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Gas riding mowers represent one of the largest single purchases most homeowners make for their yard. a breakdown in the first few years adds repair costs on top of an already significant investment. Mowing season comes around every year, making a machine's long-term dependability more important than almost any single feature. Brand reputation often drives purchasing decisions, but owner experience is a more accurate predictor of how a mower holds up over time.
Consumer Reports surveyed members on 18,560 gas-powered riding mowers purchased between 2015 and 2025, and these five brands earned the strongest marks.
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Kubota earned a reliability score of 97 out of 100 in Consumer Reports' member survey data for lawn tractors, the highest score in the category. CR judged Kubota excellent for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, making it the only lawn tractor brand to earn top marks in both measures. CR members reported very few problems with their Kubota tractors in the first five years of ownership.
