Shopping for a used car can be a long, arduous experience. You certainly don’t want a lemon, most people aren’t looking for a fixer-upper, and you’ll need to make sure the remaining lifespan is worth the price.
While you can always rely on legal aid, like this SF car accident lawyer, the better option is to avoid “junk-mobiles” altogether. You’ll need to do your own due diligence when viewing used cars, but Consumer Reports wants to make sure you never buy these top five terrible models.
1. Chrysler Town & Country
The Chrysler Pacifica is an excellent minivan option, but the company’s Town & Country is one you should avoid like the plague. It might look like any other smaller van on the market, but under the body rests a plethora of issues waiting to happen. Gathering returns from 2008 to 2012, as well as driver complaints that come with them, this ride just isn’t reliable.
2. BMW X5
Most people know BMW as a top brand in the market, but the company isn’t without it’s downright awful models. The X5 is a particularly terrible option, according to Consumer Reports. It has a defective fuel system, failing climate controls, and issues with its engine. You should avoid the 2011 through 2014 models.
3. Ford Fiesta
Ford is well-known for reliability, but not when it came to the 2011-2014 Fiesta. The transmission is the main issue with this model, costing a pretty penny for owners. Body integrity and the audio system are also top complaints from drivers.
4. Ram 1500
Ram’s 1500 pickup truck was hit from 2007 all the way through 2016, but the 2014 and 2016 models have their fair share of issues. Reliability was the top problem, something no truck owner wants to deal with. The brake systems and power components also posed major trouble.
5. Volkswagen Jetta
Easily the most popular Volkswagen model in the United States, the Jetta is sleek four-door with plenty to love. From 2010 onward, however, this model began to turn up major issues. Power equipment failure, blemishes in the interior finish, and audio system troubles plagued the 2014 through 2016 models specifically. Climate system complaints and other electrical components are also notorious.
There’s More
These top five used cars to avoid aren’t the only ones you should never buy. Consumer reports put out 30 models with the “never buy” label, all featuring extremely irritating problems like audio troubles to the extremely dangerous like transmission breakdown and brake system failure.
The GMC Acadia, Mini Cooper, and Pontiac Torrent all made the list. Check out the full report for models, makes, and years to steer clear of. Here are a few more to watch out for when shopping around:
- Cadillac Escalade
- Audi Q7
- Fiat 500
- Tesla Model X
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
- Mercedes GL
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Mini Countryman
- Dodge Charger
- Ford F-250
- Volkswagen GTI
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Chrysler PT Cruiser
- BMW 5 Series
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Audi A4
- Dodge Challenger
- Volkwagen Tiguan
