The 1980s was a fascinating era for the automobile. There were some truly spectacular and incredible cars, such as the Ferrari F40 and the Lamborghini Countach.
But there were some duds. Cars that fell short of expectations left us questioning why the manufacturers built them.
This list will cover some of the worst ’80s cars the decade had to offer and why you should avoid them. These were unreliable, underdelivered in their performance, or plain and horrible to drive.
DeLorean DMC-12
The issues surrounding the DMC-12 are well documented. John DeLorean’s drugs scandal and FBI arrest took a lot of the shine away from what was a great-looking sports car.
However, the 130 hp PRV 2.85-liter V6 engine didn’t offer sports car performance, and the DMC-12 also suffered from many quality control issues.
1981 Chrysler Imperial
Chrysler was in bad shape in the early 1980s, yet somehow, the Imperial would enter production. Chrysler billed the Imperial as “an electronic marvel,” but the digital dashboard inside the car didn’t work.
The electronic fuel injection system and the extra quality checks the car underwent only caught a few other problems.
1982 Cadillac Cimarron
The Cimarron was Cadillac’s attempt to take on the BMW 320i and Audi 4000. But the Cimarron was just a rebadged Chevrolet Cavalier, and it was a car never intended to become a Cadillac.
The lackluster Cavalier four-cylinder and uncomfortable ride didn’t make for a good, luxury car. The Cimarron was slow, heavy, and uneconomical.
Maserati Biturbo
It is a minor miracle that the Biturbo lasted 13 years. From the start, it was clear that the Maserati had overheating issues, was unreliable, and had terrible build quality.
The Biturbo effectively ended Maserati’s involvement with the American market. Biturbo owners would find all manner of leaks, snaps, or other problems with the car just a couple of years into their ownership.
1980 Dodge Mirada
The Dodge Mirada’s early promise quickly faded. Dodge produced it from 1980 to 1983, but the Chrysler parent company struggled to sell the coupe.
Marketed as a sporty personal luxury car, its limited advertising failed to get the Mirada’s name out there. Further complicating matters was Chrysler’s poor financial position at the time.
Pontiac Fiero
Pontiac almost got it right with the Fiero. However, its build quality could have been better, and its performance was different from what consumers had hoped for from an innovative sports car.
However, the biggest reason for avoiding buying one was its slight tendency to catch fire, which Pontiac likely didn’t mention in the marketing material.
Ferrari Mondial
If you want a high-performance 1980s Ferrari, there are better options than the Mondial. The small, 214 hp V8 engine barely made the Mondial any faster than some of the poor Chevrolet Camaros of the era.
Their relatively low desirability, however, makes them a well-priced machine on the second-hand market. Just don’t expect blistering performance.
1982 Renault Fuego
The Fuego’s bizarre styling alone makes it a car to avoid buying. This Renault coupe resulted from a partnership with the American Motors Corporation (AMC).
Designed as a sports car, the Fuego’s soft springs, over-boosted steering, and easy-chair seats were not precisely sports car features. Nor was the 107 hp turbo engine with a 0-60 mph time of around 10 seconds.
1983 Chrysler Executive
The problems surrounding Chrysler in the 1980s are beautifully summed up with the 1983 Executive. This behemoth of a limousine was a stretched Chrysler LeBaron with more steel welded into the design.
As it weighed over 3,000 lbs, the 2.6-liter engine struggled to get the Executive up to a decent speed.
1984 Ford Bronco II
While the 2021 revival of the Bronco has been a considerable success, Ford’s Bronco II of the 1980s was anything but. The Bronco II was a half-size off-roader based on Ford’s Ranger pickup.
However, the Bronco II tended to roll over. Yet this didn’t stop production, and its crash-and-death rate was so high that some insurance companies refused to insure it.
1982 Dodge Diplomat
The Dodge Diplomat is the worst car from Chrysler’s fallow period in the 1980s. The all-steel bodies were heavy and bloated, yet Dodge made them flimsy.
The Diplomat was unyielding and lumbering in the corners, and its poor ride was a legacy of its 1970s origins.
