15 American Cars That Are Built Like Tanks (2024)

Dependability and longevity have always been one of the biggest factors in buyers' minds when determining their next purchase. It is a known fact that some cars are built to last, while some aren't. Manufacturers, such as Toyota and Honda, have proven their reliability with their impressive track records. Plenty of vehicles built by American automakers have also proven themselves in this regard.

Apart from the make and model of a car, much of what determines a car's reliability comes from the diligence of the owners. Consumer Reports states: "With proper maintenance and the advancements in automotive technology, survey data show that cars today can last well beyond 100,000 miles." Even cars that are built like literal tanks, such as the Humvee, require religious maintenance and servicing.

Comparing the reliability of cars manufactured in different eras can be a tricky task. On the bright side, we can refer to plenty of testimonials from the owners as to how their vehicle lasts a lifetime. Considering common factors such as: build quality, ease of maintenance, abundance of replacement parts, longevity, etc. we can have a general idea of which cars were the best built for their time.

Update October 31, 2023: We decided to freshen things on by finding data on more American models that are built to stand the test of time. We added five more cars to the list.

15 Ford Model T

Production Years: 1908-1927

The first mass-produced car needs no introduction. Launched in 1908, the Ford Model T revolutionized transportation with Henry Ford's vision of manufacturing 'The universal car'. Ford wanted the Model T to be affordable, simple to operate, and durable by using standardized and interchangeable parts.

The Model T was a stark contrast from the bespoke, low-volume, coach-built cars at the time. Consequently, it was the first car to have a replacement and even aftermarket parts supply, which played a huge role in the car's overall reliability.

Performance

By 1915 or so, cars were reasonably reliable but required a lot more maintenance than we are used to today. If you went 50 miles without having to patch a tire, you were lucky. Oil change and lubrication every 1000 miles. The Model T is not reliable by today's standards, but back in the day, it was the most dependable form of motorized transport anyone could buy.

According to a New York Times article: "The T was the most repairable car of its day. If the resourceful owner supplemented the standard Ford tool kit with a pipe wrench, a coil of baling wire, a tire patch kit, a spare inner tube, tire irons, perhaps some bobby pins, and a pocketknife, he or she could tackle practically any mechanical problem that arose on the road."

Ford Model T Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: -
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: -

14 Checker Marathon

Production Years: 1960-1982

No other car screams New York City than a bright yellow Checker Marathon taxi cab. The Checker Marathon A12 type was introduced by Checker Cab Manufacturing Co. in 1961. The company focused on building a huge fleet for taxi service duties across major cities around the U.S. for the coming 35 years or so, while also selling to consumers. The fleet use of Checker Marathons earned it a reputation for reliability and sturdiness; lasting more than 200,000 miles was even an advertisem*nt point by the company.

Performance

Unlike the Ford Model T, the Checker company had a very small production run of approximately 102,000 vehicles, of which very few are still roadworthy. After winding down vehicle production in 1982, Checker Motors served as a subcontractor, supplying automotive parts and stamping to Detroit-area manufacturers.

Keeping them alive and maintained is quite the hassle today due to the negligence of previous owners. Checkers earned their reputation of reliability and durability to their detriment. Hemmings claims that "it put the cars in the care of ham-fisted drivers and mechanics who thought the sturdiness of the car would make them last forever, so they beat on the cars mercilessly, leading to a low survival rate."

Checker Marathon Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: Hood catch failure, water pump failure, oil pump failure, generator needing rebuild
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 240,600 miles

13 Plymouth Valiant

Production Years: 1963-1966

In the late 1950s, a lot of local innovation was spurred by the first wave of compact, affordable European imports, particularly Volkswagen Beetles. The Valiant was Chrysler’s compact sedan, meant to compete with Chevy’s Corvair and Ford’s Falcon in the economy segment. These cars were used as plain and basic modes of transportation and received a significant amount of abuse.

The Plymouth featured one of the most unkillable American engines ever, which was also shared among different models, the Chrysler 30-degree slant-six. It was a clean-sheet design that began production in 1959 at 170 cubic inches (2.8 L) and ended in 2000 at 225 cubic inches (3.7 L). The slant six engines' straightforward design, moderate power, high-quality primary moving elements, and efficient cooling and lubrication systems made these engines incredibly durable.

