019 and 2023 deserve caution. The problems that matter most are rear hatch glass that shatters with no impact, mainly in 2023, and an instrument display that goes blank in cold weather, especially in 2019.
Best year: 2021 · Score: 86/100 · Recalls: 3 · Complaints: 52 · Avg across all years: 79/100
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most reliable used car?
- Based on our data, the 2022 Lexus RX is the most reliable used car with a score of 90/100 ("Excellent"). It has 0 recalls and 35 owner complaints.
- How are reliability scores calculated?
Every 0–100 score blends four weighted factors:
- Complaint Severity (35%) — owner complaints weighted by component type (powertrain and safety issues count 3× cosmetic ones) and normalized by sales volume.
- Repair Costs (30%) — independent data on repair frequency and average cost.
- Recall Impact (20%)— recall count weighted by severity. “Park It” recalls count 5×; “Park Outside” recalls count 3×.
- Issue Diversity (15%) — penalizes models with problems spread across many systems rather than concentrated in one.
When a sub-score has no data, the remaining weights redistribute proportionally.
- Should I buy a used car with a low reliability score?
- A low reliability score doesn't automatically mean a bad purchase, but it does indicate higher risk of problems. Vehicles scoring below 40 typically have elevated complaint rates in critical categories like powertrain, transmission, or braking systems — issues that tend to be expensive to repair. If you're considering a lower-scored vehicle, check the specific complaint breakdown on its detail page to understand whether the issues are safety-related or cosmetic. Budget for potential repairs, consider purchasing an extended warranty, and review the vehicle's recall history to confirm all open recalls have been addressed before buying.
- What categories of used cars are covered?
- We rank used cars across all major categories including sedans, SUVs, trucks, and minivans. Each category has its own dedicated ranking page where you can compare vehicles within the same segment. This is important because a sedan and an SUV have different mechanical complexity, weight, and typical use patterns — comparing them directly can be misleading. We also offer budget-focused rankings that filter by estimated price, so you can find the most reliable option within your specific price range.
- What is the most reliable used car on a budget?
- For budget buyers, the 2021 Chevrolet Trax offers the best reliability in the under-$15,000 price range, scoring 81/100. Prices are based on current dealer listings.
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases via vehicles.dev. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
See incorrect data? Report an issue