Lists of cars to buy - and especially those to avoid - are always interesting for me. Kudos to Sherwood at Royalty Auto Service for this great breakdown of the worst vehicles from last decade:
10. Dodge Dart (2013–2016): Cited for "defunct" status making parts procurement difficult, along with Multi-Air system issues and coolant leaks.
9. Chevrolet Cruze (2008–2019): Known for turbo issues, coolant leaks, oil leaks (specifically oil filter housings), and notoriously bad valve covers.
8. Ford Focus (2012–2015): Specifically these years due to massive transmission failures and severe vibrations.
7. Land Rover with 5.0L Engine: Noted for expensive repairs including coolant leaks under the intake manifold, timing chain issues, and brake vacuum pump failures.
6. Ford with 1.5L, 1.6L, or 2.0L EcoBoost (2013–2019): These engines often suffer from "coolant intrusion" which typically requires a full engine replacement.
5. Mini Cooper (2010s Models): Mentioned for frequent timing chain failures, carbon buildup on intake valves, and high repair costs.
4. Nissan with CVT Transmission (2012–2018): Includes models like the Sentra, Altima, Maxima, and Rogue. The transmissions are considered highly prone to failure.
3. Ford with 3.5L EcoBoost Engine: Problems include leaking turbo lines (requiring the cab to be removed for repair) and phaser issues.
2. Kia and Hyundai with 2.0L or 2.4L Engines: Notorious for catastrophic engine failures, with the host mentioning techs sometimes replacing multiple engines a day.
1. Chrysler with 3.6L Engine (Pentastar): Labeled the worst due to major lifter and camshaft issues that lead to expensive engine replacements, along with frequent oil cooler housing leaks.
An honorable mention here, this 2024 Nissan Altima customer will probably nominate their vehicle as one to avoid!
On the opposite end of the ownership spectrum, check out this 2003 Toyota Camry with 830K miles.
Thanks for reading everybody!
-Paul