Most reliable used sedans and small cars, ranked

A used sedan is still the cheapest way into a dependable car, and the best ones are very dependable indeed. Across the 24 sedans and small cars we track, average complaint rates range from 58 per 100,000 sold to almost 900. The top of the list is crowded with Toyotas and Mazdas. The bottom is where you will find dual-clutch automatics and engines that were later covered by recalls.

We ranked each model by its average complaint rate from 2012 to 2022, counting complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators and dividing by U.S. sales. Lower is better.

The ranking

Lexus and Toyota, then Mazda

The Lexus ES, built on the same base as the Avalon, has the lowest average of any sedan we track, and the only year to check closely is the 2012, for Takata air bag recalls. Among mainstream cars, the Corolla has the lowest average, and even its worst years draw fewer complaints per car than most compacts. The Camry is close behind. Its 2017 drew just 40 complaints per 100,000 sold, and the one year to avoid is the 2018 redesign, with hesitant shifting and a brake vacuum pump that Toyota recalled twice. The Avalon is the same story in a bigger, quieter body. The Mazda3 is the best non-Toyota pick: no year stands far above its average, and the 2016 and 2017 are the cleanest.

Surprising value picks

The Versa and Cruze are not exciting cars, but their later years are some of the lowest-complaint cheap cars you can buy. The 2017 Versa drew 67 complaints per 100,000 sold and the 2018 Cruze 76. Skip the early years of both: the 2012 and 2014 Versa had CVT failures and air bag recalls, and the 2012 Cruze had water pump leaks and many recalls.

Honda: great years and turbo years

The Civic and Accord are favorites for a reason, and their 2020 and 2021 models are among the best in their classes. The 2018 Accord and, to a lesser degree, the 2016 Civic are the years to approach carefully. The 2018 Accord’s new turbo engines and electronics drew more than twice the Accord’s average complaints, and the 2022 Civic has the most steering complaints of any Civic, now covered by a steering rack recall.

The bottom of the list

The Focus is the clearest year-to-avoid story in our data. Its PowerShift dual-clutch automatic shudders, slips and fails, and the 2012 drew more than 1,500 complaints per 100,000 sold. If you want one, look for a manual. The 2012 Fusion’s average is pulled up by electric power steering failures that became recall 15V340. The 2012 and 2013 Sonata and Optima share engines that were later covered by Hyundai and Kia recalls and warranty extensions. All four have much better later years, listed in the table.

Before you buy

Run the VIN through the free federal recall lookup, use our used car check list for questions specific to that model and year, and pay for an independent inspection. Our years to avoid list explains the worst years in more detail.

Questions

Is a Toyota always the safest choice? In our data, Toyota sedans have the lowest complaint rates in nearly every year. They also cost more used, so a late Mazda3, Versa or Cruze can be better value if you do not mind a smaller or less powerful car.

Why include the Mustang and Charger? Many shoppers cross-shop them with midsize sedans, and they sell in large numbers, so we rate them the same way.