Drivers Rank Car Reliability: Jaecoo 7 and Volkswagen Tiguan Among Least Dependable

Drivers have identified the most and least reliable car manufacturers based on a comprehensive survey of tens of thousands of motorists. The What Car? Reliability Survey, one of the largest of its kind in the UK, gathered feedback from 39,332 owners over two years, assessing 225 models from 30 brands across 16 fault categories.

The survey asked owners about the number and nature of faults, repair costs, and the time taken for repairs. This data has highlighted specific models that have fallen short in terms of dependability.

Least Reliable Models

The Jaecoo 7, a Chinese SUV that has seen significant sales success, ranked sixth among the least reliable vehicles with a reliability score of 71.9%. Owners reported issues including non-engine electrics, infotainment problems, battery faults, and bodywork damage. A notable concern was that 30% of Jaecoo 7 owners reported problems, and nearly two-thirds of these repairs took over a week to complete. Furthermore, Jaecoo did not cover any of these repairs, even though the vehicles were within their warranty period.

Another model on the list is the Land Rover Discovery Sport (2014-present), which scored 68.2%. This model has not shown improvement in its reliability record and was the second-least reliable seven-seater in the previous year's survey. A significant 38% of these vehicles experienced issues, with 69% being out of action for more than a week. While Land Rover covered 74% of repair costs, out-of-pocket expenses could reach up to £1,500.

The Volkswagen ID.4 (2021-present) was the only electric vehicle to feature in the top six least reliable cars, achieving a score of 66.9%. Owners reported electrical problems, often slow and costly to fix. Issues with non-motor electrical components and the infotainment system affected 28% of the problematic ID.4s, with two-thirds taking over a week for repairs. In contrast, other family EVs like the MG S5 were reportedly fixed within a day.

The Mercedes GLE (2019-present) also appeared on the list with a reliability score of 63.7%. A third of GLE drivers experienced a range of issues, from engine and electrical systems to interior problems. For repairs not covered by warranty, some owners paid over £1,500, and only 43% of faulty vehicles were repaired in less than a week.

The Renault Arkana (2018-2025) secured the second-to-last spot with a reliability rating of 58.5%. Owners frequently encountered electrical issues, with 47% reporting problems in this area. Overall, 12% of Arkana owners experienced issues with air-con, engine, or electrical systems. Seventy-eight percent of these vehicles were off the road for over a week, though 96% of repairs were covered free of charge.

Taking the lowest spot as the most unreliable car is the Volkswagen Tiguan (2024-present), with a reliability score of 55.3%. This marks the second VW model in the bottom five. A substantial 75% of Tiguans reported in the survey had failures, with half of these attributed to non-engine electrics. Other issues included the 12-volt battery and infotainment system, and 44% of problems took more than a week to resolve. However, Volkswagen covered 90% of repair costs, with no owner paying more than £100 for a fault.

Most Reliable Models

On the other end of the spectrum, several models demonstrated exceptional dependability. The Lexus ES (2018-2026) tied for sixth place with a 99.3% reliability score. Only 6% of ES models reported a problem, solely with the infotainment system, and these were fixed within a day at no cost to the owner.

The Kia Niro hybrid and PHEV (2016-2022) also achieved a 99.3% reliability rating. Just 4% of owners reported faults, limited to bodywork, and all issues were resolved within a week under Kia's seven-year warranty, with no out-of-pocket expenses.

The Mini hatchback (2014-2024) scored 99.4% reliability. Only 4% of these vehicles had problems, related to non-engine electrics or steering. While all cars remained drivable and were fixed for free, repairs sometimes took longer than a week.

BMW's 4 Series Coupé and Convertible (2020-present) earned a 99.6% reliability rating, with only 3% of owners reporting issues, exclusively with bodywork. All repairs were completed within a day at no cost.

The Toyota Aygo X (2021-present) achieved a 99.7% reliability score, matching its performance from the previous year. Three percent of owners reported bodywork concerns, all of which were fixed within a day and covered by Toyota.

Joint first place with a perfect 100% reliability rating were the Suzuki Swift (2017-2024) and the new Mini Countryman (2024-present). Despite some Swifts being out of warranty, not a single owner reported unexpected issues. The Mini Countryman also saw every owner report no faults, with one commenting, "It’s the best car I’ve ever had. It has been simply faultless in terms of reliability."

Suzuki topped the brand reliability scale with 97.8%, followed by Honda (95.8%) and Mini (95.4%).