24 Used Car Models You’ll Want to Skip
Buying a used car can be an exciting experience. That’s not always a good thing, though, as there are plenty of pitfalls to avoid.
How previous owners treated the car usually has the most significant impact on reliability, but some cars, no matter how well maintained, are known to cause headaches.
We’ve used reputable sources, such as Car Complaints, J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, and Repair Pal, to create this list of used cars that should be avoided. We tried to include a mix of newish models and older ones to suit every budget.
BMW M5 E60
There’s no denying the fact that the E60 BMW M5 is an absolute beast. This V10-powered sedan can keep up with supercars and is surprisingly cheap, too. It almost sounds too good to be true… because it is!
The V10 engine suffers from severe reliability issues. It enjoys snacking on its rod-bearings, and no amount of maintenance can prevent this. Models fitted with the SMG gearbox are also jerky and harsh when driving in slow-moving traffic.
Fourth-Gen Range Rover
Range Rovers are known to offer excellent ride quality and unbeatable off-road capabilities. Get behind the wheel of one, and it’ll take you anywhere you want to go in comfort — even if there are no roads.
Unfortunately, the British brand is also infamous for building very unreliable vehicles. All the tech and gizmos just add to its problems, as they’re bound to give up the ghost at some point. This Range Rover generation suffers from several electrical gremlins, and fixing them will cost a small fortune.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Italian cars have more soul than cars from any other country, and Alfa Romeo is one of the best carmakers in that regard. However, in terms of reliability, they’ve always been among the worst.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia looks absolutely stunning, and it’s an Italian car that’s attainable for regular people, not just millionaires. Don’t let its looks deceive you, though. Straight from the showroom floor, it’s riddled with electrical issues, and things will only get worse with time.
Fiat 500
Fiat is another Italian carmaker known to build fun and quirky cars. Few cars are as fun and quirky as the Fiat 500, and it’s even affordable to drive. When everything works as it should, that is.
The Fiat 500 has a below-average reliability rating. It suffers from various issues related to the electrical system, gearbox, and suspension. Paying a premium to keep a tiny budget car running means it’s not the most attractive used car deal.
Mini Cooper S
BMW introduced the New Mini in 2001; since then, it’s always been one of the most fun hot hatches on the market. Opting for the Cooper S gives you decent power, excellent handling, and a near-endless supply of aftermarket parts.
Mini Cooper ownership should also come with a free lifetime supply of Rogaine, as it will make you pull your hair out. Every generation suffers from various issues, but none are as bad as the R56, or second-gen car, which suffers from timing chain failure and electrical gremlins, among other things.
M157 Maserati Ghibli
While it’s normal to see some depreciation when driving a brand-new car off the dealership parking lot, few, if any, brands depreciate as much as Maseratis. Depending on the model, depreciation is between 60-70+% over the first few years, and there are some good reasons for this.
While this means you can get your hands on an Italian thoroughbred for very little money, it’s certainly not a bargain. Since the Ghibli is such a high-maintenance car, ownership costs are through the roof.
Jaguar X-Type
Jaguar wanted a piece of the luxury compact sedan market, which meant going up against legends such as the BMW 3-Series, Audi’s A4, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Jaguar would have to bring its A-game to come out on top, but instead, they cut corners wherever possible.
Jaguar based its X-Type on the Ford Mondeo platform, which effectively made it a premium-market car built with budget parts. To make matters even worse, the Jag’s build quality was worse than that of the Ford Mondeo, which was a much cheaper car. The X-Type suffers from engine failures, broken driveshafts, and weak transmissions.
Chrysler Crossfire
Chrysler’s Crossfire could have been great. Because of questionable decisions, it was instantly forgotten, and even one of the coolest names in automotive history couldn’t save it.
It’s built on the first-gen Mercedes SLK platform, which was already old at that point, so it didn’t drive and handle as well as the competition. In addition, the design aged very quickly, and the interior quality was somewhat lacking. Chrysler struggled to sell them, and in the end, they had to turn to Overstock and eBay to get rid of them.
Lincoln MKS
Edmunds declared the Lincoln MKS the worst full-size sedan, which speaks volumes. Compared to the competition, such as the BMW 5-Series and Audi, the Lincoln lacks equipment, and it’s certainly not pretty.
It’s also built on a platform that’s used for other non-luxury models, such as the Ford Taurus. There’s not enough to separate it from the Taurus to justify buying one. If you insist on getting one, be aware of leaks around the axle area, various noises and squeaks, a fan that keeps changing its speed, and radio issues.
2008–2014 Dodge Avenger
In 2011, Dodge gave the Avenger a proper and much-needed overhaul. Practically everything was improved, yet it remained the absolute worst midsize sedan on the market. That alone is reason enough to avoid the Avenger.
The base model’s four-cylinder engine is unrefined and lethargic, and it’s not made any better by being mated to a four-speed slushbox. Backseat passengers are in for an uncomfortable ride, the trunk space is abysmal, and it lacks equipment that was readily available in other models at the time.
Mazda RX-8
Mazda is well-known for injecting its cars with some of that Jinba Ittai ethos, which means all their models are fun to drive. That’s also the case with the RX-8, a sports car that could’ve been one of the all-time greats.
Granted, as the iconic RX-7’s successor, the RX-8 had some huge shoes to fill, but due to mechanical issues, it’s not a car we’d recommend to anyone. Its Renesis Wankel engine drinks fuel and oil, which isn’t ideal with today’s gas prices, and it chews its apex seals, requiring a rebuild every 50,000-60,000 miles.
Jeep Wrangler
It doesn’t matter which generation of the Jeep Wrangler you go for; they all look great and come with a vast selection of aftermarket parts. If you want to venture off the beaten path, it’s also one of the best off-roaders money can buy.