Citroen 2CV
Technically, the 2CV isn’t a 1980s car, but production continued for so long that it became one. And while we aren’t saying avoid buying a 2CV, avoid buying one if you are looking for a 1980s classic.
More modern and enjoyable cars from that decade are available to buy and drive. Plus, older 2CVs have a lot more character.
1983 AMC-Renault Alliance/Encore
The AMC and Renault partnership produced another stinker with the Encore. In reality, the Encore was just a rebadged Renault 11, but poor quality control meant it was a lottery for how well-assembled your Encore was.
A rising economy in the late 1980s meant little enthusiasm from American consumers for a small, affordable, poorly built car.
1982 Chevrolet Camaro “Iron Duke”
The 1980s were an abysmal period for the Chevrolet Camaro. The 1982 Iron Duke epitomized the era when small amounts of power came from what should have been high-performance muscle cars.
A small 2.5-liter four-cylinder produced less than 100 horsepower—a miserable 92 horsepower. So, if you want a 1980s high-performance classic, don’t buy a Camaro Iron Duke.
1985 Yugo/Zastava Yugo
The little Yugo has gained a cult following in the 21st century. But mark in the 1980s, it wasn’t seen in the same light.
The Yugo was a shortened Fiat 128, sold in the USA from 1985 to 1992. It was cheaply built, unreliable, and different from what an economically strong USA wanted as the 1990s rolled in.
1980 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel
Under the Delta 88 Diesel hood was a substantial 5.7-liter diesel V8 engine. That sounds promising, but this massive engine produced just 105 hp.
This lumbering Oldsmobile summed up an era when many American cars had massive engines that produced little power.
1988 Trabant 601
The Trabant’s continued production in the 1980s highlights the few motoring options available for Eastern Blok residents.
East Germany needed more investment than West Germany, and while there was massive demand for the Trabant, it was just a basic, no-frills, and poorly built means to an end.
1981 Cadillac V8-6-4
The Cadillac V8-6-4 had some innovative features. It allowed drivers to disable up to four of its cylinders to save on gas. The car could also tell you how many miles you had left before the gas ran out.
Sadly, the technology was ahead of its time, and the V8-6-4 proved problematic. Letting down what was an excellent and innovative concept.
1980 Chevrolet Citation
Chevrolet’s Citation suffered from numerous safety concerns throughout its production run. Recalls were a big problem.
In 1980 alone, Chevrolet recalled 225,000 examples to fix a transmission hose related to underhood fires.
1980 Ford Mustang
The 1980 Ford Mustang doesn’t deserve the muscle car moniker. The base model had a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produced just 88 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque.
Add in the rather plain styling, and the 1980 Mustang is now considered one of the biggest blots on the muscle car’s record book.
1982 Dodge Challenger
The 1982 Challenger’s biggest problem was looking different from a Dodge Challenger. That was thanks to it being a rebranded Mitsubishi Galant. The other issue was the woeful 100-hp 2.6-liter four-cylinder under the hood.
Remarkably, an even smaller 1.6-liter engine was also available. Little wonder this revived Challenger, designed in partnership with Mitsubishi, lasted just a year.
1982 Ford Thunderbird
Images of grand, luxurious sedans or coupes emerge when we think of the Ford Thunderbird. The 1982 Thunderbird, however, was the total opposite.
The vast, boat-sized coupe’s 4.7-liter V8 engine produced just 120 hp and 205 lb-ft of torque. The bland styling did little for the Thunderbird, either.
1984 Zimmer Quicksilver
Unlike what the name suggests, there was sadly nothing quick about the Quicksilver. Zimmer based the car on the Pontiac Fiero, creating a striking-looking coupe with a long hood.
Sadly, That hood hid a 140 hp V6 engine, not a V8 as many had hoped for. With a starting price of $50,000, it is no surprise the Quicksilver fell flat.
1988 Chrysler TC By Maserati
The idea behind the 1988 Chrysler TC by Maserati was to bring an Italian sports car to Chrysler dealerships and give it the American manufacturer’s name.
The reality was Maserati made very little of the car. The engine took two years to reach the TC, and the asking price of $35,000 was enough to drive most consumers away.
