Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings March 2025

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

CR is a farce

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[ads75]

They also excluded the 22-24 Tundra's and Sequoia's from the Toyota ranking

I understand why they didn't include the 22-24 Tundra's and Seqoia's. Toyota identified a manufacturing issue with the engine that caused them to grenade (before ths lest came out). And Toyota has since decided to replace all 100k engines. All of them. Toyota identified an issue and is taking steps to fix it. If that is the only, or main, issue with those vehicles, Toyota has taken, or is taking steps to fix it. Toyota started a remediation process to address a big issue. CR notes they ignored the data for those vehicles, they should have directly said why.

 

[NY_Rob]

You can still enjoy unreliable cars.

My younger self who owned a TR7, MG Midget and a Fiat X 1/9 thank you for saying that!!

 

[NeedSumCoffee]

My younger self who owned a TR7, MG Midget and a Fiat X 1/9 thank you for saying that!!

I trusted my Rubicon about as much as a g-sting after eating $40 in Taco Bell… but Jeeps have amazing consumer satisfaction.

 

[Zoidz]

I'll just copy/paste my post in a previous thread about CR, who IMO has zero credibility regarding being ethical, objective and impartial. Take a look at who was #1 on this latest list - Subaru. Now read below. They state all their policies and that you cannot discuss a specific rating yet time and time again, they allow Subaru to do it under a license agreement.

"Objective, impartial testing, reviews, and ratings lie at the heart of consumer choice—and at the heart of Consumer Reports. " But that objectiveness appears to be for sale via licensing! IMO you simply cannot be held at a high level of credibility when you license your endorsement.

The CR Web Site says no commercial use, but they have allowed Subaru to promote that they are "Best Mainstream Automotive Brand", apparently under the "Licensing" clause, which has vague requirements.

Consmer Reports Policy

Here are the guidelines that govern the use of CR’s content by other organizations:

• We encourage linking through websites or social media to any of our free, current content (i.e., posted within the last three years) using neutral language. Here are two examples:
  “See what Consumer Reports says about ______.”
  “The ___ was recently featured in Consumer Reports.”
• We welcome retweeting, tweeting us @ConsumerReports, tagging us on Instagram @ConsumerReports, use of hashtags, links, and other sharing through social media.
• We allow one-time, non-commercial use of our videos, which can be done by linking to or embedding the video from our Consumer Reports website (ConsumerReports.org) or our Consumer Reports YouTube channel.
• All other activities require a license. Licensing includes the use of the CR Recommended mark, reprints, e-prints, single copies of our publications, and bulk sales of subscriptions of our products. We also allow the licensing of our content, including videos, but you may not discuss a specific rating or excerpt content except as expressly permitted by Consumer Reports. The use of any Consumer Reports’ trademark is only permitted as an integrated part of licensing our content. For more information, please submit requests to consumerreports.org/licensing.

 

[Zoidz]

Right. But when CR says that Rivian is tops in customer satisfaction, all of a sudden there aren’t any complaints.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...atisfaction-in-consumer-reports-survey.37176/

CR has zero ethical or statistical credibility in my book. Doesn't matter whether they are rating Rivian, Subaru. Their sample size and methodolgy is flawed for all vehicle manufacturers and they are not independent as they claim because they will license/sell their ratings.

 

[Ohm Boy]

CR for washing machines? Okay

CR for auto ratings?

 

[downranger12]

I’d like to better understand how they decide what is a sufficient sample. The list of manufacturers below that they did not have sufficient samples has some pretty big sellers. Not sure how they had enough samples for Rivian but not Ram, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, etc

Curious that they couldn't find enough Rams. That tells me where their head is stuck.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I'll just copy/paste my post in a previous thread about CR, who IMO has zero credibility regarding being ethical, objective and impartial. Take a look at who was #1 on this latest list - Subaru. Now read below. They state all their policies and that you cannot discuss a specific rating yet time and time again, they allow Subaru to do it under a license agreement.

