Boston's Leading Mobile Mechanics

The 10 Most Reliable Used Cars - Based on Make and Model

 

2010 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla consistently ranks high in reliability studies and CarMD's analysis (at http://www.carmd.com) for vehicle repairs confirms it.  It has few problems, and the average cost of repairs is $283.13. Despite a rash of highly publicized safety recalls, Toyota is the most reliable of any manufacturer, according to CarMD.

 

2008 Ford Taurus

Ford's overall score and ranking were hurt by older vehicles such as the discontinued Windstar minivan, one of the least reliable models on the road. But the Taurus scored high at CarMD, with a low frequency of repairs and very low repair costs averaging $141.17.

 

2008 Toyota Yaris

The tiny Yaris is a good bet, based on its showing in CarMD's analysis of vehicle repairs. It had a low incidence of "check-engine" problems and the average repair cost is $259.33.

 

2009 Honda Pilot

The Pilot doesn't show up on J.D. Power's annual Vehicle Dependability Study, but CarMD says it's the most reliable full-size SUV on the road. Average repair costs are just $141.

 

2009 Honda Accord

The Accord is another vehicle that's not included in the J.D. Power dependability rankings, but its low failure rate and modest repair costs ($201.74) earned it a Top 10 ranking at CarMD.

 

2010 Subaru Forester

Subaru has some of the most dependable vehicles on the road, which probably explains why Subaru owners hang on to them longer than most other brands. The Forester rarely needs repairs, and when it does, the average cost is just $116.33.

 

2007 Lexus ES 350

The Lexus ES 350 is rated the most reliable luxury model on CarMD, with average repair costs of $377.71. A "check engine" light is fairly rare in this car.

 

2011 Hyundai Sonata

Hyundai had the lowest average repair cost for the Top 10 manufacturers, at $271.86. Toyota's average, by comparison, was $490.72. But Toyotas have fewer repair incidents, so it outranks Hyundai overall. The Sonata, with average repair costs of $336.30, was the top-ranked vehicle from the Korean manufacturer.

 

2011 Chevrolet Impala

GM introduced a newly redesigned Impala two years ago. It can only hope it's as reliable as the outgoing one, which had few problems and average repair costs of just $184.30.

 

2010 Subaru Outback

Subaru had two cars in the Top 10. The Outback holds up well, and repair costs average just $110.43. A testament to the longevity of Subarus: the most common repair is replacement of the catalytic converter, a part which fails only after extensive wear and tear.