Certain car brands have a less-than-stellar reputation for reliability. Most of us who know a mechanic have likely been told to avoid these brands like the plague.
Whether it’s due to frequent breakdowns, excessive recalls, or shoddy build quality, these brands can make the most patient mechanic pull their hair out in frustration.
Using online forums and sources such as Consumer Reports and J.D. Power, we’ve gathered a list of 13 car brands your mechanic will warn you is a money pit.
Chrysler
Chrysler has really suffered in reliability ratings in recent years. The American carmaker came dead last in Consumer Reports’s predicted reliability rankings, with a score of just 18/100.
Some owners will say Chrysler is actually in the middle of the pack regarding reliability, but even J.D. Power’s 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study places it at the bottom, with 310 problems per 100 vehicles. Mechanics are complaining about the brand’s sub-par build quality and use of cheap materials.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is one of the world’s most famous luxury brands, and their cars used to be overengineered and among the most reliable you could buy. That’s no longer the case, though.
Part of the reason they’re considered money pits these days is because of all the tech that’s usually found in high-end luxury vehicles. Mercedes-Benz ownership can be a costly affair, as the average annual repair costs are around $908, and Consumer Reports gave it a predicted reliability score of 23/100 — far worse than the other German brands.
Kia
We should clarify that it’s mostly the older Kias mechanics have issues with, and it’s no secret that those suffered from appalling build quality. Luckily, they were so poorly built that most are gone now.
However, while Kia does offer some of the best warranties in the industry, things aren’t perfect. Even the Korean carmaker’s newer engines are known to develop issues—the worst being the infamous rod knock. It can seemingly happen even if the owner has followed the service intervals religiously. Some owners have commented on CarComplaints, saying the engine suddenly developed a knocking sound and threw a rod straight through the block without the check engine light giving them a warning.
Nissan
Other than its GT-R and Z, Nissan has become a shadow of its former self. Some of the brand’s models are riddled with problems, and most mechanics will tell you to steer clear of them.
The Altima is definitely a model to avoid, as its engine is plagued by chronic head gasket problems, and the only way to sort it out once and for all is to get rid of the car. Over at NissanProblems, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th-gen Altimas are ranked as the worst Nissans ever.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen, like other German car manufacturers, has had more than its fair share of reliability issues over the last 30 years. Consumer Reports has given VW a predicted reliability score of 26/100 for 2024.
Volkswagens can be great cars, but some models have suffered more problems and recalls than others, taking the brand’s reliability ratings down with them. Many mechanics seem to love the older models, which makes sense, as many of them are iconic, but the reliability seems to have nose-dived around 25 years ago.
Maserati
Decades ago, the mere mention of a Maserati would evoke naughty automotive dreams. These days, it only conjures thoughts of ridiculous repair and maintenance bills.
Think of any stereotypical problem Italian cars are known for, and chances are it’ll apply to any Maserati. The brand has one of the worst reputations of the entire auto industry regarding depreciation. During the first five years, a Maserati tends to lose 60-70% of its original value. Being an Italian exotic, parts aren’t exactly cheap either, and if you want some money back when you sell it, you’ll have to service it at dealerships.
Jeep
Jeep, makers of some of the best off-road vehicles on the market, only scored 26/100 for predicted reliability in Consumer Reports’ ratings.
It should be noted that many of the common Jeep issues won’t appear for the first few years, but 43% of those who owned a slightly older Jeep experienced multiple problems over the course of one year.
Mini
There’s no denying that all generations of the Mini Cooper are tons of fun to drive. They offer great handling and can be customized with endless aftermarket parts. Depending on the model, they also pack a decent punch, making them proper pocket rockets.
Sadly, every generation since the R53 was introduced in 2001 has come with tons of problems. Owners have experienced issues with the superchargers, gearboxes, turbochargers, electrics, timing chains, and gaskets, among other things. The early R56 cars, or second-generation Minis, are by far the most problematic, but even owners of newer cars have reported various faults.
GMC
Seeing as GMC and Chevrolet build mostly the same vehicles on the same assembly lines, with only some minor differences, it’s weird that GMC has a lower predicted reliability score than its Bow Tie sibling.
We suspect it’s because GMC is slightly more luxurious, which could mean some tech gremlins are rearing their ugly head. Overall, GMC has a 36/100 predicted reliability score and suffers from some well-documented issues.
Lincoln
Lincoln is another luxury brand that struggles with reliability issues. Some claim Lincoln suffers more from a perception problem than reliability problems, but it still only managed a predicted reliability score of 38/100 in Consumer Reports’ ratings. That’s just a couple of points behind Ford, so it could, once again, be the extra tech that’s causing it to perform worse than the Blue Oval.
One Lincoln mechanic on Reddit said most of the brand’s cars are okay, but the Aviator mid-size luxury SUV suffers from a whole host of issues.
Land Rover
Land Rover is another car manufacturer that builds excellent off-road vehicles. They charge a premium for these SUVs, but they’re severely lacking in the reliability department.
J.D. Power placed Land Rover dead last in its vehicle dependability study, and Repair Pal placed it 31st out of 32 brands. Repair Pal also says the average Land Rover visits the mechanic for two unplanned repairs every three years. That’s 65% more often than the average vehicle, and 16% of the repairs are considered severe. A Land Rover’s annual maintenance cost is a whopping $1,604.
Dodge
RepairPal gave Dodge a 3.5/5 score and placed it 19th out of 32 brands, and Consumer Reports gave Dodge a predicted reliability score of 42/100 — 20th out of 30 brands.
Overall, owners seem to agree that the Charger and Challenger are okay, and Consumer Reports say those two models are average compared to other cars. Other models, such as the Dodge Hornet, are not so favorably rated by many owners, with some calling it the worst car out there.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo makes very desirable cars that regular people can afford to buy. But just because you can afford to buy one doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
Unfortunately, Alfa Romeo’s reputation suffers because some of its high-performance models, such as the Giulia Quadrifoglio, are known to have some issues. However, on the whole, the brand’s reliability is probably better now than it’s ever been. Still, many mechanics will tell you to steer clear of these Italian beauties, and if you’re thinking of buying an older Alfa, you should take their advice.
Author: Andre Nalin
Expertise: Automotive
