Which year Prius is the most reliable according to Consumer Reports?

I'm not sure what you're referring to. Are you talking about people modding the license plate light? If so, that doesn't sound like it's commonly done nor should it count as a "reliability problem".

Yes, the reliability of the cars and all their individual parts that you own is just luck. But, I prefer to buy cars and/or from companies that have a better track record, this increasing my chances of not having an unreliable car.

 

Always read the fine print.
Discount the most recent model results, it's more like a guesstimate.

quote: We have found that several model years' data are a better predictor than the single most recent model year. One or two years' data may be used if the model was redesigned in 2010 or 2009, or if there were insufficient data for more years. Sometimes we include a prediction for a model that is new or has been redesigned, provided its reliability history or the manufacturer's track record has been consistently above average.

 

The annual April 2011 auto issue arrived in the mail for me in the past couple days. However, it seems the reliability results that went into that were determined awhile ago.

I happened to notice the Nissan 370Z got really bad predicted reliability recently and I checked CR's web site (you need to pay for access or have free access via some library systems). What was up there the other day was identical to what someone posted on my350z.com in December 2010.

You can either pay for access to http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm, buy the magazine or go to your newsstand for look for a Consumer Reports auto guide (one of http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/book-store/products-by-category/cars/index.htm should be right) which they seem to have some version of all year round.

 

I just completed the annual Consumer Reports automobile survey for my 2007 Prius.

Although I have never had a problem worth reporting, the survey asked if there were any recalls in the past year. I answered that there were two -- the pedal recall and the water pump recall.

I suspect that the same way the brake recall for the 2010 Prius apparently brought down its predicted reliability rating to "average", that next year the Gen II Prii reliability ratings will be brought down from their previously stellar heights by the past year's pedal and water pump recalls.