10 American Muscle Cars With The Most Reliable Engines, Ranked

The reliability of American cars has, at times, been questionable. The pendulum has swung a bit both ways as the industry went through upheavals and changes in technology arrived. Yet, through it all, the mighty American V8 has been a mainstay and a stalwart of dependability. The Chevy Small-Block, Dodge HEMI, and Ford Windsor are all examples of classic engines known for longevity and relatively trouble-free running. Some of this can likely be attributed to simplicity in design and the sheer volume of engines built through the decades. While the days of large engines are waning, the V8 remains a bedrock of the American auto industry.

Although its days are numbered, the V8 is still around. It will likely power trucks for years to come, but otherwise is mostly only found in sports cars with high-performance engines. A good V8 is still the easiest way to deliver significant power while keeping complexity low. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a muscle car as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving." Fortunately for us, that applies to innumerable cars from Detroit over the last half-century, most of which remain highly desirable today. 

However, technology has changed a lot over the last five decades and reliability figures for older cars are not compiled as thoroughly as later models. So, taking a sampling from the last 30 or so years, here is a ranking of the 10 American muscle cars with the most reliable engines.

The fifth generation Camaro was eagerly anticipated at the time of its arrival, heralding an end to the Camaro hiatus which began in 2003. With the wildly successful retro-inspired iterations of the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang before it, Chevrolet was sure to have a hit with its new model, the styling of which harkened back to the 1969 model. However, this Camaro would feature thoroughly modern engineering and conveniences, including manufacturing techniques and tolerances that would make it exponentially more reliable and durable, although also more complex.

This car lasted until 2015 before a major refresh, and its engine options made for some interesting models. In 2010, the base model V6 engine produced as much or more than the high-performance versions of the 1969 model, and the higher trim levels created exponentially more power than their big block predecessors. The ultra-high-performing ZL1 features a 6.2-liter V8 making 580 tire-shredding horsepower.

For the 2013 model year, J.D. Power gives the Camaro a reliability rating of 83/100, which is excellent and suggests relatively trouble-free ownership, while U.S. News rankings put it within the highest ranking available in its class. For the most part, trouble spots on this year's Camaro will arise within the interior or accessory systems, but the engine itself should yield continued enjoyment for many miles as long as it is well-maintained. That the car will look good while doing it is just a bonus.

When Ford introduced its retro-inspired pony car for the 2005 model year, it had a winning combination on its hands. Stunning good looks with just the right amount of nostalgia built in combined with the proven Modular family of engines made for a successful Mustang. In the GT, a 4.6-liter single-overhead-cam engine provided a generous 300 horsepower with a healthy torque rating of 320 ft-lb.

The Modular engine had proven itself for years as the powerplant moving taxicabs and police cars tens of thousands of miles across the country since the early '90s. For the new Mustang, Ford added a valve to each cylinder to push the total power up a bit -– it was also used in heavy-duty applications such as the Explorer and F-150. The revised engine was not only good enough to power the newest GT pony car from Ford, but it also landed on Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 2008. Furthermore, Consumer Reports saw few problems and rates it highly.

Anyone looking for a slightly older Mustang will want to find the 2008 model specifically. Fortunately for them, with so many produced, there will be plenty to choose from. Thanks to the shrewd engineering from Ford, it will still be running strong.

The rejuvenation of the HEMI in the last two decades has been a genuine coup for Chrysler. Standing on the legend built in the '50s and '60s of the race-winning powerhouses under the hoods of Super Bees and Chargers, Chrysler brought back a legend with a modern interpretation that endures to this day. While the new HEMI engines would be used in several cars and trucks, the new Chargers were a particular showcase for the potential of the latest designs. This proved to be a successful and popular combination, resulting in the modern Charger remaining in production to this day.

Although CarComplaints lists many instances of owners requiring full engine replacement in 2006 models, Chrysler has since stepped up its game and improved the long-term prospects of owning one of these potent family cars by a large margin. For example, U.S. News & World Report lists the reliability rating of a 2007 Charger at 2 out of 100, while the 2020 score is 89 out of 100, an impressive gain. Furthermore, J.D. Power rates it number two among large cars for the model year, trailing only the Nissan Maxima. 

While the ownership of the Pentastar has changed a few times over the last two decades, somebody appears to be doing something right. As such, the recent Charger V8 is not only a potent street vehicle — it will be easy to own as well.

The last of the thunderchickens went out on a high note when the last generation of Firebird ran from 1998 to 2002. Since 1978, Pontiac has offered the WS6 performance package, and in this last year, that gave you a 5.7-liter LS1 engine making 325 horsepower. This was the first of the LS engine, and it incorporated much of the fundamentals that made the venerable Chevy Small-Block great — enhanced by modern developments in engine technology. 

With the robust nature of the Small-Block engine internals matched to modern manufacturing and electronic engine management, the LS1 is about as reliable and long-lasting as any V8 can get. It is still relatively simple in its engineering, yet complex plans went into making it just right. The styling of the WS6 Firebird, complete with its Ram Air intake on the hood, makes it a highly desirable model to own today, and user reviews on Edmunds for the 2002 model year are almost unanimously positive. Few complaints about any problems can be found and not one about the engine exists. 

Prices are rising for these cars, but if you can afford one then it is certainly worth buying.

With all of the technological advances over the last few decades, it is surprising to find that perhaps the most reliable engine in an American muscle car has its roots in the '80s. It turned out to be a genuine American supercar.

The origin of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 came when engineers at Chevrolet, seeking to boost power for a new engine and exploring several options, ended up at Lotus looking over the design of its new DOHC V8 engine. Attempting to graft those heads onto an existing 350 block proved unworkable, so a whole new engine was created. The manufacturing of the engine was outsourced to Mercury Marine of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and the new high-performance Vette went on sale in 1990. Initially, power was rated at 375 horsepower, but was boosted within a couple of years to 405, which put it in the territory of Italian exotics. The car was not a huge sales success, but Chevrolet managed to produce around 6,000 units in its 5-year run.

They are highly collectible today. Despite having a bespoke hand-built twin-cam engine, it has proven to be robust. Hagerty advises that a good mechanic should be sought if you own one of these, but it won't be a huge worry as there are examples of ZR-1 models with 250,000 miles on the original engine. Anecdotal evidence from Corvette Forum suggests the engines are as reliable as any Corvette and notes that Mercury Marine engines are built to withstand extended use at high RPM, a quality that transferred to the ZR-1.