5 Used Cars With Poor Reliability Ratings (2024)

Not every car, truck, and SUV is a hit right off the production line. In other cases, the vehicles below from Ford, Mitsubishi, and Nissahadng an off year. However, these used cars with poor reliability ratings have some flaws that cannot be ignored. Not to be dramatic, but you can probably skip these cars and sport utility vehicles.

1. 2021 Ford EcoSport

U.S. News selected the 2021 Ford EcoSport as a used car with poor reliability ratings for a few reasons. In the subcompact SUV class, the competition is pretty fierce. Ford only equipped the 2021 EcoSport with a 1.0L three-cylinder engine with 123 hp. Even though this SUV is quite small, it still felt underpowered and sluggish. That is especially true with multiple people in the car or heavy cargo. On top of that, the EcoSport did not offer a comfortable ride or much hope for reliability.

2. 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage

Even though the 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the used cars with poor reliability ratings, it did offer an affordable cost. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. The Mirage only received a 1.3L three-cylinder engine that gets 78 hp. It wasn’t known for accelerating in an efficient manner, and you might have to get up to speed quite slowly. While Mitsubishi has been working on its reliability in the last few years, the Mirage still falls below expectations.

3. 2019 Buick Cascada

You don’t remember the 2019 Buick Cascada? This compact convertible stopped production after 2019, and this version did not go out with a bang. It came with many standard equipment and features but earned poor reliability ratings. The 2019 Cascada only had a 1.6L turbo engine with 200 hp. With only four seats, the specs were underwhelming across the board. Buick’s reliability has improved in the last few years, but the Cascada was not a good buy.

4. 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Though the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross earned poor reliability ratings, this used car got 26 mpg of fuel economy in the city. However, this other Mitsubishi SUV had similar issues to the Mirage. Build quality was sub-par, and the 152 hp from the four-cylinder engine simply was not enough power. Mitsubishi’s engines were known to be loud and unreliability. Plus, with only 22.6 cubic feet of space behind the seats, it rounded out the back of the class for cargo capacity.

5. 2020 Nissan 370Z

The 2020 Nissan 370Z had a lot of things going for it, like how it handled and how fun it was to drive. Beyond that, it didn’t impress in the areas of reliability, and the ride quality was pretty stiff. Going over bumps in the 370Z might give you a headache, not to mention the fact that it is loud in the cabin. Inside, Nissan used too much plastic, and some styling choices made it look cheap. The automaker also decided to forego touchscreens in many trim levels, making it look much older than a 2020 vehicle. Overall, there are better choices for the money.

The sea of used cars and SUVs is filled with plenty of more reliable fish. Sometimes, going up or down a year can solve many issues. Some of these models were on the way out, which could be the best thing for it. That usually means a new and improved model could be on the way.

5 Used Cars With Poor Reliability Ratings (2024)

FAQs

What car has the lowest reliability? ›

10 Least Reliable Vehicles
  • Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: 14.
  • Volkswagen Taos: 18.
  • Ford F-150 Hybrid: 19.
  • Volvo XC60 PHEV: 21.
  • Rivian R1T: 22.
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee L: 23.
  • Nissan Frontier: 23.
  • Volkswagen Jetta: 25.
Dec 6, 2023

What are the top 10 cars not to buy? ›

Consumer Reports Names 10 Least Reliable Cars for 2024
ModelReliability Score (1 to 100)
Jeep Wrangler27
Jeep Grand Cherokee26
VW Jetta25
Nissan Frontier23
6 more rows
Dec 1, 2023

What car has the worst reputation? ›

  • 6.1 Ford Escort MK V (European version) (1990–92)
  • 6.2 General Motors U Platform minivan (1990–96)
  • 6.3 Vector W8 (1990–93)
  • 6.4 Suzuki X-90 (1995–97)
  • 6.5 Vector M12 (1996–98)
  • 6.6 Cadillac Catera (1997–01)
  • 6.7 Jaguar S-Type (1999–2007)

What car is ranked #1 in reliability? ›

Lexus, Toyota, and Mini are the three most reliable brands in this year's annual auto reliability brand rankings, with the two Japanese brands swapping spaces from last year. The automaker Honda follows, with its luxury Acura brand coming in fourth and the mainstream Honda brand rounding out the top five.

