Hondas have a fantastic reputation as a reliable car brand, but do they live up to it? Many people feel like cars aren’t made as well as they used to be, so if you’re wondering if Hondas are still reliable, you’re not alone. That’s a question the mechanics here at Shadetree Automotive get asked all the time.
Well, wonder no more! Here is what you need to know about if Hondas are still reliable, what studies say about Hondas, and other factors that impact their reliability. Let’s get into it.
Is Honda Still Reliable?
In short? Yes.
Hondas are reliable now, and they were reliable before too. If you’re looking for a new car and you want to ensure that what you get is safe and will last a long time, Hondas are a smart choice. We don’t say that out of brand loyalty, we say that based on being an auto repair shop that services cars of all makes and models.
Honda is one of the car brands that we can almost guarantee our customers to be able to get about 300k miles out of, so long as you’re mindful about maintenance.
What The Reports Say
Considering how advocates for each type of car will claim it’s the best, it’s important to turn to unbiased reports in order to get an accurate idea of a car’s strengths and weaknesses. RepairPal provides reliability ratings for car brands as a whole, as well as specific models in order to help people choose the right car for their needs.
Honda has a reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars – above average, and putting it smack-dab in 1st place out of 32 different car brands. RepairPal looked at factors such as cost, frequency of repairs, and severity of repairs in order to determine the reliability rating of each car on its site.
Cost
This refers to the average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs/maintenance.
On average, Hondas cost their owners about $428 in annual repairs per year. This is inexpensive compared to other car brands. On average, people can expect to pay $526 in repairs for midsize cars and $652 for all models.
Frequency Of Repairs
This refers to how often cars are taken in for unscheduled repairs/maintenance in a year. This study was controlled in order to exclude regular, routine maintenance, such as oil changes.
Hondas typically go to repair shops about 0.3 times a year for unscheduled repairs. On average, cars need unscheduled repairs 0.4 times a year. Bear in mind that these numbers are averages. You can use RepairPal to compare specific makes and models, which can result in a huge gap.
Severity Of Repairs
This refers to the likelihood of a repair to be a major problem and costs 3 times the average annual repair cost, so about $1500 or more. Severe issues impact the car’s safety, and thus, yours, and that of everyone else on the road.
About 10% of repairs in Hondas are severe, compared to 12% across all models.
If you’d like to read the report for yourself, you can click to this link here. You can also look at RepairPal’s reliability page here for general stats and to check your car’s reliability rating.
Hondas Are Still Reliable – But They Need Regular Maintenance To Stay That Way
Regardless of the type of car you have, if you want it to last as long as possible, you need to ensure that you’re caring for it properly. Here at Shadetree Automotive, we follow the specific manufacturer’s recommendations for each model, combined with what we notice from our inspections.
For example, we’re based out of Northern Utah, which is a desert climate with harsh weather. As such, we recommend oil changes on Hondas every 5000 miles, which is a bit sooner than the manufacturer recommends.
We also look at things like your engine air filter, brake fluid, coolant, and more. We make recommendations based on what we notice, such as if your transmission fluid or power-steering fluid needs to be serviced.
About Spark Plugs
Hondas’ spark plugs should be changed about every 100k miles. Their spark plugs can last between 100k and 150k miles, and typically don’t need to be replaced prior to the 100k mark. Since it’s challenging to tell whether these need to be changed based on how they look, recommendations are typically made based on mileage.
It’s important to keep a record of what maintenance you have done to your Honda, as you don’t want to forget that you recently got new spark plugs and then have them replaced again, when they didn’t need to be.
About Timing Belts
Newer Hondas have timing chains, which don’t have mileage recommendations, but older Hondas have timing belts. Since timing belts are rubber, they should be changed every 100k miles. This includes the belt itself, as well as the other components, like the water pump that the belt drives. If one component fails, the belt fails, so you want to stay on top of maintenance here.
As you can see, if you were wondering, “Is Honda still reliable,” the answer is yes, Hondas are very much still reliable, particularly when you ensure to maintain them as needed.
Do You Need Car Maintenance or Repairs?
Shadetree Automotive provides auto repair services in Layton, UT. Whether you have a Honda or another type of car, count on us to treat it with the same car as if it were our own. Our goal is to explain recommendations and processes in a way that alleviates stress and helps you rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands.
We love to help people. We know how expensive automotive-related things can be – especially when it comes to unscheduled repairs. We help you prioritize based on your situation and ensure that the cost is always the exact amount we promised – if not less.
If you’d like to make an appointment, please head to our Request An Appointment page. If you have questions about our services or your vehicle, feel free to shoot us a call during business hours, and one of our service advisors will be happy to help you out.
