New warranty claims data covering vehicles protected between May 2025 and April 2026 suggests reliability is increasingly being shaped not just by how often cars go wrong, but by how expensive they are to repair when they do.
According to new figures from Warranty Solutions Group, Suzuki now has the UK’s lowest warranty claim rate, overtaking long-time reliability leader Toyota.
Lowest warranty claim rates:
- Suzuki – 6.29%
- Toyota – 7.09%
- Smart – 9.32%
- Dacia – 9.49%
- Mazda – 10.36%
Unlike perception-based reliability surveys, the findings are based on real warranty claims and repair costs recorded over a 12-month period.
The report argues that reliability is no longer just about how often a car breaks. Increasingly, it’s about how expensive even relatively small faults have become once modern electronics, sensors, software systems, and labour costs are involved.
The biggest trends from the data:
- Average repair costs rose from £632 to £679 in 12 months
- Electrical and sensor faults are now among the most common issues
- Labour times and workshop rates continue increasing
- Mainstream brands are becoming more expensive to repair, not just premium models
In other words, a dashboard warning light that once meant a quick fix can now turn into a much larger repair bill because so many systems are interconnected.
That matters because many drivers are keeping cars for longer, while fleets are also trying to balance newer technology with predictable running costs.
The data also explains why simpler, more straightforward cars continue to appeal despite the market becoming increasingly focused on bigger screens, more software, and constant technology upgrades.