What used car has the least problems? ›

  • 2021 Hyundai Accent. ...
  • 2020 Kia Forte. ...
  • 2020 BMW X6. ...
  • 2020 Nissan Armada. ...
  • 2021 Genesis G90. ...
  • 2021 Chrysler 300. ...
  • 2020 Chevrolet Sonic. New Car Reliability Score: 93/100 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.4/10. ...
  • 2021 Nissan Maxima. New Car Reliability Score: 93/100 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.9/10.
Feb 29, 2024

What brand of car is least likely to break down? ›

Consumer reports says Lexus is the most reliable brand. Most people can not afford a Lexus, so they buy a car they can afford. Plus, when have you ever known young people to buy something that they perceive as their grandfather's car.

What car brand has no problems? ›

The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study has ranked Lexus as the most reliable car brand consistently since the survey began, with the results showing that Lexus vehicles have the fewest issues out of all the major manufacturers.

Which cars have the most transmission problems? ›

Here are a few models with the most problems and suggestions of better options according to The Consumer Report.
  • Chevrolet Traverse:
  • Nissan Altima:
  • Nissan Rogue:
  • Infinite QX60:
  • Nissan Murano:
  • Nissan Pathfinder:
Jul 26, 2023

What is the most unpopular car brand? ›

According to Consumer Reports, the most liked car brand in 2023 is Porsche, followed by Genesis, Tesla, BMW and Subaru. On the other hand, the least liked brands, in order, are Infiniti, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Cadillac.

What is a notoriously bad car? ›

AMC Gremlin (1970-1978)

The AMC Gremlin, produced during the 1970s, has gone down in automotive history as a notorious example of a bad car model, and there are several compelling reasons for its notoriety. First and foremost, the Gremlin's design was unconventional, to put it mildly.

What is the best car brand to buy used? ›

Best Car Brands to Buy Used

Some brands simply feature more reliability and safer vehicles than others. That's why you might want to consider a used Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru or Kia as these topped the Consumer Reports listing of the most reliable brands.

What is better Toyota or Honda? ›

Toyota typically wins in reliability while Honda has stronger safety ratings according to Automotive News.

What brand of used car is most reliable? ›

Kia, Hyundai and Nissan have multiple entries on our list, so those brands are excellent if you're shopping for a reliable and affordable used car.

What's the most reliable car of all time? ›

1. Honda Civic. TopSpeed ranked the Civic as the most reliable car ever based on its research and owner feedback. Singling out the 1990 model in particular, any used Civic is a popular choice for many reasons, including money-saving ones like top-notch fuel efficiency and affordable entry price.

What is the best car for long term ownership? ›

Popular Cars People Keep the Longest
Popular U.S. Vehicles Owners Keep for 15 Years or Longer
RankCar% 15+-Year-Old Cars Kept by Original Owners
1Toyota Highlander12.4%
2Toyota Tacoma11.6%
3Honda CR-V10.7%
20 more rows

Which cars breakdown the most? ›

Warrantywise, an extended car warranty provider, has revealed Land Rovers, BMWs, and Porsches make up seven out of ten of the least reliable models. The Reliability Index research found not only can luxury cars be more likely to break down, they also cost a fortune to repair when they do.

What is the absolute most reliable vehicle? ›

These Are the 10 Most Reliable Cars of All Time — How Many Miles Could They Reach?
  • Honda Accord. ...
  • Toyota Camry. ...
  • Jeep Cherokee. ...
  • Mercedes-Benz W124. ...
  • Volvo 900. ...
  • Toyota 4Runner. Potential Top Mileage: 300,000-400,000. ...
  • Lexus LS 400. Potential Top Mileage: 250,000+ ...
  • Honda Civic. Potential Top Mileage: 300,000+
Jan 4, 2024

What is the most reliable car in existence? ›

What are the Most Reliable Cars of All Time?
  • Honda Civic. Honda's sales today may not compare to the likes of Toyota or Volkswagen, but it is still one of the world's leading automobile and motorcycle manufacturers. ...
  • Honda Accord. ...
  • Honda CR-V. ...
  • Toyota Camry. ...
  • Toyota Corolla. ...
  • Mazda MX-5. ...
  • Mazda 3. ...
  • Lexus LS 400.

What is the most unreliable luxury car brand? ›

Land Rover

Land Rovers are known to have extremely high repair costs and maintenance costs over time, while also being unreliable. Land Rover was founded in 1948 and, funny enough, is also owned by Tata Motors, an Indian automotive manufacturer.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 6018

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.