Performance

Jalopnik is adamant that the Valiant is the most reliable American car ever built, they've even put one to the test to substantiate their bold claim. Apart from the rust-prone body, Hemmings also confirms their co*ckroach nature by saying "Plymouth Valiants offers the desirable combination of simple mechanicals, a relatively plentiful and cheap parts supply, and values that the average person can afford" which is a relief for aspiring owners.

Plymouth Valiant Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: Body rusting out, Crack in exhaust manifold
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 100,000 miles

12 Chevrolet Nova

Production Years: 1968-1974

Made to counter Ford's widely successful Falcon, and with more than two million sold in a seven-year production run: the third-generation Chevrolet Nova is perhaps one of GM's best-known and most successful cars to date. The Nova was built according to one of the most bulletproof recipes for an automobile - cheap, simple, and reliable.

The Chevy Nova offered a plethora of performance trims with a variety of engine and transmission options, from a 90-horsepower four-banger to a 375-horsepower 402 cu in V-8 in the SS; there was a Nova for everybody. Perhaps the most bulletproof configuration is the 250 straight-six, affectionately called 'the sewing machine' due to its simplicity and reliability.

Performance

Motortrend noted that the 1962–1979 Novas were simple, durable cars, and the V-8 versions were especially potent because of their small size and lightweight. Today, any Chevy II or Nova makes a great choice for the enthusiast. The earliest cars have an exotic, hand-built nature to them, showing the muscle car's origins in backyard hot rodding.

Chevrolet Nova Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: Rusting body, Distributor going bad, Starter going bad, radiator hose cracking, intake manifolds bolts coming loose
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 426,000 miles

11 Buick Roadmaster

Production Years: 1991-1996

GM introduced its last generation of B-Body cars in 1991 with the Chevy Caprice, Chevy Impala, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, and the Buick Roadmaster. The B-Body platform is a full-size, rear-wheel drive, body-on-frame car platform that GM used since 1926. It was severely outdated for the 1990s, at a time when Unibody construction became a standard for sedans.

What wasn't outdated was the small-block 5.7-liter V-8, which was offered in the C4 Corvette, and was available since 1994. It was a surprise since these large, cavernous, and rounded vehicles were meant to serve as rental cars, family transporters, taxi cabs, and police cars up to their retirement in 1996.

Performance

The large sedan and station wagon market is non-existent today, but even in the 1990s, buyers were moving away from "Granny mobile" to SUVs. These "Yank Tanks" were in their last years of maturity, and as such they have a perfected recipe for durability. Currently, Buick Roadmaster wagons are getting a lot of attention. With their overpowered and under-tired setup, they can run for decades to come.

Buick Roadmaster Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: Fuel pump failure, tie rod ends wear out, the radiator needs replacement, water pump failure, shock absorber failure
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 500,000 miles

10 Buick LeSabre

Production Years: 1992 - 2005

The Seventh and eighth-generation Buick LeSabres are well regarded as one of the most reliable cars GM has ever put out. Their build quality is usually compared to their Japanese counterparts from Toyota and Nissan. Today, they are a great first car for young people and first-time car buyers, since they are cheap to repair and have good overall safety.

Performance

Much of the Buick LeSabre and its bigger brother, the Park Avenue's reliability is owed to their 3800 V6, its plush interior, and smooth ride. Hence, they attracted older buyers and gained a reputation for being a "Grandpa's car". Finding used models in excellent condition with 200,000+ miles is pretty common.

GM's 3800 V-6 is perhaps one of the greatest engines in the company's history. In response to the 1970s oil crisis, GM designed an engine that was flexible and efficient for different applications. It was put in 25 million cars between 1975 and 2008. Its popularity and status only cemented as it became the power plant of choice among hot-rodders, along with the small-block V-8.

Buick LeSabre Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: window mechanism failure, radio switch and lights not working, intake manifold gasket needs replacement, heating and cooling failure
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 360,000 miles

9 Ford Crown Victoria

Production Years: 1999-2011

The Crown Victoria and its Panther-bodied brethren from Mercury and Lincoln are simple body-on-frame workhorses with a V-8 engine up front and power going to the rear. During its 14-year production run, the Crown Vic has established itself as the backbone of American law enforcement and yellow taxi cabs. 95% of all Crown Vics were sold for fleet use, and most are still in service today.

