We analyzed the available data and identified the top three most registered cars in each state of the US and which of those cars are the most reliable (according to Fixd App’s primary check engine light data). By combining our data with other datasets, we created a list of the top 10 states with the most reliable cars, as well as a list of 10 states with the least reliable cars. We also broke down how much each model costs on average to repair for each check engine light and at the end we give you a little insight on which cars are the least expensive to own in the long run.
A note about the data: Our primary diagnostic data is collected each time a check engine light is scanned with our app. Our scanners are fitted in over 30 million cars across the US and are the source of our primary data. The cars that have the fewest check engine lights reported are generally considered to be the most reliable in our rating system. We also analyzed a few other data sources to determine the popularity of models and their associated repair costs.
Which States Own The Most Reliable Cars?
It’s fascinating to look at which cars are the most popular throughout the country, even if they are not actually reliable cars (based on our statistics). But how do you use this to your advantage?
Why You Should Know:
If you keep seeing the same vehicle models for sale in your area, it may be because it is a popular model. But, just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s reliable. Take a look at the breakdown of reliability v.s. the average repair costs for each model later in the article before you go car shopping. Save yourself from buying a lemon, the repairs can get expensive fast.
Most Popular Cars In The U.S.
Below are the ten most popular cars across the United States, according to worldpopulationreview.com:
Top 10 Registered Cars | # of States Where 1st Most Registered | # of States Where 2nd Most Registered | # of States Where 3rd Most Registered |
1. Ford F-150 | 30 | 13 | 2 |
2. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4 | 17 | 12 |
3. RAM 1500 | 5 | 9 | 22 |
4. Toyota RAV4 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
5. Honda CR-V | 3 | 3 | 3 |
6. Honda Civic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
7. Toyota Corolla | 1 | 0 | 0 |
8. Toyota Tacoma | 1 | 0 | 0 |
9. Chevrolet Equinox | 0 | 1 | 1 |
10. Toyota 4Runner | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Of the 50 states, 30 of them have the Ford F-Series listed as the most-registered vehicle. Five states have the RAM 1500 (base model of RAM trucks) and Toyota RAV4 as their most-registered car, and just four prefer the Chevrolet Silverado. Three states have the Honda CR-V as their most-registered car, and the Toyota Tacoma, Honda Civic, and Toyota Corolla are the fan-favorites in one state each.
The Toyota Corolla is Florida’s most-registered car, while the Honda Civic is California’s and the Toyota Tacoma is Hawaii’s most popular vehicle.
States With The Most Reliable Cars
These states have the highest concentration of popular reliable cars:
State | 1st Most Registered | 2nd Most Registered | 3rd Most Registered | Average FIXD Reliability Score For Most Registered Cars |
1. New Jersey | Honda CR-V | Honda Civic | Toyota RAV4 | 10/10 |
2. New York | Honda CR-V | Toyota RAV4 | Jeep Cherokee | 10/10 |
3. Connecticut | Honda CR-V | Toyota RAV4 | Subaru Forester | 10/10 |
4. Pennsylvania | Ford F-150 | RAM 1500 | Honda CR-V | 9/10 |
5. Hawaii | Toyota Tacoma | Toyota 4Runner | Toyota RAV4 | 8/10 |
6. California | Honda Civic | Toyota RAV4 | Toyota Camry | 8/10 |
7. Michigan | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Equinox | RAM 1500 | 7/10 |
8. Colorado | Ford F-150 | RAM 1500 | Toyota RAV4 | 7/10 |
9. Nevada | RAM 1500 | Ford F-150 | Toyota RAV4 | 7/10 |
10. Oregon | Toyota RAV4 | Ford F-150 | RAM 1500 | 7/10 |
The above states most popular cars include the Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Cherokee, Ford F-Series, RAM 1500-3500, Chevrolet Equinox, and Subaru Forester.
States With The Least Reliable Cars
The states have lowest concentration of popular reliable cars:
State | 1st Most Registered | 2nd Most Registered | 3rd Most Registered | Average FIXD Reliability Score For Most Registered Cars |
1. New Hampshire | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Toyota RAV4 | 2/10 |
2. Alabama | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Toyota Camry | 2/10 |
3. Indiana | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Equinox | 3/10 |
4. Illinois | Ford F-150 | Honda CR-V | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4/10 |
5. Florida | Toyota Corolla | Ford F-150 | Toyota RAV4 | 4/10 |
6. Alaska | RAM 1500 | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 5/10 |
7. Arizona | RAM 1500 | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 5/10 |
8. Arkansas | RAM 1500 | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 5/10 |
9. Delaware | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | RAM 1500 | 5/10 |
10. Georgia | Ford F-150 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | RAM 1500 | 5/10 |
Which Popular Cars Are The Most Reliable?
Below is the full list of popular cars with our reliability score based on how often these models generate a check engine light. The Honda CR-V being the most reliable, and the classic Ford F-Series being the least reliable.
Model | FIXD Reliability Score |
1. Honda CR-V | 7/10 |
2. Honda Civic | 6/10 |
3. Chevrolet Equinox | 6/10 |
4. Toyota Tacoma | 6/10 |
5. Subaru Forester | 6/10 |
6. Jeep Cherokee | 6/10 |
7. RAM 1500 | 6/10 |
8. Toyota 4Runner | 5/10 |
9. Toyota RAV4 | 5/10 |
10. Toyota Corolla | 5/10 |
11. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4/10 |
12. Ford F-150 | 3/10 |
It’s interesting to note that two of the most reliable cars (Honda CR-V, and Honda Civic) are not among the three most popular vehicles in the US. While the Ford F-150 (base model of the F-Series) is one of the most popular vehicles in the U.S. with a 3/10 reliability rating, the Honda CR-V takes fifth place even though it is more than twice as reliable (7/10).
