Latest Consumer Report Reliability Data

[JJBlanchard]

The latest Consumer Reports data on 2024 and 2025 reliability are encouraging. Acknowledging that there can be wide individual differences in experience but these aggregate results show a clear progression in improvement. After a full year in my 2024 I would have to say my experience aligns with these data - only major issue was initial dealer with limited service availability/competence for EVs that was resolved by switching to a different (and better) dealer.

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[Ahlarict]

My 2024.5 MME Rally has 18k miles on it since February, and has had nothing but the standard maintenance - which experience was the best I've ever experienced by virtue of the fact that all i had to do was hand the keys to a kindly gentleman who was dropped off on my doorstep to pick it up! This valet service including the scheduled maintenance cost me only $52.93! I was flat out amazed.

 

[dan_meh]

Me too.

I bought a 2024 because I saw the incremental improvement. I wasn’t passionate about the Ford brand - this is my first Ford - but when I read CR’s recommendations last year, the recommended two row electric car-ish “SUV” was a Ford. I also followed CR’s recommendation to wait a couple of years on new systems to let the manufacturer iron out bugs.

My lived experience with a 2024 matches the CR story: the infotainment is quirky (It twice forgot to let go of an Apple Maps destination, for example) but it’s never left me broken down. And the annoyances are easily resolved (disconnect CarPlay, reconnect CarPlay). And sure, I wish Sync 4 to be snappy and more modern. But it works.

The important stuff: the drivetrain, has been great. Yes, I blew a 50 amp fuse in the High Voltage Junction Box (HVJB), but the dealer replaced the fuse and I drove in an Explorer for a day or two (Don’t love the Explorer).

You could say that the 50 amp fuse should be resettable, and that required physical repair is a quality problem. And I’d probably agree. But it’s not reoccurring, so I’m not worried about it.

My experience with the quality has made me very curious about the next thing Ford does. My Toyota will be about 10 years old then, so I can watch the first two years of the new platform and buy in the third or fourth.

 

[kindofblue]

We have a 22 and it's been stone cold reliable.

 

[Mach1E]

I would agree with the data but with an asterisk.

Because most of the “reliability issues” with the early models were fixed with software updates and recalls…….. the 2021-2022 models also got more reliable as time went on.

I don’t think CR revises reliability but they should. It’s not normal that a car would become more reliable as it ages, but it definitely happened.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Doesn't CR rate a broken air vent the same way they do a major engine flaw? If you car gets you from A to B every time, it is reliable. Also, I believe, there is all kinds of data, such as warranty repairs, CR omits from its findings but I admit I have not confirmed that (not from a credible source at least). At any rate, my 2022 Premium has been issue free (sans HVBJB recall) for over three years.

 

[ex2bot]

Doesn't CR rate a broken air vent the same way they do a major engine flaw? If you car gets you from A to B every time, it is reliable. Also, I believe, there is all kinds of data, such as warranty repairs, CR omits from its findings but I admit I have not confirmed that (not from a credible source at least). At any rate, my 2022 Premium has been issue free (sans HVBJB recall) for over three years.

From their podcast, they did say that they weigh types of flaws differently.

Also, for the OP: I read an explanation years and years ago from Consumer Reports. They said these year-by-year reliability grades don’t work like you might think they work.

The reliability scores for older model years on the table indicate how reliable they were at the latest yearly survey. So, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the Mach E has become much more reliable over time.

CU asks members to fill out reliability surveys every year. In the latest survey (say 2025’s that just happened recently), the NEW 2025 models are overall VERY reliable (see table) *because they’re new.*

By contrast, from that same survey data from 2025, overall the 2021 models, for example, are now (or recently were) needing more repairs because they’re about five years old.

It may well be that newer Mach-E model years are more reliable than older model years, but that cannot be determined just from the table that the OP referenced.

 

[Mach1E]

From their podcast, they did say that they weigh types of flaws differently.

Also, for the OP: I read an explanation years and years ago from Consumer Reports. They said these year-by-year reliability grades don’t work like you might think they work.

The reliability scores for older model years on the table indicate how reliable they were at the latest yearly survey. So, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the Mach E has become much more reliable over time.

