Drivers staring at five-figure repair bills for relatively young vehicles are not mincing words. Many now insist that modern cars are “built to break,” and the online comments under viral videos and mechanic threads are as harsh as they are detailed. At the same time, large-scale reliability data paints a more complicated picture, with some brands quietly racking up hundreds of thousands of miles while others struggle.
Between angry Reddit posts, YouTube rants and careful survey work, a split is emerging: some automakers are proving that durable cars are still possible, while others are feeding the perception that the industry is leaning into short lifespans and expensive fixes.
The anger: viral rants and brutal comment sections
The phrase “made to break” has become a rallying cry in car culture, especially in videos with titles like New Cars and clips that insist new models Are MADE TO BREAK and HAVE PROOF about Buying a brand-new car. One widely shared piece of content, framed as “New Cars in 2025 Are MADE TO BREAK… (I HAVE PROOF!),” leans on stories of vehicles that seem to develop major issues just after the warranty clock runs out. The tone is accusatory and personal, and the comments underneath are filled with drivers swapping tales of transmissions that failed at 70,000 miles and electronics that never quite worked right.
Mechanics are being pulled into the debate as referees. In a popular thread titled “Newer cars designed to fail?” a user opens with a blunt Hello and asks professionals whether modern designs are intentionally fragile. The replies describe cramped engine bays, plastic cooling parts and repair procedures that require removing half the front end for a simple job, all of which feed the sense that cars are being engineered around assembly efficiency and short-term cost, not long-term serviceability. When those anecdotes collide with the reality that the average price of a new vehicle has soared past $50,000, the frustration in those “brutal” comment sections starts to look less like hyperbole and more like economic anxiety.
What the data actually says about reliability
Strip away the outrage and a more nuanced story appears in the numbers. Large-scale owner surveys and long-term dependability studies show that reliability is not dead so much as unevenly distributed. One detailed How Reliability is measured in 2026, for example, leans on survey responses that track traditional issues such as engine and transmission failures alongside newer trouble spots like infotainment glitches, then follows how the car remains mechanically sound over time. That kind of methodology undercuts the idea that every new car is doomed, while still confirming that some models are chronic headaches.
One major analysis, described as Consumer Reports Releases Automotive Brand Report Card, is framed as The Comprehensive Analysis of Vehicle Quality to Help Guide Car shoppers. That work, based on tested models from each automaker, finds that Subaru Remains Number One Overall, suggesting that some brands still prioritize durability. A related breakdown notes that CR’s survey shows both EVs and plug-in hybrids struggling more than conventional vehicles, even as some electric models buck the trend. In other words, the data backs up some of the complaints about complexity and new tech, but it also highlights brands that are quietly getting it right.
Brands that keep cars running, and those that do not
Look closer at the brand rankings and a pattern emerges. In the same set of findings, Automotive Brand Report results show Subaru Remains Number One Overall, reinforcing the reputation of the Subaru brand for building cars that survive harsh climates and long commutes. Another slice of the same research notes that BMW Stands Out Among European Brands, ranking as the most reliable European nameplate, with All of its models performing consistently well. That undercuts the blanket claim that “all modern cars” are fragile, and instead points to specific engineering and quality control choices.
Other lists echo that divide. A widely shared ranking of 2026 models notes that In the latest report, fully electric vehicles continue to prove a bit more reliable than plug-in hybrids, but less reliable than conventional cars, with Brands With the Highest Predicted reliability dominated by familiar Japanese badges. Another rundown of the top 10 most reliable 2026 models highlights the Consumer Reports Reveals Automotive Rankings and And The Results Will Surprise You, with models like the Subaru Crosstrek and 2026 Toyota Priu singled out as standouts that keep performing year after year.
Where modern tech really is causing trouble
If some brands are thriving, others are giving critics plenty of ammunition. A list of the top 10 least reliable 2026 models bluntly tells readers, Now check out the top 10 least reliable 2026 models according to Consumer Reports, with the GMC Acadia, Photo: General Motors, sitting at number one. The trouble spots list Engine (including premature failures), in-car electronics and advanced driver assistance systems that do not always behave as advertised. For owners, those are not abstract categories but real-world breakdowns that feel suspiciously timed to arrive after the warranty expires.
Electric vehicles are not immune. One detailed breakdown of How Reliability is measured in 2026 notes that Reliability rankings are based on survey data that captures both traditional mechanical failures and newer battery or software issues. Another summary of the top 10 least reliable models points to recurring problems in vehicles like the GMC Acadia and other models from General Motors, reinforcing the perception that some manufacturers are still wrestling with quality control. When owners of those vehicles stumble across YouTube clips like New Cars are, which features a worker from an exotic car rental company describing high-end models that spend more time in the shop than on the road, it is not hard to see why the “built to break” narrative sticks.
EV disruptors, legacy giants and the fight for trust
The reliability debate is also reshaping how drivers view the industry’s biggest names. Traditional automakers are under pressure as survey-based rankings show mixed results for Detroit brands, with one analysis noting scant good news for domestic companies even as some models climb into the top 10. At the same time, a separate look at the longest-lasting brands points out that Some automotive brands have remained at the top of predicted reliability rankings for years, and that many of those top-ranked brands continue to dominate. That continuity suggests that building durable cars is still very much a choice, not an impossibility.
Newer electric-focused players are trying to position themselves as part of the solution rather than the problem. Companies like Tesla and Rivian emphasize over-the-air updates and simplified drivetrains, arguing that fewer moving parts should mean fewer failures. Yet the survey work cited earlier shows that fully electric vehicles are, on average, still less reliable than conventional cars, even if they outperform plug-in hybrids. Legacy manufacturers like GM are caught in the middle, trying to pivot to EVs while lists of least reliable models still feature vehicles like the GMC Acadia, Photo: General Motors, at the top.
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