However, it’s known to suffer from a whole host of problems. It’s not the most comfortable car for daily on-road use, it suffers from the infamous Jeep Death Wobble, there are electrical gremlins and lots of other reliability issues.
Hummer H2
It’s almost hard to believe that the Hummer H2 was once the ultimate symbol of wealth and success. Now, it represents excess and a waste of natural resources. Nobody wants to be seen driving one these days, and that’s okay because it’s not very good.
Unlike its bigger sibling, the H1 Hummer, the H2 wasn’t designed for military use — it was built on the Chevy Tahoe chassis. It’s not particularly good off-road, it’s impractical, and the storage space is pathetic. It chugs gasoline and suffers from transmission issues and fuel pump failure.
Smart Roadster
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we find the Smart Roadster. It may be more frugal and environmentally friendly than the H2, but it’s not more practical. In fact, we can’t seem to figure out what part of the market the Smart Roadster was aimed at.
It costs the same as a Miata but lacks the Mazda’s performance and practicality. Driving it on the open road is a painful experience, and in the city, it’s bested by the regular Smart car and Scion iQ.
X260 Jaguar XF
We present another Jaguar, and the XF makes it seem like the British are just as stumped as the Italians regarding electrical systems. It’s a shame because the Jaguar XF looks fantastic and offers a gratifying driving experience.
There are more problems than the electrical system, though. Interior quality is not as good as the competition’s, and owners have experienced issues with the fuel pump and a leaking brake line. RepairPal also estimates that yearly maintenance will cost $1,066 on average, so it’s costly to run.
Bentley Continental W12
Seeing as the Bentley Continental cost over $150,000 when it was new, it may seem like a bargain today, as it can now be found for a fraction of that on the used car market. However, there’s a reason why they’re so affordable.
By now, maintenance bills are beginning to pile up. Stuffed to the rafters with fancy tech that is known to fail with age, many owners just want to get rid of these money pits.
Volvo XC40
For some reason, people still believe that Volvo has a stellar reliability record, but that hasn’t actually been the case for a few years now. Consumer Reports gave the Swedish carmaker a 28 out of 100 reliability rating.
The 2023 XC40 is among the brand’s worst cars. While it’s true that a car that’s so new will come with a warranty, it’s annoying to constantly have to go back to the dealership. It’s also estimated that maintenance costs during the first ten years of ownership will be close to $14,000, so it’s not a cheap car to own.
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
On one hand, Land Rover products tend to be cool and desirable, but on the other, they’re as unreliable as they’re stylish. That’s certainly the case with the Range Rover Evoque. There’s no specific year or generation that gives it a bad name; they should all be avoided like the plague.
Here, we find general build quality issues, engine-related problems galore, turbocharger failure, a risk of the vehicle catching fire, faulty electronics, and faulty airbags. Some of these issues are covered under warranty, but only if it’s a newer model.
Lincoln Corsair
For reasons unbeknown to us, Ford builds more reliable vehicles than its luxury division, Lincoln. The Lincoln Corsair looks good, it offers plenty of space, and the interior is nice enough. However, don’t be fooled, as it is hideously unreliable.
Consumer Reports gave the Lincoln Corsair an abysmal 1/5 reliability rating. The Corsair has also been recalled a few times, once because of potential driveshaft failure — which could cause fatal accidents.
E90 BMW 335i
It almost feels unfair to put the E90 BMW 335i on this list. Yes, it has some issues, but some are caused by owners who’ve neglected or thrashed their cars. BMW is known for producing driver-focused vehicles, and since the E90 is so cheap now, it tends to attract a particular type of buyer.
While the N54 engine can be troublesome, many owners have reported years of trouble-free motoring as long as the car is maintained correctly. E90 335i models that have lived rough lives should definitely be avoided, but well-kept examples can be okay.
W204 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
There was a time when Mercedes-Benz was known for overengineering its cars, which meant they would practically run forever with just basic maintenance. If that’s what you want, look for an old W201 190E, W123 or W124 E-Class — especially the diesel versions.
The W204 C-Class definitely doesn’t possess that legendary reliability of old Benzes. It’s been recalled a whopping 35 times, and J.D. Power scored it 74/100 for reliability — less than the notoriously unreliable Alfa Romeo Giulia.
C118 Mercedes-Benz CLA
Proving that Mercedes-Benz is no longer the quality brand it once was, the CLA has also made its way onto our list. The CLA shares many parts with the entry-level A-Class, which means it’s expensive considering what you get.
Due to low predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA a poor rating overall. If that doesn’t put you off, you should know that the CLA is the worst-rated luxury vehicle in the entry-level car class.
C8 Audi A6
Audi revolutionized the automotive world when it introduced the Quattro AWD system in everyday cars in the ’80s. However, a lot has happened since then, and fancy technology is now found in even the most basic models.
All this technology is also the Audi A6’s downfall, as it suffers from various electrical and mechanical issues. J.D. Power gave it a Predicted Reliability score of 82/100, but Consumer Reports only gave it 1 out of 5 for reliability, making it one of the worst German cars on the market.
Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI
When Volkswagen introduced the first-gen Touareg, it helped establish the brand as a player in the luxury SUV and utility vehicle space. While we love the idea of a V10-powered diesel SUV, it wasn’t the Germans’ best effort.
Today, the Volkswagen Group’s diesel engines are still tainted by the Dieselgate scandal, but that’s not even the worst part about the V10 Touraeg. It’s known to be unreliable, and finding parts for it and a mechanic who knows what he’s dealing with can be challenging. Just go with one of the more common powerplants and save yourself the headaches.
