When it comes to reliability, the rule of thumb in America has been that domestic cars are simple and dependable, while foreign cars - especially European ones - are too sophisticated and unreliable. This perception was probably brought to you by the same people who came up with the "Fix It Again, Tony" joke about FIATs. And while it might have held true 40 years ago, this stereotype is no longer the accurate.
2020 has blessed us with lots of exciting cars so far - especially from Detroit. So far, we've witnessed the rebirth of the Corvette as a mid-engined supercar destroyer, the reinvention of Lincoln as a potentially dominant luxury SUV brand, as well as the fierce competition between Ford and Dodge in the muscle car game.
However, as we implied in the beginning, this list is not about luxury, performance, or excitement - it's about reliability... or the lack thereof. So, we've rounded up a list of all the new American cars that you'd better avoid - unless you want to become your mechanic's favorite customer.
15 Chrysler 300
Let's be honest here: Chrysler should have retired the 300 a long time ago. The current generation first went on sale in 2011 - and hasn't changed much since then. Which means that it has accumulated more than a few reliability issues over the years. In 2018, the NHTSA issued three recalls for the 300 regarding the wiring and the transmission. For all we know, it might still be hiding some unpleasant surprises under the hood.
14 Dodge Charger
The Charger gets lots of love for its performance - and it deserves it. However, as it is usually the case with fast cars, it pays for the performance with the spotty reliability. Some of the known issues include engine and alternator failure, oil sludge buildup and the transmission getting stuck and park. So what's the point of all this power when you can't even use it?
13 Chevrolet Camaro
The Camaro, yet another iconic American muscle car, is not immune to reliability issues either. In fact, it was named one of the most unreliable new cars you can buy by Consumer Reports. To give you an idea why, the list of the problematic areas includes power equipment, body hardware, and transmission. It seems that the Camaro has shifted from being iconic for its performance and body style to being iconic for poor reliability.
12 Chrysler Pacifica
We don't know whether the Pacifica is named after the Pacific Ocean, but if it is - there is some real unintentional irony there. Because just like the Ocean, the Pacifica might seem pleasant and safe, yet it also hides many dangers under its surface. Of course, we're talking about poor reliability. The weakest spot is the transmission that is prone to slips and jerks. The Pacifica might not be as bad as other FCA cars, but we'd still be cautious.
11 Chevrolet Traverse
Perhaps, with the Traverse nameplate, Chevy wanted to create an image of adventure and traversing the unknown. In reality, the only path you will be traversing in your Traverse is from your garage to your mechanic. This full-size SUV is prone to many issues: engine misfires, transmission failure, and in-car electronic malfunctions.
10 Cadillac XT4
The XT4 is one of Cadillac's newest models. It's quite a shame that it already has a spotty reliability record. Being a GM product, you can guess what most complaints so far are related to - the transmission. Some owners have reported knocks and gears slipping - which is not a good sign for the XT4's long-term dependability.
9 Tesla Model X
With its debatable styling and gullwing rear doors, the Tesla Model X is a popular, yet polarizing vehicle. But then again, it's a Tesla - so what would you expect? Being an EV, it should at least be reliable, right? Not so fast. Teslas are notorious for how unreliable their infotainment systems are. And when you only have one screen to control everything, it can be a serious concern.
8 GMC Yukon
We never quite got the point of the GMC Yukon. It occupies a weird spot between your regular Tahoe and a luxurious Escalade. And since it's essentially a rebadged Tahoe, one would expect it to be reliable. Not quite. Its predicted reliability rating from J.D. Power is quite low, and in late 2019, GM had to issue a recall for the Yukon due to potential cracks in the fuel pump. That, as we know, can lead to a fire.
7 Jeep Wrangler
The Wrangler is, by all accounts, an off-roading legend. Sadly, its reliability is not as legendary. Among the most notorious issues are brake and steering problems, cylinder head failures and wiring shenanigans. With such a poor reliability record, it comes as a surprise that people still trust the Wrangler enough to take it into the wild.
6 Dodge Grand Caravan
In true Mopar fashion, the Dodge Grand Caravan has been around for more than a decade. It's a woefully outdated vehicle which is finally getting discontinued to make way for the new Chrysler Voyager. Nevertheless, you can still buy a new one from a dealer - just don't forget to ask the manager for a few replacement transmissions.
5 Lincoln Nautilus
The Nautilus is Lincoln's more stylish answer to the Cadillac XT5. We have to admit: for a mid-size SUV, the Nautilus looks pretty great. In terms of the exterior, that is. Mechanically, things have not been so great with the Nautilus. Some of the consumer reviews on Edmunds mention major transmission issues, such as clunks and kicks. For a fresh car, this does not look so great.
4 Jeep Cherokee
It's hard to decide where to start with the Cherokee's issues. Out of all recent Jeep models, it has been slammed as one of the most unreliable ones. Oil leaks, transmission failures, engines stalling for no reason while you're driving. We'd tell you to avoid the Cherokee, but it seems that Jeep themselves already did it for us.
3 Dodge Journey
Chrysler, outdated, should've been retired a long time ago - we've mentioned this more than a few times in this article already. We're surprised that the Journey is still available as new. Even the most ardent Dodge fans have disregarded it as one of the most disappointing vehicles that the company has ever made. The poor reliability is definitely to blame - among other reasons. Catastrophic engine and transmission failures are not uncommon. It's a mystery how this car has lasted on the market for so long.
2 Jeep Gladiator
The Gladiator is definitely one of the hottest cars of the last few years and a truly great effort from FCA in making an off-road-ready pickup truck. Still, it's based on the Wrangler, so you should not be surprised to encounter the same reliability issues: steering, brakes, engine electronics. Just don't mention all those issues to the fans!
1 Chevrolet Colorado
Being crowned by Consumer Reports as the least reliable car you can buy should mean something. And by something, we mean "for the love of God, stay away from it, please." Colorado's list of potential trouble spots goes on and on: transmission, in-car electronics, fuel system, drivetrain components. We don't think that there is much else to add.