What Car? Reliability Survey - Fiat to Hyundai

Fiat
•League position: 18th
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 35.3
• Average age (years): 4.75
• Average mileage: 43,637
• Average repair cost: £361
• Average time for repair (hours): 3.7

Fiat continues its steady decline over the past few years, with an increase in claims of just over 1% since last year.

The average age of cars increased by six months, while the average repair cost rose to £361, £90 more than last year. The Fiat Brava was the highest-placed model from the range, in 17th place.

Faults with the brakes and suspension caused over 30% of repairs, while electrical and transmission issues accounted for about 13% each.

Fiat’s worst performer, for the second year, was the Cinquecento, with over 50% of cars requiring attention.

Verdict: ** Fiat fails to stop its fall, and repair costs rise.

Ford
• League position: 20th
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 36.4
• Average age (years): 4.72
• Average mileage: 48,692
• Average repair cost: £223
• Average time for repair (hours): 2.1

Ford has suffered a major setback in the past year, because they have dropped seven places in our survey. This equates to a 5% rise in the frequency of repairs.

This might be down to an increase in both the average age of cars, as well as the miles covered in a year. Despite this, the Ka managed to scrape into the top 10.

Brakes and suspension components generate the most problems, with electrical faults the next biggest area of concern. Ford Scorpio owners should be wary, over half of those on Warranty Direct’s books needed warranty work last year.

Verdict: ** A disappointing showing from Ford.

Honda
• League position: 1st
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 9.9
• Average age (years): 4.76
• Average mileage: 45,454
• Average repair cost: £325
• Average time for repair (hours): 2.4

Honda has climbed from third place last year to take the top position in the reliability stakes this year.

The company is a perfect example of why the Japanese makes have such a good reputation for reliability. Fewer than one in 10 Honda owners needed to make a claim on their warranties, and when they did, the problems were fixed quickly – the average repair time being a reasonable 2.4 hours.

However, average repair costs are on the pricey side at £325. That’s £62 more than last year’s £263 average.

Despite this, two Honda models – the Accord (built between 1999 and 2003) and the Civic (’96-’01) – take first and second place respectively on the individual model league table.

Verdict: ***** An excellent showing for Honda – shame about the increase in repair costs, though.

Hyundai
• League position: 6th
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 16.2
• Average age (years): 4.58
• Average mileage: 40,522
• Average repair cost: £135
• Average time for repair (hours): 1.2

Hyundai has hung on to its sixth-place position for the second year running, making it the highest scoring non-Japanese brand overall.

Fewer than one in five Hyundai owners needed to make a claim, and those who did had their problems fixed quickly and cheaply. In fact, Hyundai had the cheapest average repair costs of all the cars in the survey, at £135.

It also had the fastest repair time, at an average of just 1.2 hours. When problems did occur, they tended to be with the axle and suspension systems, followed closely by electrical glitches.

Verdict: ***** A good performance from Hyundai, few things go wrong, but when they do they’re fixed quickly and cheaply.

Click here to see how the manufacturers compare.

Click here for top 10 most reliable models.

Click here for top 10 least reliable models.