"Objective, impartial testing, reviews, and ratings lie at the heart of consumer choice—and at the heart of Consumer Reports. " But that objectiveness appears to be for sale via licensing! IMO you simply cannot be held at a high level of credibility when you license your endorsement.

The CR Web Site says no commercial use, but they have allowed Subaru to promote that they are "Best Mainstream Automotive Brand", apparently under the "Licensing" clause, which has vague requirements.

Consmer Reports Policy

Here are the guidelines that govern the use of CR’s content by other organizations:

• We encourage linking through websites or social media to any of our free, current content (i.e., posted within the last three years) using neutral language. Here are two examples:
  “See what Consumer Reports says about ______.”
  “The ___ was recently featured in Consumer Reports.”
• We welcome retweeting, tweeting us @ConsumerReports, tagging us on Instagram @ConsumerReports, use of hashtags, links, and other sharing through social media.
• We allow one-time, non-commercial use of our videos, which can be done by linking to or embedding the video from our Consumer Reports website (ConsumerReports.org) or our Consumer Reports YouTube channel.
• All other activities require a license. Licensing includes the use of the CR Recommended mark, reprints, e-prints, single copies of our publications, and bulk sales of subscriptions of our products. We also allow the licensing of our content, including videos, but you may not discuss a specific rating or excerpt content except as expressly permitted by Consumer Reports. The use of any Consumer Reports’ trademark is only permitted as an integrated part of licensing our content. For more information, please submit requests to consumerreports.org/licensing.

So if Subaru is paying CR, and Rivian is the EV version of Subaru's customer base, it leaves me to wonder if Rivian's dead last ranking is coincidental.

 

[DRJ564]

My R1S is the clunkiest vehicle I have ever owned. From loud clunks and rattles going over bumps to wind noise. Half shaft clunking in stop and go traffic. Getting pretty tired of SC visits and it’s either “normal" or a new problem pops up. BUT it has been reliable. Its never left me stranded.

For a 100k+ vehicle I would expect better. Unless Rivian ups their game substantially, I’ll probably not own another. I still love to drive it though.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

My R1S is the clunkiest vehicle I have ever owned. From loud clunks and rattles going over bumps to wind noise. Half shaft clunking in stop and go traffic. Getting pretty tired of SC visits and it’s either “normal" or a new problem pops up. BUT it has been reliable. Its never left me stranded.

For a 100k+ vehicle I would expect better. Unless Rivian ups their game substantially, I’ll probably not own another. I still love to drive it though.

Gen 2 has eliminated these problems. It’s a great sign that all these issues were addressed so quickly. My gen 1 made all the noises you’re talking about while my gen 2 makes none of them.

 

[AlanP]

The point is that either you believe the CR data or you don’t.

I know some folks will hate me for this, but I’ve owned seven Toyotas, a Honda and Lexus over 40+ years and never had a significant issue (RAV4EV excluded). In fact, I owned the Lexus for 20 years and never took it in for service besides oil changes. Now my Rivian on the other hand……… nine weeks at the service center in the first year. In all fairness a lot of that was just waiting around..

 

[AlanP]

My younger self who owned a TR7, MG Midget and a Fiat X 1/9 thank you for saying that!!

I owned a Fiat circa 1976. It was a great 30/70car. 30% of the time on the road 70% of the time in the shop.. Two engine rebuilds in the year or so I owned it. At least it wasn’t very expensive when I purchased it.

 

[Rivian Owner]

Reminds me of "4 out of 5 dentists surveyed" which if you think about it is not anything but hype if the 5 dentists surveyed were picked for their positive opinions, possibly influenced by who knows what.

 

[emoore]

I had one issue in 12 years with my GTI. CR ranked it last with a full black circle. Probably the most reliable car I’ve owned and I’ve had multiple Toyotas and Hondas. CR used to be good but as cars got more reliable they have failed in determining the differences in cars.

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