Performance

These truck-like workhorses see so much abuse daily, that most have seen hundreds of thousands of miles. They were designed with an emphasis on durability and ease of maintenance in mind. The companies and police departments are very strict with their maintenance, 5K mile oil changes and 30K mile transmission fluid changes

As with any vehicle, the Crown Vics had their fair share of problems, but overall they are bulletproof tanks. According to Municibids, buyers should pay close attention to the vehicle's service history before buying a police interceptor, the condition of the interior, and signs of wear and tear in the engine and transmission. It’s also a good idea to have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.

Ford Crown Victoria Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: worn out interior trims and plastics, Intake manifold needs replacement after some miles, alternator replacements
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 240,563 miles

8 Cadillac DTS

Production Years: 2005-2011

The Cadillac DTS is a front-wheel drive, full-size sedan that was a very mildly revised iteration of the eight-generation Deville, and adopted the company's new naming convention. It is most known for serving as the basis for "The Beast," a special presidential automobile that was constructed like a literal tank, and unveiled at U.S. President George W. Bush's second inauguration.

Performance

When you see the 90+ J.D. Power - Quality and Reliability score of these cars, it might give off the impression that it is a perfect car. But there is a bit of due diligence to do before and after buying these cars to get that legendary reliability. They had several recalls for electrical issues over the years for different issues, so make sure those issues are taken care of before buying one. While the Northstar engine is known for its robust performance and luxury appeal, being aware of its common issues can help owners take proactive measures.

Cadillac DTS Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: Issues with power steering, wheel bearing/hub replacements, faulty sensors that needed replacements, oil leaks, head gasket leaks
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 170,000 miles

7 Ford Mustang

Production Years: 2005-2014

The Ford Mustang is the Pony car we all know and love. Ford brought back the classic looks of the early fastbacks to the modern era in 2005 with the retro-inspired S197 fifth-gen Mustang. It went over a mid-cycle refresh in 2010, in addition to the 5.0-liter engine, before getting replaced in 2014. They are a solid sports car for any buyer who wants to enjoy their daily commute.

Performance

Various automobile websites online estimate that a fifth-gen Ford Mustang can typically offer up to 200,000 miles of reliable service with proper maintenance. They have an 82+ J.D. Power - Quality and Reliability score on this generation, which is excellent, considering it is equivalent to ratings of Toyota Corollas of the same year. Just make sure to go over the common issues before signing over the dotted line.

Ford Mustang Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: Interior vinyl door covering falling off, seat recliner failure, water leakage due to seam failure, frozen parking brake
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 120,300 miles

6 Chrysler 300

Production Years: 2004-Present

The Chrysler 300 is one of the last traditional, big, American full-sized sedans, available both as a V6 and a V-8. Introduced in 2004, they are known for their bold presence and luxurious interior. The 300 has been around for roughly 18 years over two generations: the LX and the LD, and will be discontinued after the 2023 model year. Generally speaking, the newer LD models are more reliable.

Performance

Despite the LD platform being introduced in 2010, the reliability didn't get better until the 2017 model year according to carcomplaints.com. Models post the 2021 model year have been getting a consistent 92+ J.D. Power - Quality and Reliability score, which is incredible considering the same year Toyota Avalon scored an 85 in that department.

Chrysler 300 Reliability Based On Owner Feedback

• Problems Owners Report: Faulty heated cupholders, electronic glitches and malfunctions, seatbelt malfunctions, Exhaust vibration at certain revs
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 192,000 miles

5 Chevrolet Camaro (Fourth Generation)

Production Years: 1993-2003

The Chevy Camaro has always been the antipode to the Ford Mustang. The two pony cars have been in rivalry since 1967 when the first-generation Camaro was introduced. In its fourth generation, the Chevy Camaro wasn’t quite up to the Mustang’s pace since the Mustang at the time introduced high-performance versions like the supercharged “Terminator”. Regardless, the Gen Four Camaro, affectionately dubbed the “Catfish”, shined when it came to reliability.

Performance

While the LT1, LT4, and LS1 V-8 engines were what most wanted, the smaller, L36 V-6 was an unsung hero. These engines have proven to be bulletproof and if you service it regularly (and don’t tow anything with it), these can last to 500,000 miles without serious issues. Most specialzied websites give the "Cafish' Camaro a very good reliability score with the most common issues being limited to minor electrical issues and interior trim.

