Are Hondas and Toyotas Still Reliable?

2025 Toyota Tundra

When you think of reliability in the car world, two names usually top the list: Honda and Toyota. They’ve built their reputations over decades of making vehicles that just keep going—sometimes seemingly forever. I’ve owned both over the years. My high school car was a 1985 Toyota Supra, inherited from my dad. It was fast, it was fun, and yes, it got me into more than a little trouble. My mom still drives her 2003 Corolla, which is going strong, and there’s a 1992 Toyota Tercel hanging around our driveway that, despite not being remotely stock anymore, still runs like a champ. But lately, I’ve been getting the same question from car shoppers: “Are Honda and Toyota still reliable?”

It's a fair question. Recent headlines have highlighted some less-than-stellar moments for both brands. Honda has been dealing with everything from excessive oil consumption to gearboxes that seem confused about their job description. Toyota, long considered the gold standard for reliability, has been hit with engine failures in its new Tundras, transmission issues in Tacomas, and even brake problems in the Corolla Cross. So what gives?

A Reality Check on Reliability

First, let’s talk about what reliability really means. It’s not about a car never needing maintenance or repairs—that’s unrealistic. Instead, it means the vehicle performs consistently well over time and doesn’t surprise you with expensive repairs, especially early in its life. When it comes to measuring this, a lot of people rely on sources like Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports compiles reliability ratings based on surveys from hundreds of thousands of car owners, combined with their own extensive testing. In their 2024 rankings, Toyota and Lexus got bumped from the top spot, and Honda and Acura were also lower on the list than usual. Subaru took the crown this year. Why? Mostly because Subaru hasn’t redesigned many models recently, so there’s less new tech and fewer bugs to work out.

That’s the first lesson: new tech often means new problems. The more complicated a car gets, the more opportunities there are for things to go wrong.

The Honda Hiccups

Honda has had its share of skeletons in the closet. The 1998-2005 Accords were notorious for transmission issues. The 2007-2011 CR-Vs had a flawed heat shield design that led to AC compressor problems. More recently, Civics from 2016 to 2021 have also been plagued by air conditioning failures. And Honda’s newer models haven’t fared much better, with widespread issues related to defective fuel pumps, faulty gearboxes, and a class action lawsuit over infotainment systems that just didn’t want to behave.

Honda also recalled nearly 2 million vehicles in 2023 alone, including Civics, CR-Vs, and HR-Vs, due to a defective steering gearbox. That came on top of a prior recall involving a faulty fuel pump affecting 2.6 million vehicles. These aren’t just cosmetic or convenience issues—they’re serious mechanical defects.

Toyota’s Turbulence

Then there’s Toyota. In early 2024, they recalled over 100,000 of their newly redesigned Tundras and Lexus LX SUVs due to widespread engine failures—not exactly the kind of news that instills confidence. Later that year, they had to halt sales of the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX because a safety test found that the front airbags might not deploy correctly under certain crash conditions. Production was stopped for nearly six months until a fix could be implemented.

These aren’t minor issues. Toyota’s engine failure, for example, was traced back to excess metal shavings from a machining process that clogged oil passages and caused the engine to seize. The fix? Replace the entire engine. That’s not a quick or cheap repair. Fortunately, all of those vehicles were under warranty, so Toyota footed the bill.

Not All Recalls Are Equal

It's important to remember that every vehicle has recalls. Sometimes they’re for something small, like a misprinted sticker. Others are more serious, like Tesla’s recalls over software and suspension issues, or Mercedes models with double-digit recall counts. Honda and Toyota have just had more recalls for major mechanical components lately, and that’s where the concern comes from.

Still, not every issue is as widespread as social media might have you believe. Take Toyota’s GR86. Some of those cars have suffered catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation during spirited driving. But we’re talking about a small niche of cars purchased mostly by enthusiasts—many of whom have dash cams and love posting their breakdowns online. The problem was real, but the internet certainly helped amplify it.

Why Is This Happening Now?

There are several reasons we’re seeing more quality issues from these two automakers:

• More tech = more problems. From infotainment systems to advanced safety features, modern vehicles have more electronics than ever. Each new feature adds complexity, and every new system is a potential failure point.

  
  

• Outsourced parts. Many components are no longer made in-house. Automakers rely on a network of suppliers, which can reduce costs but also lead to inconsistent quality control.

  
  

• Turbochargers and new engines. To meet fuel economy and emissions targets, manufacturers are downsizing engines and adding turbos. These engines are more complicated and have more points of failure than older, naturally aspirated engines.

  
  

• Global manufacturing. Vehicles aren’t just built in Japan anymore. Toyota and Honda have factories all over the world, including the U.S., Mexico, and other countries. With that expansion comes additional challenges in maintaining consistent quality.

  
  

So, Are Honda and Toyota Still Reliable?

Yes—but with an asterisk. They’re not the bulletproof machines they once were, but they're still among the better options on the market. Toyota especially continues to take its reputation seriously. When a problem arises, they generally act quickly and transparently. Honda, on the other hand, tends to be more defensive and slower to acknowledge widespread issues, which has dented their credibility.

Brands to Watch

While Honda and Toyota work through these growing pains, some other brands are stepping up:

• Subaru earned the top spot for reliability in 2024 largely because it stuck with older, proven platforms.

  
  

• Hyundai and Kia have improved dramatically in recent years and back their cars with solid warranties.

  
  

That said, no carmaker is immune to problems. What matters is how they handle those problems. Toyota tends to fess up and fix things. Honda, not so much—at least not right away.

Final Thoughts

Reliability isn’t what it used to be for any brand. The industry has changed. Cars are more complicated, the tech is more advanced, and manufacturers are being pushed to innovate faster than ever. That can lead to more issues—even for historically rock-solid brands. Reliability is now graded on a curve, folks.

If you’re shopping for a vehicle and worried about long-term reliability, look beyond the brand.

☑️ Do your research.

☑️ Avoid the first model year of any major redesign.

☑️ Check recall history.

☑️ Look at consumer feedback for specific trims and engines.

That’s the approach I use when helping my clients, and it’s what I teach in my online course, The No BS Guide to Buying a Car.

So yes, Toyota and Honda still build some of the most dependable vehicles on the road. Just don’t expect perfection. And as always, buying the right car starts with asking the right questions.

🎧 Want the full scoop under the hood? Tune into The Straight Shift podcast episode for a no-nonsense breakdown of whether Honda and Toyota still deserve their reliability crowns.