CU asks members to fill out reliability surveys every year. In the latest survey (say 2025’s that just happened recently), the NEW 2025 models are overall VERY reliable (see table) *because they’re new.*

By contrast, from that same survey data from 2025, overall the 2021 models, for example, are now (or recently were) needing more repairs because they’re about five years old.

It may well be that newer Mach-E model years are more reliable than older model years, but that cannot be determined just from the table that the OP referenced.

Surveys were always the problem with how CR rates reliability.

They tell you how reliable people FEEL their cars are, not necessarily how reliable they ARE.

There has been decades worth of self fulfilling prophecy because the readers tend to have a bias towards cars that CR told them to buy.

I prefer JD power dependability studies because it’s just raw data.

 

[ex2bot]

Surveys were always the problem with how CR rates reliability.

They tell you how reliable people FEEL their cars are, not necessarily how reliable they ARE.

There has been decades worth of self fulfilling prophecy because the readers tend to have a bias towards cars that CR told them to buy.

I prefer JD power dependability studies because it’s just raw data.

I don’t know about J.D. Power. I’ve heard both good and bad.

CR’s surveys are a valid way to collect data. It’s difficult enough to get surveys returned, asking for proof of breakdowns and repairs really isn’t practical. So, I think survey data is just fine as long as you’re aware of the limitations. Ideally, we’d have other types of data to consider at the same time.

 

[Mach1E]

I don’t know about J.D. Power. I’ve heard both good and bad.

CR’s surveys are a valid way to collect data. It’s difficult enough to get surveys returned, asking for proof of breakdowns and repairs really isn’t practical. So, I think survey data is just fine as long as you’re aware of the limitations. Ideally, we’d have other types of data to consider at the same time.

The more I know about a product, the less I’ve found CR data to be accurate.

Some treat it like gospel when it’s just an aggregation of opinions of CR readers.

I used to hate CR when I was a manager at an appliance and electronics store. The CR shoppers were the worst. “I want X model because CR says it’s the best.” And it was usually last year’s model….. and not the best.

Back in the 1980s there was a large difference between the most reliable thing and the least. Today? Not so much.

CR also treats cars like appliances. If you feel the same way about your car as you do a toaster…… CR will probably steer you in the right direction.

 

[dan_meh]

CR also treats cars like appliances. If you feel the same way about your car as you do a toaster…… CR will probably steer you in the right direction.

 

[ex2bot]

The more I know about a product, the less I’ve found CR data to be accurate.

Some treat it like gospel when it’s just an aggregation of opinions of CR readers.

I used to hate CR when I was a manager at an appliance and electronics store. The CR shoppers were the worst. “I want X model because CR says it’s the best.” And it was usually last year’s model….. and not the best.

Back in the 1980s there was a large difference between the most reliable thing and the least. Today? Not so much.

CR also treats cars like appliances. If you feel the same way about your car as you do a toaster…… CR will probably steer you in the right direction.

I have similar concerns. They’re far from perfect. For example, their food safety articles are often based on bad science (Environmental Working Group, Prop 65).

I’m still not ready to throw them out completely, but…

 

[Mach1E]

And that’s totally fine. Many people look at cars that way.

I judge cars more based on looks, performance, cost and comfort. CR surveys rarely factor in.

What does CR say about my current car (Porsche Taycan 4S)?

Couldn’t tell you, I didn’t even care to look. I did read a ton of articles and watch dozens of videos about the performance though.

 

[dan_meh]

This is fair criticism but also a fair explainer:



If you have questions, their Talking Cars podcast takes data questions all the time.

The fairest criticism is that the highest volume gets the highest resolution.

 

[Ahlarict]

The MME's only real big-ticket failure was generally the battery junction box, right? I've seen threads from folks that went through hell with those and their dealers - some owners had multiple JB failures and lost months of use of their cars as incompetent dealers struggled to fix the issues. That mess (knock on wood) seems to be mostly over, doesn't it? This is anecdotal, but I haven't seen a single report of a JB failure in a 2024 or newer car here, or on Reddit's MME subs - and I have been nervously looking for such threads since February... Unless I've just missed them and this is still happening to new Ford owners too (and Ford has every incentive to fix this issue), it would be inevitable that CR's ratings would reflect that progress.

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