Consumer Reports Releases Reliability Rankings
The redesigned 2014 Subaru Forester compact SUV captured the top slot in the 2013 Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability rankings released Monday.

2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i photo courtesy of Subaru.

2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i photo courtesy of Subaru.
The redesigned 2014 Subaru Forester compact SUV captured the top slot in the 2013 Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability rankings released Monday.
The Forester performed will in testing, including racking up "excellent crash test scores." The vehicle is "a reliability champ," according to Consumer Reports.
On the flip side, the lowest rating went to the Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid with the regular C-Max Hybrid "not faring much better," according to the publication. Below-average ratings also went to the V-6 Honda Accord and redesigned Nissan Altima, which was listed last among mid-sized cars. Consumer Reports also dropped the Toyota Camry from its reccommended list.
Fleet managers looking to add electric or hybrid vehicles to their fleets will note high reliability ratings for the Toyota Prius, Lexus ES 300h, Toyota Prius C, and Honda CR-Z hybrids. The pure-electric Nissan Leaf was also a top pick.
The publication annually ranks auto brands by reliability based on a range of tests. Domestic brands were led by General Motors with GMC, Buick, and Chevrolet ranking higher than brands from Chrysler and Ford. GMC claimed the ninth spot on the list. All Buicks except the V-6 LaCrosse were listed as average or better. The Camaro and Cruze were the only Chevrolet models listed as below average.
Chrysler models rose five spots from last year's rankings to 18th on the list, followed by Ram at 19th, Jeep at 23rd, and Dodge at 24th.
Ford and Lincoln fell toward the bottom of the list with only the BMW Mini faring worse. These brands were "hampered primarily by the MyTouch infotainment systems, and some problems with the V-6 EcoBoost" engine, according to the report. The publication found "problems with components associated with those heavily marketed engines, rather than the engines themselves."
The top-selling Ford F-150 pickup with the 3.7L V-6 was listed as above average.
Volkswagen's Audi was the standout among European brands; Audi claimed the top slot in the survey. Three Audis, including the A6 2.0T sedan and Q7 SUV, have "much better than average" reliability. Volvo jumped 13 places to seventh.
More Maintenance

From Marine Corps Motor Pool to Managing 460 Fleet Vehicles
Cesar Ayala of O’Connell Landscape Maintenance shares how he transitioned from the Marine Corps to managing a 460-vehicle fleet—and the real-world challenges of maintenance, compliance, and driver management in California.
Read More →
If Repair Delays Are the New Normal, How Should Fleets Respond?
The repair crisis gets blamed on technician shortages and parts delays. But a big part of the problem is what's happening before the vehicle even reaches the shop, and that's within your control.
Read More →
Safety by Design: Power and Protection in the Freightliner 114SD Plus
Fleet managers are under pressure to reduce accidents, control costs, and improve operational efficiency. See how advanced vehicle safety technologies are helping fleets operate smarter and safer.
Read More →
Bosch to Acquire AI Predictive Maintenance Startup Uptake Technologies
The deal brings Uptake's fleet diagnostics platform into Bosch's ecosystem, combining predictive analytics with Bosch's telematics infrastructure to help fleets reduce downtime and anticipate component failures.
Read More →Report: How AI Is Reshaping Fleet and Field Service Operations
AI is rapidly transforming fleet and field service operations, from predictive maintenance and intelligent scheduling to customer self-service and real-time diagnostics. But while organizations are seeing measurable gains in uptime, productivity, and efficiency, many are still navigating workforce adoption, cybersecurity concerns, and data readiness challenges. Explore the latest trends, investment priorities, and emerging AI use cases shaping the future of fleet operations.
Read More →
It’s here: The 2026 Fleet Technology Trends Report
What does AI mean for fleets? Get the answer — and learn other top tech trends.
Read More →
AI Emerging As Must-Have Fleet Technology
Within the next six to 12 months, artificial intelligence programs designed specifically for smaller operations will become more affordable, intuitive, and integrated.
Read More →
Labor, Parts, and Price: What’s Powering Fleet Maintenance Costs in 2025
Five quarters of data on the six most common maintenance activities reveal how cost composition and labor intensity influence fleet service trends.
Read More →
How Fleet Managers Are Finding New Ways to Control Maintenance Costs & Downtime
By standardizing repair workflows and building trusted vendor networks, fleets are cutting costs and keeping vehicles on the road.
Read More →
Cox Automotive Unites Fleet Services, FleetNet America
Fleet Services has more than doubled in size with 1,500+ technicians nationwide, and FleetNet America has had record-breaking volume at 2.5 million calls.
Read More →