Choosing a car can be difficult. The market is awash with options, including SUVs, sedans, grand tourers, and pickup trucks. Working out which to buy isn’t easy, but reviews and reports from Consumer Reports are one excellent way to do so.
Consumer Reports lists the faults and issues, as well as the positives, of virtually every car imaginable, making it easier to narrow down the ones you should buy and avoid.
This list contains 13 cars that you should avoid at all costs or you will regret buying them. These are some of the worst cars on the consumer website for reasons such as poor reliability and build quality. Other reviews and their reputations also contribute to their making this list.
Rivian R1T
While Rivian has made some positive headlines with the R1T pickup truck, Consumer Reports has not been overly complimentary of the electric vehicle. In fact, the site has listed eight recalls for the truck, which has only been on the market for three years.
Cheap materials and poor build quality are cited as some of the reasons for the R1Ts problems. However, some owners, via the NHTSA and IIHS, have reported that the R1T has been known to stop without warning, leaving some owners at risk of being rear-ended on highways and interchanges.
Chevrolet Tahoe
Despite being one of Bow Tie’s most popular vehicles in its range, the Chevrolet Tahoe has yet to fare well in consumer reports rankings. The SUV has a low average score of 50 100, and a glance at the reliability section shows it sits as low as 29 100, highlighting some of its problems.
Many of these stem from problems with the push-button gear shifter, and owners have also noted that the Tahoe’s fuel economy is terrible. You are lucky if you can achieve 28 MPG on the highway in the SUV.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Many of us see Mercedes-Benz as the pillar of quality, luxury, and reliability. However, the German marque seems to have let itself down on more than one occasion in the modern era, with the current C-Class indicating how far they can drop the ball on occasion.
Consumer Reports paints a damning picture of the Mercedes. The reliability score reaches as low as 19/100, and owner satisfaction sees the score sit at just one out of five. Overcomplicated controls, poor brakes, and average reliability all lead to that meager owner satisfaction score.
Jeep Wrangler
It perhaps comes as no surprise that Jeep is high up on Consumer Reports’ list of unreliable vehicles. The Jeep Wrangler scores just 27 out of 100 for 2024, and it always falls short of expectations for multiple reasons.
While the Wrangler is excellent off-road, reliability and the overall build quality of the SUV have always been problems. The Wrangler can be uncomfortable off-road, and the fuel economy is poor, which makes it difficult to sell as a regular daily driver. It has its moments, but the Wrangler can be a nightmare to live with.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Another Jeep that scores poorly with Consumer Reports is the popular and well-known Grand Cherokee. Astonishingly, the Grand Cherokee actually scores worse than the Wrangler, with a reliability rating of 26 out of 100, and it doesn’t take long to find out why the SUV scores so severely.
Issues with the suspension and steering, fuel pump issues, and poor build quality all contribute to the poor score. Jeeps also score quite poorly on crash ratings, and some owners have reported that they simply become money pits over time.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is currently America’s only plug-in hybrid minivan. Chrysler uses this to its advantage in all its marketing, yet despite that, it actually scored the worst on Consumer Reports so far in 2024.
The website has given the minivan a paltry 14 out of 100 for reliability. One of the worst scores ever seen on Consumer Reports. Such a low score will make people think twice before they commit to buying the hybrid minivan.
Nissan Frontier
Japanese car manufacturers are famed for their reliability, but even they can get it wrong sometimes. The Nissan Frontier is an example of this, despite the pickup truck recently going through a redesign.
A rough ride, limited rear space, and a lack of a telescoping steering column also contributed to the car’s low owner satisfaction score of just two out of five on Consumer Reports. A reliability score of 23/100 is one of the worst of 2024, and while the new pickup has improved things slightly, it still has its problems.
Volkswagen Taos
It is disappointing that the Volkswagen Taos has such a low-reliability score. The compact SUV is one of the most affordable in the United States, with a starting price of just $23,995. The turbocharged 1.5-liter TSI engine produces 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
Yet that only helps elevate the SUV’s reliability score to 18. The Taos can suffer from premature wear to the brakes, which can include pulsating or vibrating feelings, and acceleration away from stops can sometimes feel incredibly jerky.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
While many see Land Rover and Range Rover as the epitome of off-road luxury and performance, the British brand has always had a questionable reliability record—one that used to be matched only by Lotus or British Leyland.
The 2024 Discover Sport signifies this with its low score of 46/100 on Consumer Reports. The SUV is noted for its average performance levels and a relatively low owner satisfaction rate. With the SUV market so congested, it’s difficult for the Discovery Sport to stand out.
Ford Bronco
When Ford relaunched the Bronco in 2020, it was one of the most exciting revivals of recent years. Yet remarkable, Consumer Reports doesn’t paint the Blue Oval’s SUV in a good light with a reliability score as low as 37 out of 100.
There are other issues for the Bronco, too. Along with its lower-than-expected reliability, the Brono has also been hurt by poor agility on tarmac, long braking distances, and poor fuel economy compared to many of its rivals.
Ford F-150 Hybrid
It’s a surprise that the Ford F-150 Hybrid ranks so low on this list. The hybrid F-150 is an excellent truck, with improved fuel economy over the standard models. It clearly represents a step in the right direction for pickup trucks in this environmentally conscious world.
Coolant leaks from the lithium-ion battery are a known problem with the truck, and they could become a significant concern. Other owners have reported weird issues with the air-conditioning system and that the cruise control can have a mind of its own. The F-150 Hybrid scores just 19 out of 100 for Consumer Reports reliability.
Mitsubishi Mirage
There is a lot to like about the Mitsubishi Mirage. It’s a quaint, cheap, and practical car that is the perfect daily driver for those on a budget or who are new drivers. But its cheapness does come at the cost of quality, and reliability can be poor as well.
Consumer Reports lists the Mirage’s reliability at just 38 out of 100. The sad thing is that the Mirage is one of the few cars in the United States available for less than $20,000, and it will exit the North American market in 2024.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Three Jeeps ranked high in Consumer Reports for poor reliability in 2024. The third is the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, the three-row version of the Grand Cherokee with the largest wheelbase in its class.
The Grand Cherokee L suffers from some of the same issues as other Jeeps. Its fuel economy is dreadful, at just 21 MPG combined, and even though it has an optional V8 engine, it’s not quite powerful enough for the heavy SUV. Of course, it is also unreliable, scoring just 23 out of 100.
