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When it comes to overall reliability, the brands that most often come to mind are Toyota and Honda. However, traditionally, the V8 engines found in both Ford and Chevrolet vehicles are known for being robust and dependable. There are million-mile Mustangs and Corvettes with enough miles to make it to the moon and back on the odometer. So, it’s a bit surprising to see that both the current Ford Mustang and C8 Corvette make a list of the least reliable cars you can currently buy.

What makes the Ford Mustang and C8 Corvette unreliable?

A blue 2022 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray on a desert canyon overlook
A 2022 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray | Chevrolet

Consumer Reports recently put out a list of the 10 least reliable 2022 model year cars. While there we some that made the list and were fairly unsurprising, a handful that made the list were quite the opposite. The Tesla Model Y was a bit surprising to see on the list. However, none were more surprising than the Ford Mustang and C8 Corvette.

Consumer Reports’ reasoning for giving the 2022 Mustang its lowest predicted reliability ratings is a bit surprising. The website lists failure points as Steering/suspension, transmission, power equipment, brakes, drive system, and in-car electronics. CR does not, however, give many specifics about the roots of these potential failure points.

According to Car Complaints, many Mustang owners have issues with the MT-82 manual transmission. So much so that a lawsuit was filed against Ford for knowingly using transmissions too weak for the vehicle application.

Blue 2022 Ford Mustang GT California Special. The Mustang is cheaper than the 2022 Dodge Challenger.
2022 Ford Mustang GT | Ford

Additionally, dozens of users are Car Problem Zoo report having problems with the current generation Mustang’s steering components. The S550 Mustang uses electric power steering with an adjustable feel and response. Evidently, there’s no shortage of owners having issues with this system.

C8 Corvette transmission issues are the root of its ratings

2022 C8 Corvette
2022 C8 Corvette convertible | GM

The reasons CR states for the Corvette’s predicted reliability rating are engine, transmission, drive system, paint & trim issues.

This doesn’t come as a surprise. Chevrolet recently concluded an investigation that had to do with C8 Corvette transmissions. Many owners of the iconic mid-engine Corvette were facing a myriad of problems with the transmission. This includes transmission leaking fluid and flashing error codes on the dashboards.

Chevrolet requested that customers leave their C8 Corvette in park and have it towed to the nearest dealership if they experience issues. Furthermore, Chevrolet wants its techs to flush the transmissions and save the filters. That way, Chevrolet engineers can investigate the fluids for any signs of what may be causing issues.

Chevrolet says that debris in the fluid is the root cause of the error codes and operation issues. Furthermore, Chevy also updated the gasket used for the transmission pan, as that was the source of the leaks.

Ultimately, these low reliability ratings are virtually guaranteed not to affect the sales of these two American icons. However, if you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of people in the market for the Ford Mustang and C8 Corvette, these are certainly issues worth keeping in mind.

Fortunately, warranties should cover any immediate issues you may experience. However, there’s no telling what the future may hold.

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