Car research lab
What has been reported about your car, what could a repair cost, and what does the evidence leave unanswered? Start with our studies or choose your model. Sources, assumptions and missing data stay visible so you can check the findings yourself.
Original studies · September 2026
Our studies examine local labor costs, zero-complaint records and gaps in vehicle specifications. Each explains how the finding affects a coverage decision and shows the calculation. You can download the charts and supporting data.
Labor costs for an eight-hour repair differ by $524.32 across our 50-city model. Compare that gap with a warranty's labor allowance.
Read the study and get the data →Public-record audit155 / 177zero-complaint model-years with other records155 of 177 model-years with no complaints still have recall or service records. Check those records before treating a zero complaint count as evidence of a trouble-free car.
Read the study and get the data →Source-coverage audit134model-years without a matched EPA configuration134 model-years in our database have no EPA configuration match. Confirm your engine and drivetrain before using a repair estimate that may describe a different version.
Read the study and get the data →Start with your car
You can look up a car before buying it, budget for a repair or check a warranty quote. Choose the question closest to your decision.
Look up complaints, recalls and manufacturer service information for your make, model and year. These records can point you toward questions to ask a mechanic, but they don't tell you how likely your car is to break down.
Choose a vehicleCheck repair-cost ranges for the kind of engine and drivetrain in your car. Use them to plan a budget, then get a shop estimate for any work you actually need.
Review repair researchHave a quote? Enter its full price and deductible to see how large a covered repair would need to be for one claim to pay back that cost. Check exclusions and payout limits before relying on the result.
Run the calculatorOur sources
We use different sources for reported problems, vehicle details and repair costs. Together they help you ask better questions, but they can't predict your car's next repair.
339,560 complaint/model-year records, 11,020 recall/model-year records and 864,817 communication/model-year records. IDs are deduplicated within each model-year; these sums are not globally unique reports, campaigns or documents.
Snapshot or source date: 2026-09-03
11,636 EPA configurations cover 2,608 model-year records. Fuel type, drivetrain and equipment details help us choose repairs that fit. We do not fill gaps with specifications from another year.
Snapshot or source date: 2026-08-07
We model 44 major repairs, using published RepairPal benchmarks where we have a match. Local labor assumptions help produce broad ranges for planning.
Snapshot or source date: 2026-06-18
The public index links to 2,359 vehicle-year pages and 2,931 issue pages for further research. Public source details identify covered years, evidence labels and citations for 1,221 canonical issue records. Article prose, images and dynamic owner counts are not imported.
Snapshot or source date: 2026-09-03
Explore a vehicle
These profiles have records and repair examples to explore. They aren't a list of the best or worst cars. Complaint counts alone don't account for how many cars were sold, how far they were driven or how serious the reported problems were.
897 complaint reports · 8 recall campaigns
Open model-year research →20182,285 complaint reports · 19 recall campaigns
Open model-year research →20182,127 complaint reports · 5 recall campaigns
Open model-year research →20181,009 complaint reports · 19 recall campaigns
Open model-year research →20191,032 complaint reports · 3 recall campaigns
Open model-year research →20151,355 complaint reports · 10 recall campaigns
Open model-year research →Check the dates
New complaints, recalls and service information can appear after we collect a source. Each study shows the dates behind its figures. For a decision about a particular car, check its current recall status and get a current repair estimate or warranty quote.
Before you decide
Look into reported problems that could affect your car and check for open recalls by VIN. A complaint count won't tell you how often a part fails, and a recall count won't tell you whether your car has already been repaired.
If you're considering a warranty, use our repair ranges as a starting point, not a forecast. Compare the plan's full price with what it would pay toward repairs you care about. Check the deductible, waiting period, labor allowance and payout limits in the actual contract.
Our FixCatalogue links provide more detail on reported issues. We use attributed facts and source references, not its article text, images, owner submissions or private data. Check whether a listed issue applies to your car.