The cost of vehicle maintenance continues to rise, with the average visit to a repair shop costing $838, as reported by Cox Automotive. This figure underscores the financial burden of owning a vehicle, which includes not only the purchase price but also expenses such as fuel, insurance, and registration.
In the latest JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which surveyed 33,268 original owners of 2023 model-year vehicles, several American brands outperformed traditional Japanese leaders in reliability. Buick achieved the highest ranking in the mass-market segment for the second year in a row, surpassing Toyota. Cadillac and Chevrolet also ranked above the industry average, while notable Japanese brands like Infiniti and Honda fell below.
The study evaluated 184 problem areas across nine categories and found that the overall industry average was 204 problems per 100 vehicles. Lexus emerged as the top brand with a score of 151 PP100, while Buick followed closely with 160 PP100. Conversely, Acura and Infiniti tied at 233 PP100, indicating a need for potential buyers to reconsider these brands when assessing vehicle dependability.