• Problems Owners Report: Faulty power window motors, leaking water pump may cause coolant loss and overheating, roof prone to water leaks (T-Top models only), window-guide roller failure, hood, and rear hatch supports failure, rear transmission mounts, intake manifold gaskets, scraping/ rattling windows, TCC isolator failure
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 350,000 miles

4 Mercury Marauder

Production Years: 2003-2004

Much of what is true for the Ford Crown Victoria can be said about the Mercury Marauder. After all, Mercury’s performance sedan was based on the same Panther platform and was, essentially, the same car with a meaner attitude. It came with the same dependable, Modular V-8, but featured four valves per cylinder among other improvements, which significantly bumped output. The Marauder also came with a revised four-speed automatic and sportier suspension but still featured the Crown Vic’s body on frame chassis.

Performance

Ford was planning to build 18,000 Marauders annually, but only 11,052 left the factory, making it one of the most exclusive Ford sedans ever made. While the Ford Modular V-8 is, generally, a very dependable powerplant, there are still some things to look out for, such as coolant leaks and misfires.

• Problems Owners Report: Coolant leak from heater tube, engine misfire due to spark plugs prone to dislodging from the cylinder head, engine misfire due to exhaust valve leakage
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 239,230 miles

3 Cadillac Seville

Production Years: 1998-2004

The fifth-generation Cadillac Seville (1998-2004) was when GM’s luxury arm made the bold move to offer the car in Europe. In true Cadillac tradition, the Seville is a comfortable, luxury sedan, but its biggest downside was that it shared the G-Platform with other uninspiring vehicles like the Buick LeSabre, Oldsmobile Aurora, and Pontiac Bonneville. This means a transverse engine layout with front-wheel drive, which meant it stood no chance against the European premium offerings from BMW and Mercedes.

Performance

Despite its “shortcomings”, Cadillac Seville proved it was built to stand the test of time. Its reliability score, which is above average, is fairly consistent across the different specialized websites, further cementing the Seville as a reliable luxury car. Early versions of the Northstar V-8 engines were known to go through head gaskets as a washed-out celebrity goes through heavy drugs, but these cars are old enough for these problems to be fixed.

• Problems Owners Report: Coolant and oil leaks, ABS module failure, crankshaft position sensor failure, trunk pull-down switch failure, Anti-theft system failure, steering-wheel position sensor failure
• Highest Mileage On CarSurvey: 305,000 miles

2 Lincoln Town Car

Production Years: 1998-2011

Another Ford product based on the Panther platform comes in the form of the Lincoln Town car. Most of what we said about the Ford Crown Vic and Mercury Marauder (also on the list) is true for the Lincoln. Since the Town Car is mostly used for chauffeuring dignified individuals, it is reasonable to assume these cars are less abused than the Crown Vic, which was sold, almost exclusively, as a fleet car or the performance-oriented Marauder.

Performance

In the Town Car, the Ford Modular V-8 is even more under-stressed as it comes with a more conservative output figure and two valves per cylinder. The rest of the hardware is also familiar from the Crown Vic although the Lincoln sits on a stretched wheelbase and has softer suspension.

1 Chevrolet SS

Production Years: 2014-2017

The Chevy SS was, for a long time, an underrated super sedan. The four-door Chevy is one of the best sleeper cars out there, but GM never advertised the car correctly. This resulted in poor sales and even in 2020, there were still examples on the showroom floors that were waiting to be bought, despite the car being discontinued in 2017. The Chevrolet is, actually, a rebadged Holden Commodore. Both vehicles are underpinned by the Zeta platform and share an engine (although the Australian variant came in a variety of trims).

Performance

For the SS, the only option was the LS3 V-8, which was great, especially when paired with the manual. Many referred to the Chevy SS as the modern-day BMW E39 M5. The car’s mechanicals are fairly simple and familiar to mechanics from other GM products, and the SS scores high in reliability and consumer satisfaction, despite the poor sales – a true automotive paradox.

Sources: Consumer Reports,J.D. Power,Cars.com,Carsurvey.org,CarEdge.com, and RepairPal.com.