Buying a used car is inherently riskier than buying a new one. Sure, pre-purchase inspections and CarFax reports can give buyers some peace of mind, but in many cases, potentially costly problems can go unnoticed until weeks or months after the vehicle's title has changed hands.
When unexpected problems arise, used car owners typically don't have the option of returning their vehicle and instead have to shoulder the cost of repairs and the weight of buyer's remorse that comes with it.
New cars are much less likely to present unexpected problems, at least for the first few years, but buying a new vehicle is simply out of the financial reach of most car buyers. In fact, almost three times as many used cars are sold per year compared to new cars. According to Consumer Affairs.
Related: The Best Used Cars Under $20,000 According to Consumer Reports
One way to mitigate the risk of unexpected repair costs when purchasing a used vehicle is to know what to avoid.
While some car models have earned a reputation for reliability, others tend to have frequent and worsening problems as they age, costing their owners money and time. Discarding these models can be a solid first step toward finding the perfect used car.
How does Consumer Reports identify unreliable car models?
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit organization that tests products, advocates for consumers, and surveys its more than 6 million members about the products they own and use every day, including cars. By surveying its members about their experiences with their own vehicles, CR gathers information about how different models perform over time, what problems typically arise with them, and how much they cost to fix.
For each model year, CR establishes a baseline of how many problems arise on average and how much the resulting repairs cost. Based on this analysis, CR has identified more than 50 used car models from various years that outperform this baseline most dramatically, deeming them “used cars to avoid buying.”
The least reliable used car models from 2014 to 2023 according to Consumer Reports
Most used car buyers are looking for something reliable yet affordable.
If you're shopping for a used vehicle and want to avoid purchasing a vehicle that ends up costing more in repairs than it's worth, eliminating the following vehicles from your consideration before narrowing your search further might be a good first step.
These are the used vehicles that Consumer Reports identified as markedly unreliable Compared to peers based on survey data from millions of vehicle owners:
Audi
- Audi A3: 2019
- Audi A6: 2019
- Audi Q3: 2016, 2022
- Audi E-Tron: 2019
Buick
- Encore: 2015, 2017
- Encore GX: 2020
Cadillac
- Cadillac XT4: 2019
Chevrolet
- Chevrolet Blazer: 2023
- Chevrolet Bolt: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Chevrolet Cruze: 2014
- Chevrolet Malibu: 2014
- Chevrolet Suburban: 2021, 2023
- Chevrolet Tahoe: 2016, 2017, 2021
- Chevrolet Traverse: 2018
Chrysler
- Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: 2018, 2021, 2022
- Chrysler Town & Country: 2016
Ford
- Ford Escape: 2021
- Ford Escape Hybrid: 2020
- Ford Expedition: 2017, 2018, 2019
- Ford Explorer: 2016, 2020
- Ford F-150 Hybrid: 2021, 2022
- Ford F-250: 2019, 2021
- Ford Mustang: 2020
More automotive:
- The 10 least reliable cars according to Consumer Reports
- The longest lasting car models (over 200,000 miles) according to Consumer Reports
- The best fuel-efficient hybrid cars according to Consumer Reports
GMC
- GMC Acadia: 2018
- GMC Yukon: 2016, 2017, 2021
- GMC Yukon XL: 2021, 2023
Hyundai
- Hyundai Ioniq: 2020
- Hyundai Ioniq 5: 2022
- Hyundai Kona Electric: 2019
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: 2014
- Hyundai Sonata: 2017, 2018
- Hyundai Tucson: 2016, 2017
Jeep
- Jeep Cherokee: 2014
- Jeep Gladiator: 2020
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L: 2021
- Jeep Wrangler: 2018, 2020, 2021
Come on
- Be Niro: 2019
- Kia Soul: 2021
Mazda
- Mazda CX9: 2023
Mercedes-Benz
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 2018
Mini
- Mini Cooper: 2018
Nissan
- Nissan Frontier: 2023
- Nissan Pathfinder: 2023
- Nissan Rogue: 2022
RAM
- Ram 2500: 2017, 2022
Rivian
- Rivian R1T: 2022
Tesla
- Tesla Model S: 2019, 2020, 2021
- Tesla Model x: 2018, 2022
Volkswagen
- Volkswagen Atlas: 2021
- Volkswagen ID.4: 2021, 2023
- Volkswagen Jetta: 2014, 2021
- Volkswagen Taos: 2022
- Volkswagen Tiguan: 2018
Volvo
- Volvo S60: 2015, 2022
- Volvo V60: 2015, 2020
- Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid: 2022, 2023
- Volvo XC90: 2016, 2019
Related: The 30 Most Reliable Car Brands in 2024, According to Consumer Reports
Tips for buying a safe and reliable used car
Consumer Reports' analysis makes it clear which models and years to avoid when buying a used vehicle, but once you've eliminated the least reliable models, what's the best way to sort through what's left?
The average used car It costs around $29,000 In 2024, it's more important than ever for buyers to shop around thoughtfully. One way to do that is to pay for a full CarFax report (including major events like collisions and repairs) on each vehicle you're seriously considering if the seller hasn't already provided one.
Some mechanics recommend avoiding cars that have been in major collisions, even if they appear to be fully repaired. These vehicles may have been structurally weakened, which can make them less safe in future accidents. Also, not all components of a vehicle are easily visible, so even if the car's body and major components were repaired, problems with smaller parts that were overlooked could lead to complications down the road.
If you have a good mechanic who is willing to perform pre-purchase inspections for a reasonable fee, it may be worth negotiating to purchase a package of four or five inspections for a slightly reduced fee. This way, you can bring in several vehicles to be evaluated, and a knowledgeable mechanic can give you a better idea of whether any have serious problems and which one might offer the best value for money.
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