These are the 15 most reliable car brands of 2018

Lexus was named the most reliable car brand for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Porsche, Buick, Infiniti, and Kia

The increasing reliability of older models could mean a downturn in new car sales in 2018. (Mercedes-Benz)

J.D. Power released its 2018 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study on Wednesday.

Lexus topped the survey for the seventh consecutive year.

This year saw the first increase in dependability since 2013.

J.D. Power released its 2018 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which measures the number of problems reported by consumers who have owned 2015 model-year vehicles for three years, on Wednesday.

The study found that vehicle dependability increased 9% over the 2017 study, which was the first increase since 2013.

"For the most part, automotive manufacturers continue to meet consumers’ vehicle dependability expectations," J.D. Power vice president of global automotive Dave Sargent said in a press release. "A 9% improvement is extremely impressive, and vehicle dependability is, without question, at its best level ever."

Lexus topped the survey for the seventh consecutive year with a score of 99 reported problems per 100 vehicles, while the industry average was 142. Porsche, Buick, Infiniti, and Kia rounded out the top-five.

These are the 15 most reliable car brands.

1. Lexus

2015 Lexus RC 350 (Lexus)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 99

2. Porsche

2015 Porsche Macan (Porsche)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 100

3. Buick

2015 Buick Regal GS (Buick)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 116

4. Infiniti

2015 Infiniti Q70 (Infiniti)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 120

5. Kia

2015 Kia Soul (Kia)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 120

TIED-6. Chevrolet

2015 Chevrolet Colorado (General Motors)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 124

TIED-6. Chevrolet

2015 Hyundai Genesis (Hyundai)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 124

TIED-7. BMW

2015 BMW X3 (High Gear Media)

2015 BMW X3 (High Gear Media)

TIED-7. Toyota

2015 Toyota RAV4 (Toyota)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 127

Problems per 100 vehicles: 127

2015 Lincoln Navigator (Lincoln)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 133

TIED-8. Nissan

2015 Nissan Frontier (Nissan)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 133

9. Honda

Honda Accord Sport 2015 (Honda)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 140

10. Audi

2015 Audi S4 (Audi)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 141

11. Mazda

2015 Mazda CX9 (Mazda)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 144

12. Mercedes-Benz

2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (Mercedes-Benz)

Problems per 100 vehicles: 147

Here is how the rest of the brands ranked.

Here is how the rest of the brands ranked. (Reuters)

1. Ford: 152 problems reported per 100 vehicles

2. MINI: 153

3. GMC: 156

4. Volkswagen: 157

TIED-17. Acura: 159

TIED-17. Jaguar: 159

1. Volvo: 162

2. Dodge: 166

TIED-20. Ram: 167

TIED-20. Subaru: 167

1. Mitsubishi: 173

2. Cadillac: 186

3. Jeep: 188

4. Fiat: 192

5. Land Rover: 204

6. Chrysler: 211