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (base model of the Silverado series), the most popular vehicle in 4 states, is the second-most unreliable vehicle we looked at (4/10), yet it’s still incredibly popular.
Keep in mind that these reliability ratings are based on the number of check engine light codes these models have thrown in our app, make sure to take a look at the cost of repairs chart below to get a fuller picture of how reliability and cost to repair impact your wallet.
Why Are Some Less Reliable Cars So Popular?
Most likely these less reliable trucks make it on the list of most popular vehicles because trucks and SUVs are now over 80% of new car sales in the U.S. While these vehicle categories are the most popular, that does not mean the most popular truck or SUV is the most reliable. There are quite noticeable differences in reliability between models as shown in our data. They can’t all be winners.
Which Of These Cars Are The Cheapest To Maintain?
Using the repair costs listed below and how often each model has the associated error codes, we can determine which cars are generally the cheapest to maintain and which pose the highest risk of expensive repairs.
Using the 5 most common repairs for each of the most popular models (across all model-years), we have calculated the cost range and average cost for repairs per check engine light. The models are listed from most expensive to repair to least expensive to repair per check engine light:
Model | FIXD Reliability Score | Repair Cost Range | Average Repair Cost Per Check Engine Light |
1. Honda CR-V | 7/10 | $0 – $173 | $29 |
2. Honda Civic | 6/10 | $0 – $306 | $61 |
3. Chevrolet Equinox | 6/10 | $0 – $323 | $80 |
4. Toyota Tacoma | 6/10 | $0 – $1332 | $202 |
5. Toyota 4Runner | 5/10 | $0 – $746 | $225 |
6. Subaru Forester | 6/10 | $0 – $1000 | $249 |
7. Toyota RAV4 | 5/10 | $0 – $1332 | $265 |
8. Jeep Cherokee | 6/10 | $0 – $1537 | $323 |
9. Toyota Corolla | 5/10 | $0 – $1332 | $381 |
10. RAM 1500 | 6/10 | $0 – $2041 | $448 |
11. Ford F-150 | 3/10 | $0 – $1332 | $500 |
12. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4/10 | $0 – $2041 | $717 |
Data-Based Car Shopping Tips Will Save You Money:
Check out our articles on the best and worst years of the Honda CR-V and Honda Civic if you’re in the market. We’ll help you find the safest, most fuel efficient, and reliable years of these already low-cost-to-own, reliable models. Best of all, our articles are based on real data. And, if you’re buying used, check out our Used Car Buying Checklist: How to Find Problems guide. Make sure you don’t get sold a lemon!
What Are The Most Common Causes For A Check Engine Light?
- Loose Gas Cap
- Spark Plugs & Plug Wires
- Low Oil & Low Oil Pressure
- O2 Sensor
- Catalytic Converter
- Mass Airflow Sensor
- Overheating
- Transmission
- Battery
- Vacuum leak
- Exhaust gas recirculation valve failure
- Check Engine Light Is On For No Reason Or Malfunctioning
- Failing Aftermarket Alarm
What Are The Most Common Repairs & What Do They Cost?
Most cars with cheaper repair averages (Civic, CR-V, and Equinox) tend to turn on the check engine light for a loose gas cap most often. This is a big part of why their average repair cost is so low. If the issue is the gas cap, all you have to do is screw the cap back in or, if it’s broken, replace it for about $20. But, there are a few repairs that can bring the average up quite a bit, such as a catalytic converter replacement. Below are the most common repairs for a check engine light along with the repairs’ cost range in order of least to most expensive:
Most Common Repairs | Cost Range |
1. Tighten Or Replace Gas Cap | $0 – $20 |
2. Replace Ignition Coil | $51 – $173 |
3. Replace Center Brake Light | $106 – $130 |
4. Replace Camshaft Position Sensor | $185 – $239 |
5. Replace Heated Oxygen Sensor | $153 – $306 |
6. Replace Fuel Level Sending Unit | $151 – $323 |
7. Replace Battery | $343 – $354 |
8. Replace Intake Manifold Gasket | $357 – $746 |
9. Replace Camshaft Gear | $1177 – $1332 |
10. Replace Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) Exhaust Cam Gear | $1005 – $1537 |
11. Replace Catalytic Converter | $1538 – $2041 |
Conclusion
The Ford F-150 (base model of the F-Series) is one of the most popular vehicles in the United States although it seems to be the least reliable of all the popular models we analyzed. On top of that it is the 2nd most expensive vehicle to maintain on our list at an average of $500 per repair per check engine light. Ouch.
While most models are fairly well balanced – they’re either cheap to repair, reliable, or a mix of the two – Three models in particular stood out for their high reliability score and low average cost to repair:
The Most Reliable Popular Cars On The Market:
Model | FIXD Reliability Score | Repair Cost Range | Repair Cost Average |
1. Honda CR-V | 7/10 | $0 – $173 | $29 |
2. Honda Civic | 6/10 | $0 – $306 | $61 |
3. Chevrolet Equinox | 6/10 | $0 – $323 | $80 |
The Honda CR-V, Honda Civic, and Chevrolet Equinox all exemplify great value. See if you can’t find a good deal on one of these cars, heck go to the next state over if it’s cheaper. It’ll be worth the hassle in the long run.
Remember: Check out our articles on the best and worst years of the Honda CR-V and Honda Civic if you’re in the market. We’ll help you find the safest, most fuel efficient, and reliable years of these already low-cost-to-own, reliable models. Best of all, our articles are based on real data. And, if you’re buying used, check out our Used Car Buying Checklist: How to Find Problems guide. Make sure you don’t get sold a lemon!
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
