PHOENIX (Consumer Reports) — Buying a new car isn’t cheap these days. With both prices and interest rates climbing, choosing a model that will hold up over time matters more than ever. Each year, Consumer Reports surveys its members about problems they’ve experienced with their vehicles over the past 12 months. The feedback covers everything from minor annoyances like trim issues and glitchy infotainment systems to major and expensive trouble with engines, transmissions, or electric motors—problems no new-car owner wants to face.

As CR’s auto expert Mike Quincy explains, the real concern comes later: once the warranty expires, an unreliable car becomes a costly headache that can drain both time and money.

This year’s analysis drew from data on roughly 380,000 vehicles. The top-performing

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