Top 10 brands least likely to flash a check engine light

An illuminated check engine light can mean a lot of things, many of them relatively minor and inexpensive to repair. Of course, the dreaded CEL could also be the first indication of a major problem. In either case, it's certainly true that owners would prefer that the dashboard lights stay unlit as much as possible.

The team from CarMD calculated the number of times check engine lights illuminate using data from more than 14.4 million vehicles produced between 1996 and 2019, and helpfully charted out the automakers least likely to flash the CEL. We've gathered up the top 10 brands here. In a separate slideshow, we outlined the automobile brands with the least expensive average repair cost to fix whatever is causing an illuminated check engine light.

Remember, this data only applies to check engine lights, and isn't meant to be used as a guide to total reliability. There are many systems that can fail in an automobile, and the engine is just one part of the overall reliability puzzle. That said, click on the image above to get started, beginning with the automaker in 10th spot on the list.