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Carfocal Ownership Risk Index

Compare U.S. car and truck brands using buyer-focused research on reliability, recalls, ownership costs, and real-world risk—then open the model-year guide before you commit.

46 Brands Ranked
5971 Vehicles Analyzed
Updated July 5, 2026
Overall ScoreAll measures combinedReliability IndexRecall & complaint dataOwnership RiskLong-term cost exposure

Full Rankings

Lower score is better. Ties occur only on exact score matches.

EliteExcellentGoodAverage
RankManufacturerRisk ScoreAvg ReliabilityAvg MaintenanceVehicles
1
Yamaha
Excellent
1.8
8.89.533View Models
2
Mercedes-Benz
Excellent
1.9
9.09.2446View Models
2
Capacity Trucks
Excellent
1.9
8.89.4140View Models
4
MINI
Excellent
2.2
8.78.977View Models
4
Suzuki
Excellent
2.2
8.59.254View Models
6
Honda
Excellent
2.3
8.68.9234View Models
6
smart
Excellent
2.3
8.68.915View Models
8
Mitsubishi
Excellent
2.4
8.58.777View Models
9
Ram
Excellent
2.5
8.48.670View Models
10
Nissan
Good
2.6
8.48.3262View Models
10
Lexus
Good
2.6
8.48.5162View Models
10
Infiniti
Good
2.6
8.38.5115View Models
10
Mazda
Good
2.6
8.38.5113View Models
14
Rolls-Royce
Good
2.7
8.68.157View Models
15
BMW
Good
2.8
8.38.2619View Models
15
Kia
Good
2.8
7.98.4169View Models
15
Jeep
Good
2.8
8.18.4103View Models
15
Alfa Romeo
Good
2.8
8.08.629View Models
19
Volvo
Good
2.9
7.78.5133View Models
20
Chevrolet
Good
3.0
7.68.3270View Models
20
Fiat
Good
3.0
7.68.429View Models
20
RIVIAN
Good
3.0
7.48.613View Models
23
Audi
Good
3.1
7.88.2402View Models
23
GMC
Good
3.1
7.58.3122View Models
23
Lincoln
Good
3.1
7.68.291View Models
23
Buick
Good
3.1
7.58.380View Models
23
Maserati
Good
3.1
8.17.752View Models
28
Toyota
Good
3.2
7.67.9325View Models
28
Porsche
Good
3.2
7.87.9105View Models
30
Hyundai
Good
3.3
7.08.3188View Models
30
Cadillac
Good
3.3
7.28.2116View Models
30
Aston Martin
Good
3.3
8.37.270View Models
33
Land Rover
Good
3.4
7.38.097View Models
33
Jaguar
Good
3.4
7.38.068View Models
33
Bentley
Good
3.4
8.27.150View Models
33
Genesis
Good
3.4
6.98.343View Models
37
Acura
Good
3.5
6.98.099View Models
37
Dodge
Good
3.5
6.98.287View Models
39
Volkswagen
Average
3.6
7.27.6182View Models
40
Subaru
Average
3.7
7.17.6120View Models
40
Tesla
Average
3.7
6.28.347View Models
40
Ferrari
Average
3.7
8.36.437View Models
43
Chrysler
Average
3.8
6.28.243View Models
44
Ford
Average
4.0
6.97.1296View Models
45
Lamborghini
Average
4.8
8.34.221View Models
46
McLaren
Below Avg
5.1
7.93.910View Models
  • 1
    Yamaha
    1.8Excellent
    Reliability: 8.8Maintenance: 9.5
    View Models
  • 2
    Mercedes-Benz
    1.9Excellent
    Reliability: 9.0Maintenance: 9.2
    View Models
  • 2
    Capacity Trucks
    1.9Excellent
    Reliability: 8.8Maintenance: 9.4
    View Models
  • 4
    MINI
    2.2Excellent
    Reliability: 8.7Maintenance: 8.9
    View Models
  • 4
    Suzuki
    2.2Excellent
    Reliability: 8.5Maintenance: 9.2
    View Models
  • 6
    Honda
    2.3Excellent
    Reliability: 8.6Maintenance: 8.9
    View Models
  • 6
    smart
    2.3Excellent
    Reliability: 8.6Maintenance: 8.9
    View Models
  • 8
    Mitsubishi
    2.4Excellent
    Reliability: 8.5Maintenance: 8.7
    View Models
  • 9
    Ram
    2.5Excellent
    Reliability: 8.4Maintenance: 8.6
    View Models
  • 10
    Nissan
    2.6Good
    Reliability: 8.4Maintenance: 8.3
    View Models
  • 10
    Lexus
    2.6Good
    Reliability: 8.4Maintenance: 8.5
    View Models
  • 10
    Infiniti
    2.6Good
    Reliability: 8.3Maintenance: 8.5
    View Models
  • 10
    Mazda
    2.6Good
    Reliability: 8.3Maintenance: 8.5
    View Models
  • 14
    Rolls-Royce
    2.7Good
    Reliability: 8.6Maintenance: 8.1
    View Models
  • 15
    BMW
    2.8Good
    Reliability: 8.3Maintenance: 8.2
    View Models
  • 15
    Kia
    2.8Good
    Reliability: 7.9Maintenance: 8.4
    View Models
  • 15
    Jeep
    2.8Good
    Reliability: 8.1Maintenance: 8.4
    View Models
  • 15
    Alfa Romeo
    2.8Good
    Reliability: 8.0Maintenance: 8.6
    View Models
  • 19
    Volvo
    2.9Good
    Reliability: 7.7Maintenance: 8.5
    View Models
  • 20
    Chevrolet
    3.0Good
    Reliability: 7.6Maintenance: 8.3
    View Models
  • 20
    Fiat
    3.0Good
    Reliability: 7.6Maintenance: 8.4
    View Models
  • 20
    RIVIAN
    3.0Good
    Reliability: 7.4Maintenance: 8.6
    View Models
  • 23
    Audi
    3.1Good
    Reliability: 7.8Maintenance: 8.2
    View Models
  • 23
    GMC
    3.1Good
    Reliability: 7.5Maintenance: 8.3
    View Models
  • 23
    Lincoln
    3.1Good
    Reliability: 7.6Maintenance: 8.2
    View Models
  • 23
    Buick
    3.1Good
    Reliability: 7.5Maintenance: 8.3
    View Models
  • 23
    Maserati
    3.1Good
    Reliability: 8.1Maintenance: 7.7
    View Models
  • 28
    Toyota
    3.2Good
    Reliability: 7.6Maintenance: 7.9
    View Models
  • 28
    Porsche
    3.2Good
    Reliability: 7.8Maintenance: 7.9
    View Models
  • 30
    Hyundai
    3.3Good
    Reliability: 7.0Maintenance: 8.3
    View Models
  • 30
    Cadillac
    3.3Good
    Reliability: 7.2Maintenance: 8.2
    View Models
  • 30
    Aston Martin
    3.3Good
    Reliability: 8.3Maintenance: 7.2
    View Models
  • 33
    Land Rover
    3.4Good
    Reliability: 7.3Maintenance: 8.0
    View Models
  • 33
    Jaguar
    3.4Good
    Reliability: 7.3Maintenance: 8.0
    View Models
  • 33
    Bentley
    3.4Good
    Reliability: 8.2Maintenance: 7.1
    View Models
  • 33
    Genesis
    3.4Good
    Reliability: 6.9Maintenance: 8.3
    View Models
  • 37
    Acura
    3.5Good
    Reliability: 6.9Maintenance: 8.0
    View Models
  • 37
    Dodge
    3.5Good
    Reliability: 6.9Maintenance: 8.2
    View Models
  • 39
    Volkswagen
    3.6Average
    Reliability: 7.2Maintenance: 7.6
    View Models
  • 40
    Subaru
    3.7Average
    Reliability: 7.1Maintenance: 7.6
    View Models
  • 40
    Tesla
    3.7Average
    Reliability: 6.2Maintenance: 8.3
    View Models
  • 40
    Ferrari
    3.7Average
    Reliability: 8.3Maintenance: 6.4
    View Models
  • 43
    Chrysler
    3.8Average
    Reliability: 6.2Maintenance: 8.2
    View Models
  • 44
    Ford
    4.0Average
    Reliability: 6.9Maintenance: 7.1
    View Models
  • 45
    Lamborghini
    4.8Average
    Reliability: 8.3Maintenance: 4.2
    View Models
  • 46
    McLaren
    5.1Below Avg
    Reliability: 7.9Maintenance: 3.9
    View Models

