Cars You’ll Regret Buying, According to Consumer Reports
Nothing pains a car owner more than dealing with car issues in the first year of ownership. While you’ll be entitled to a warranty, the back-and-forth is quite inconvenient and defeats the reason why you bought a car brand new in the first place.
Fortunately, buyer advocates like Consumer Reports exist for such reasons. Still, it’s not unheard of for car shoppers to get cars purely out of emotion. While everyone is entitled to their taste and preferences, a little due diligence can save you the headache of unnecessary repairs or inconvenient recalls early in car ownership.
Based on user feedback, performance, and reliability assessment, Consumer Reports flagged the following cars as troublesome. We’ve taken our time and gathered more data from previous owners, industry experts, and online forums to help you understand why the following cars are a regrettable choice.
2023 Jeep Wrangler
It’s understandable why anyone would fall for the Jeep Wrangler. Its iconic design and all-conquering demeanor make it the perfect outdoor adventurer.
That’s not all. The Wrangler is well-suited for all occasions and will humbly tone down its rowdy off-road chops when it’s time to be a daily or grocery-getter.
Unfortunately, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler has had ten recalls, according to Consumer Reports. The consumer advocacy institution also flagged it for poor on-road performance. Previous owners, through online forums, have expressed their displeasure with the agile offroader. Some complained of a jittery ride experience and issues with the engine and transmission.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep diehards already had their qualms with the 2023 Grand Cherokee — its top-tier trims were reserved for shoppers with chunky wallets (luxury car territory price tag), and it didn’t make it any better that the Hemi V8 wasn’t part of the package.
Still, if you thought the 2023 Jeep Wrangler was an unreliable choice, the 2022 and 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee have worse reliability scores on Consumer Reports. The consumer advocacy institution ranks the multifaceted SUV near the bottom in terms of reliability.
It gets worse. According to Consumer Reports, the Grand Cherokee is uncomfortable on bumpy roads. Based on the 2022 and 2023 models (which had 12 recalls), the consumer advocacy institution feels the 2024 GC will be less reliable than the average car.
Volkswagen Jetta
The average American adult consumer still remembers the diesel gate scandal. Additionally, the German automaker recently settled a class action suit in Canada for faulty water pumps on specific VW and Audi models between 2008 and 2021.
Late last year, Consumer Reports ranked the Volkswagen Jetta eighth among the ten least reliable cars. According to CR, the Jetta has issues with the powertrain, brakes, steering, and electronic accessories.
A quick look on a popular VW Jetta forum on Reddit reveals it’s not such a bad car after all. According to one owner, potential buyers must be religious with basic maintenance or risk expensive repairs down the road.
Nissan Frontier
Consumer Reports gave the Nissan Frontier a reliability score of 23. According to the consumer advocacy institution, the 2024 Nissan Frontier would be less reliable based on its data over the last three years.
According to CR, the 2022 Nissan Frontier had six recalls. Owners reported major transmission issues that required rebuilding or replacement.
Previous owners have also complained on forums of no-start issues on the 2023 Pro-X model. A specific owner (isolated incident) confessed to stalling issues at only 1,600 miles.
2023 Rivian R1T
The Rivian R1T beat the Tesla Cybertruck as the first EV truck to reach North America, not that the Austin-based EV maker was in a race. If anything, they pioneered the first electric on four wheels on our highways today. Still, you’ll have to give Rivian their flowers for the R1T’s clever design and attention-grappling maneuvers offroad.
Unfortunatley, Consumer Reports ranked the 2023 Rivian R1T at 2/5 for reliability. That’s not too bad for a Startup if you ask me. According to CR, the 2023 Rivian R1T had four recalls by the NHTSA.
Owners on the Rivian Forum also complained of issues with the charging system (some as early as four days of ownership).
Volvo XC60
Volvo is known as the number one safest car on the globe, so it’s a bit confusing to see the Volvo XC60 on this list. This begs the question: Can a car be safe and unreliable at the same time?
Well, according to Consumer Reports, the Volvo XC60 has a low reliability rating.
In 2023, it was ranked fourth as the least reliable car. According to CR, the NHTSA has recalled the XC60 three times for errors in the brake module, electric system, and engine and engine cooling due to an ECM software error.
Ford F-150 Hybrid
The 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid received a lot of acclaim for what it was designed to be — an electrifying workhorse. Let’s not forget the perks new owners got, such as good mpg while still maintaining its rugged pickup capabilities.
Consumer Reports had something different to say about the Blue Oval’s hybrid workhorse. Based on data collected from owners, CR reported that the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid had issues with driveline vibration, driveshaft, transfer case, fueling tank, and minor engine accessory faults.
2023 Volkswagen Taos
You’ll enjoy three things about the 2023 Volkswagen Taos: ample space (for a subcompact SUV), impressive gas mileage, and roomy cargo space. It drives like new-age Jettas and feels like a bulked-up Golf.
However, according to Consumer Reports, potential buyers must be wary of issues with this sub-compact SUV, thanks to a few recalls in the first two production years. The 2022 and 2023 model years had issues with braking, cheap interior, rough transmission shifts, and problems with the cooling system.
At the VW Taos forum, owners seem conflicted over its reliability. Still, it’s evident from their remarks that the Taos shouldn’t come as an upgrade from a VW Golf.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
It’s safe to say that the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid could be one of the few relevant Chryslers. It has options for All Wheel Drive (tanks gas mileage according to reviews), and a Plug-in Hybrid (FWD only).
Consumer Reports rated the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid among the ten least reliable cars of 2023. According to the data collected by CR, the Pacifica had several issues, including problems with the braking system, battery and electric drivetrain, and hybrid system, as well as a ton of recalls.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has received high acclaim for its build quality over the years. Truck lovers hail it for its advanced engineering, durability, and consistency in performance.
However, Consumer Reports ranked the 2023 Silverado 1500 poorly for potential trouble spots. According to the consumer advocate, the Chevy Silverado 1500 has had one recall, exhaust issues, in-car electronic glitches, and poor fuel economy.
Based on the data collected from Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models from 2021 through 2023, CR feels the 2024 model will also be less reliable than the average new car.
Nissan Sentra
2023 Nissan Sentra owners got an unexpected treat from the Japanese manufacturer — it featured a ton of safety tech (standard) and decent price tags across all trims.
Still, there were a couple of places where Nissan dropped the ball — mainly on the performance department.
Here’s the truth. If you were looking for a reasonably priced sedan without breaking the bank, the Nissan Sentra would be a perfect option.
But as the saying goes, “cheap is expensive,” and if you did a little research online, you’ll discover that Sentra has many issues going back to 2020, mostly related to CVT (continuously variable transmission).
Lincoln Aviator
The Lincoln Aviator is an attractive option for anyone looking for a luxury SUV. You’ll love its high-end interior and kick behind the wheel (thanks to a twin-turbo V6 engine). You might not love the gas mileage — but then again, this is a luxury SUV with a starting price of $55,000.
Consumer Reports warns potential buyers to stay away from the Lincoln Aviator unless they want a regular prescription of antidepressants. The consumer advocacy institution gave this luxury crossover a meager reliability score, making it a sketchy purchase option.
According to CR, the 2023 Lincoln Aviator has had six recalls by the NHTSA. Owners have also reported issues with the steering control, in-car electronics, and the suspension system.
