Toyota and Lexus no longer most reliable carmakers, says Consumer Reports

[usonian]

https://newatlas.com/automotive/subaru-most-reliable/

Consumer Reports' brand reliability report for 2024 has been released. According to the survey, the brands that make up the top five remain the same as last year, but it is Subaru which now holds the #1 spot, becoming the single most reliable car brand.

That’s right, Toyota and its sub-brand Lexus are no longer the very top brands when it comes to reliability. The findings are based on the nonprofit research, testing, and advocacy organization's statistics on over 300,000 automobiles, trucks, and SUVs that were sold between 2000 and 2025.

The total score in this reliability report is determined by averaging the results of several criteria, including owner satisfaction, safety rating, expected reliability, and road test results. These reliability rankings also assess issues and weak spots that affect consumers either immediately or long after they leave a car dealership.

It is worth noting that the list does not include any models from brands like Lincoln, Alfa Romeo, Dodge, and Land Rover. This is because it only considered companies that had “sufficient data” for at least two of their current models. Thus, the likes of Fiat, Jaguar, Lucid, Maserati, Polestar, and Ram, too, are all missing from this report.

Hint to "move fast and break things" people. This may be due to the relative LACK of change from year to year and carrying forward a lot of their parts across several model years.

2018 Forrester results here:
I have had one defective solenoid in the A/C system, and the seemingly endemic "windshield washer bottle ight goes on whenever it likes"

Possible solutions below:

And that's it.


Crappy warning light suggestions (summarized here)
https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2017-how-to-disable-washer-fluid-low-icon-stays-on-continually-solved.825201/
https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2017-how-to-disable-washer-fluid-low-icon-stays-on-continually-solved.825201/page-2
https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/washer-fluid-light-staying-on.166497/

1. I finally got rid of the annoying low washer fluid light and it was quick, fairly easy, and free. Access the bottom of the fluid reservoir by pushing aside the rubber flap under the bumper in front of the driver side front tire. You may have to remove one plastic round push retainer near the front of the flap. With your left hand, reach to the bottom of the reservoir till you feel 2 wires going into a connector. Feel around the connector until you find a push tab (watch the video posted above by Smustin to see what the connector looks like). Press the tab in (took me a few tries) while pulling down on the connector. Leave the connector hanging and this will keep the light from turning on while driving. The light still turns on during start, but goes off along with all the other lights. (there are YT videos showing this, but you really need ramps or a lift. And youth,)

2. I had same issue after I let reservoir go empty. The sensor may have been clogged from using Rain-X washer fluid also. But I solved it by pouring a kettle full of hot water, not boiling, into reservoir half full of washer fluid. Waited a few minutes and then ran the washer front and back. Solved!
(I am going to try this)

2a. My friend who drives a VW put a Rain-X washer fluid and it caused the sensor to not detect the water. The terminals must have been covered by chemical in it. He put a small amount of dishwasher detergent in the regular washer fluid and it fixed it.

3. Last week I put a cup or two of Vinegar into the wiper fluid. Overnight the sensor must have cleaned off and now it works. Found this on another blog.
(not recommended. Vinegar is acidic, and could splatter on paint.)

4. Until it's cured, black tape covers the specific warning light, and ignore the "i" warning in the main display.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. Many Subaru hybrids are built on the Toyota hybrid system. Nt

[dickthegrouch]

2. I hadn't expected to see Rivian so low

With a base prices of close to $70K, $78K, and $100K depending on model, I'd expect a whole lot better.
https://rivian.com/compare

Think I'll stick with my Subaru half the price (pre-tariff) and 5x more reliable.

[usonian]

3. Congrats on 4000 posts!!!!

When my Tacoma of 20 years finally hit one deer too many, I wanted an AWD truck to replace it, but one cost 2X the Forester (OUCH) so I chose the Forester. Not a truck “There is nothing like a pickup truck” but closed, which helps a lot.

Reliability at the time was about the same, and a lot improves in 20 years. I get about 50% more gas mileage and the 4 cylinder engine is very responsive. We have steep grades in the foothills, and the zip really helps a lot. I can pass slower cars on the uphills, which used to take pedal to the metal, and no assurance I could pass slower cars. I won’t knock Toyota on that point. It’s an unfair comparison.

But I really expected to need 6 cylinders to do that, or to get an Miata with no room for my shopping.

AWD is a necessity here, and a large percentage of cars are Subarus.

[dickthegrouch]

4. Usonian, thank you!

I thought I had one more before that.
Oh well, I'll just have to make 4002 a significant one.