10 Cars With the Most Problems According to a Car Shipping Company
In general, you can say that todayâs vehicles are far more reliable than cars from the 70s or 80s. Metallurgy is better, the design process is better, manufacturing is better, systems are more reliable and bulletproof, rust is less common, fit and finish is improved, maintenance schedules are less intensive - a 70s or 80s car with 130,000 miles was usually pretty tired and almost ready for the salvage yard, and today 130k miles means a car is barely broken in.
The flip side of that, though, is that modern cars are far more complex and problems do come up, especially with a new generation of a vehicle where emerging tech is still undergoing teething pains. And in just about all cases, when those problems present themselves they require a lot more expertise and specialization to diagnose and fix them. If youâre in the market for a new(er) vehicle, we hope this will give you some insight into the vehicles where experts are reporting problems with reliability and quality.
10 Cars With the Highest Number of Problems
For generations, Consumer Reports has put out a yearly compendium of the most and least reliable vehicles, and has been one of the most respected resources when it comes to this kind of information. This roundup will cover trouble areas that might be as major as engine, transmission or drivetrain issues (including EV batteries and charging problems), or annoyances like squeaky brakes, poor interior build quality or squeaks and rattles.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Chryslerâs iconic minivan has gone through a lot of iterations over the years and has been noted for hit-and-miss quality and reliability. The Pacifica Hybrid is the latest edition, and JD Power Vehicle Reliability Study rates it with 224 problems per 100 vehicles, far more than the 184 which is the industry average. Drivers have noted charging problems, system shutdowns, transmission issues and engine stalling.
Volkswagen Taos
The Taos is one of Volkswagenâs bigger crossover SUVs, and is offered with a variety of option packages, trim levels and your choice of front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD). Unfortunately dependability isnât a strong trait with these, as Consumer Reports gives it a dismal one-in-five score for reliability and owner satisfaction. Thatâs for â23 and â24 models, so itâs projected and quality for â25 could be better.
Ford F-150 Hybrid
Fordâs EV division has been doing a lot of R and D and have incorporated what theyâve learned into a hybrid version of the perennially-popular F150. Unfortunately it gets a 2 out of 5 score for reliability, although driver satisfaction is still high; that could maybe have something to do with niceties like its heads-up display, Pro Access tailgate design, revised interface and redesigned screens.
Volvo XC60 PHEV
Volvos have always had a reputation for solid build quality and reliability, but the XC60 PHEV crossover comes with its share of problems. In-car electronics glitches and drivetrain reliability top the list of complaints, with Consumer Reports handing in a 2 out of 5 reliability score for this mild hybrid.
Rivian R1T
Rivian deserves a lot of credit for disrupting the EV world and shaking things up. Unfortunately, the Rivian R1T comes with some problems, and gets a fairly dismal reliability score of 22 out of 100. Itâs been subjected to multiple recalls, including things like adaptive cruise control glitches, steering problems and seat belt problems. Drivers in areas with cold climates like Minnesota or Michigan report sluggish performance when low temperatures compromise the battery. More worryingly, one long-distance test required ten charging stops to cover 1100 miles from Michigan to Daytona Beach for a total charge time of over 24 hours.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
The Grand Cherokee has always been beloved by many drivers, but newer editions of this iconic Jeep present some problems. Drivers report headaches with the truckâs in-car electronics, including Apple Play infotainment glitches and in-dash navigation. The Jeepâs front suspension struts come loose, resulting in clunks, rattles and alignment issues, and fuel pump malfunctions have been causing starting problems.
Nissan Frontier
The Frontier from Nissan is a hardworking truck design thatâs been popular thanks to its affordability and reliability. Itâs starting to show its age, though; drivers have noted cooling system problems that can mix transmission fluid and coolant together via the transmission cooler, leading to failure. Other specific problems include a battery issue that can cause the drivetrain computer to crash and lead to a no-start situation, defective airbags, and body problems that include peeling or chipping paint.
Volkswagen Jetta
The stylish Jetta from Volkswagen is packed with advanced features and German engineering, but drivers have reported automatic transmissions with a hard shift from 2nd gear to 3rd, electrical issues caused by poor grounding (including power window problems) and engine misfires due to faulty coil packs on the plugs. Fuel pump issues are also a notorious problem with the Jetta.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Introduced in â92, the 2021 Grand Cherokee is the fifth generation for this model. Unfortunately, less than 1% of Grand Cherokees make it to 200,000 miles, compared to 18.2 of Toyota Land Cruisers. Itâs not impossible to keep a Grand Cherokee on the road for that long, as long as youâre prepared to pay some hefty repair and maintenance costs. JD Power consistently rates the Grand Cherokee as below-average in reliability, which makes it an iffy prospect on the used car market.
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Wrangler drivers have always been a different breed; the Wrangler still shares some design details with its long-ago WWII-era ancestor, including a fold-flat windshield, leaf springs in front, solid live axles in front and rear and even its three bumps on the steering wheel hub. That all comes with some tradeoffs, though, including poor fuel economy, body integrity issues, a punishing ride, jittery handling and a lengthy recall history. Truth is, though, a lot of Wrangler drivers just figure thatâs part of the price of admission with these Jeeps.
That wraps up our listing of trouble-prone vehicles, with the help of JD Power and Associates and Consumer Reports. If youâve got your eye on a vehicle to replace or upgrade from the one youâve already got, we hope this will help you make an informed choice. Nobody wants a shiny late-model car that spends more time at the dealership for recalls and repairs than it does on the road, and while overall reliability and quality have improved a lot in recent years, there are still makes and models that are riddled with bugs and headaches.
If youâve got a late model car or youâre still driving the one that youâve had for years and you need to get it from point A to point B via auto logistics, we hope youâll consider us here at SGT Auto Transport. We can offer you real peace of mind and convenience, with over ten years of experience in this business. People ship cars for all kinds of reasons; regardless of your situation or your expectations, weâve got the resources and solutions to take care of your auto logistics needs .