Found a brand worth considering? Check the model year next.

Brand rankings narrow the field. The model-year guide helps you decide whether the exact car is worth a test drive, inspection, or offer.

Research a model

Questions shoppers ask before choosing a brand

Clear answers about what the ranking measures—and how to use it without over-trusting a single score.

What does the CarFocal Carfocal Ownership Risk Index tell shoppers?

Static global manufacturer ranking based on combined reliability and maintenance risk. It ranks 46 manufacturers using data from 5971 eligible vehicles, giving you a starting point for a lower-risk shortlist—not a verdict on every individual car.

View ranking table
How is the Carfocal Ownership Risk Index calculated?

The ranking combines aggregated reliability scores, maintenance costs, recall volumes, and complaint frequencies across each manufacturer's eligible lineup. Validate the exact model year, VIN, service history, and inspection before buying.

Read full methodology
Which car brands rank highest in the Carfocal Ownership Risk Index?

The top-ranked manufacturers in this index prioritize manageable maintenance costs and low failure risks across their tracked model years.

See top brands

How the ranking is built

  • Start with the same eligible reliability data used by the Reliability Index.
  • Add maintenance burden derived from first-year cost estimates, DIY difficulty, and repair prediction severity when available.
  • Convert both reliability and maintenance into risk form, then combine them at a 50/50 weighting.
  • Rank manufacturers by the average ownership risk across all eligible model-years with sufficient data.
Want the deep dive? Read the full methodology

Comparing a specific car?

Move from a brand-level score to the exact model year, with reliability, recalls, common problems, and maintenance context in one place.

Find the model guide

Why shoppers use CarFocal

This report blends reliability burden with maintenance burden to surface brands that look cheaper or riskier to own.

Sources & MethodsAbout CarFocal

Research updates

  1. v1.0 2026-03-21

    Initial global manufacturer ranking combining reliability burden and maintenance burden at a 50/50 weighting.

Find a car report

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