The 18 Most Dependable Cars in 2024, According to Their Owners

Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links on our site, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend.

Happy woman celebrating her new car and hanging out the window with her arms wide excitedly
GBJSTOCK / Shutterstock.com

Some drivers choose a car for its style and flash, some for the sheer number of passengers and items it can carry. Others need a vehicle that can handle mountain roads or snowy highways.

But if there’s one thing any vehicle needs, it’s to be dependable: ready to start up and run smoothly when called upon.

J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study compares the quality of 2021 model year vehicles using responses from more than 30,000 owners after three years of ownership.

The study covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features/controls/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats.

Here’s a look at the most dependable cars, based on J.D. Power’s study for 2024.

Compact Car

The Global Guy / Shutterstock.com

In the category of compact cars, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Toyota Corolla
  2. Honda Civic
  3. Toyota Prius

As for the Toyota brand as a whole, it ranked second overall for dependability — and ranked highest among all mass-market brands for 2024. There were 147 problems per 100 Toyota vehicles, J.D. Power found, compared with the industry average among all brands of 190 problems per 100 vehicles.

Midsize Car

joebarthez / Shutterstock.com

In the category of midsize car, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Toyota Camry
  2. Chevrolet Malibu
  3. Hyundai Sonata

Midsize Pickup

2020 Toyota Tacoma
ZikG / Shutterstock.com

In the category of midsize pickups, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Toyota Tacoma
  2. Chevrolet Colorado
  3. Ford Ranger

Large Light Duty Pickup

Toyota Tundra
Jack Skeens / Shutterstock.com

In the category of large light duty pickups, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Toyota Tundra
  2. GMC Sierra
  3. Chevrolet Silverado
  4. Ram 1500

Large Heavy Duty Pickup

Ford F-250 Super Duty
Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com

In the category of large heavy duty pickups, the model that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 is:

  1. Ford Super Duty
  2. GMC Sierra HD
  3. Chevrolet Silverado HD

The Ford brand overall had 239 problems per 100 vehicles, placing it 23rd overall for dependability.

Compact SUV

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV
quiggyt4 / Shutterstock.com

In the category of compact SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Chevrolet Equinox
  2. Buick Envision
  3. Toyota RAV4

The Chevy brand as a whole had 174 problems per 100 vehicles, tying it for fourth place in dependability.

Small SUV

Anna Auramenka / Shutterstock.com

In the category of small SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Buick Encore
  2. Toyota C-HR
  3. Chevrolet Trax

The Buick brand as a whole ranked No. 3 for dependability, with 149 problems per 100 vehicles.

Midsize SUV

Toyota 4Runner SUV
marekuliasz / Shutterstock.com

In the category of midsize SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Toyota 4Runner
  2. Jeep Grand Cherokee
  3. Toyota Venza

Upper Midsize SUV

2018 Chevrolet Traverse
Darren Brode / Shutterstock.com

In the category of upper midsize SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Chevrolet Traverse
  2. Buick Enclave
  3. Toyota Highlander

Large SUV

Chevrolet Tahoe
BNFWork / Shutterstock.com

In the category of large SUVs, the model that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 is:

  1. Chevrolet Tahoe

No other vehicle in the category performed at or above the segment average, J.D. Power found.

Minivan

2015 Kia Sedona
Miro Vrlik Photography / Shutterstock.com

In the category of minivans, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Kia Sedona
  2. Toyota Sienna
  3. Honda Odyssey

Both minivans and SUVs are efficient options for families, but minivans win some drivers over with additional leg room and sliding rear doors, which make climbing aboard easier both for children and for those with mobility challenges.

Compact Premium Car

Lexus IS 300
sippakorn / Shutterstock.com

In the category of compact premium cars, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Lexus IS
  2. BMW 4 Series
  3. BMW 3 Series

While BMW took two of the three top spots in this category, the brand overall sits right at industry average — it had 190 problems per 100 vehicles, J.D. Power found.

Category winner Lexus, meanwhile, was the overall most dependable brand, with just 135 problems per 100 vehicles.

Midsize Premium Car

Lexus ES circa 2018
noraismail / Shutterstock.com

In the category of midsize premium cars, the model that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 is:

  1. Lexus ES

No other vehicle in the category performed at or above the segment average, J.D. Power found.

Premium Sporty Car

Porsche Cayman 718 circa 2018
emirhankaramuk / Shutterstock.com

In the category of premium sporty cars, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Porsche 718
  2. Chevrolet Corvette

No other vehicle in the category performed at or above the segment average, J.D. Power found.

The Porsche brand as a whole ranked sixth for dependability, with 175 problems per 100 vehicles.

Compact Premium SUV

Lexus NX 300h F-Sport crossover hybrid
jax10289 / Shutterstock.com

In the category of compact premium SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Lexus NX
  2. Cadillac XT4
  3. Porsche Macan

Small Premium SUV

2020 BMW X1
VanderWolf Images / Shutterstock.com

In the category of small premium SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. BMW X1
  2. Volvo XC40

No other vehicle in the category performed at or above the segment average, J.D. Power found.

Midsize Premium SUV

Lexus RX 450h
BoJack / Shutterstock.com

In the category of midsized premium SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. Lexus RX
  2. Lexus GX

No other vehicle in the category performed at or above the segment average, J.D. Power found.

Upper Midsize Premium SUV

BMW X6 circa 2020
Ann Stryzhekin / Shutterstock.com

In the category of upper midsize premium SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2024 are:

  1. BMW X6
  2. Porsche Cayenne
  3. BMW X5

Get smarter with your money!

Want the best money-news and tips to help you make more and spend less? Then sign up for the free Money Talks Newsletter to receive daily updates of personal finance news and advice, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our free newsletter today.