People buy brand new cars for one major reasons: zero hassles. However, despite the promise of a car or an experience free from the hassles of service problems that come with a car as it ages, there are some brand new cars that still go back to the dealer's sooner and more often than others. Consumer Reports always takes stock of a lot of complaints that come in from car owners of different models and brands, but they also take time to test the cars and give their credible reviews on the same.
The models you'll find on our list of the 20 brand new cars you cannot even recommend to your own enemy are based on these reliability surveys done by CR, among other review sites. The surveys take a deep dive into the different things that can go wrong with vehicles like brakes, broken parts, and out of warranty repairs or trouble with the car's system. Each gets a severity ranking and based on the analysis, the models are described as least reliable. Of the least reliable models, Tesla X takes the crown, while the least satisfying brand new car title goes to the Mercedes Benz GLA.
Buying a car should be an exciting process, especially a brand new one, knowing you'll get significant upgrades not just in comfort but also convenience features and a more sophisticated ride. Given the investment that comes with such a decision, and the cost implications of driving a bad but brand new car, it is small wonder that buyers are disappointed when the car breaks their hearts by not living up to its promise. Here are the 20 brand new cars that are total heart breakers.
20 GMC Acadia
This SUV comes with a base price of about $51,585 and to justify its high price, it is loaded with some goodies. It is actually a family vehicle considering the fact that it provide plenty of space for passengers in it three rows. Under the bonnet is the smooth 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 19 mpg, which doesn’t sound so great.
Another available engine is the less powerful 2.5-liter four cylinder that comes as a standard.
Inside the SUV is a quiet cabin with comfortable front seats with intuitive infotainment system. The Acadia lacks a four-way adjustable lumber, a power sunroof shade and an auto-up windows which are present in its rivals. Some of the key issues Consumer Reports mentions about it include In-car electronics, power equipment and drive system.
19 Fiat 500L
The Fiat 500L is powered by a 160-hp turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four engine which is kind of sluggish at its best. This engine is mated with a six-speed automatic which comes as a standard, as well as the 5.0-inch infotainment screen. Consumer Reports says that the 500L has an issue with the display screen that freezes, making it difficult to be viewed. The driver assistant includes a backup camera which unfortunately is prone to malfunctions. Its battery also fails frequently, and the transmission doesn’t engage or takes too long to do so. You're also likely to get busted by cops because its lights can burn without giving you any warning due to system malfunction.
18 Dodge Journey
If we were to judge the midsize Dodge Journey from what we see on the picture or what is written on paper, then it could be one of the greatest vehicles of all time. It offers some goodies like a relatively quiet cabin, good rides and a snug third-row seat, competitive pricing, intuitive infotainment and lots of storage space.
The SUV has retained its old design for quite a long time with only minor updates.
Consumer Reports lists it as one of the least satisfying cars, with a confining interior and no agility. The 283-hp V-6 engine offers the poorest fuel economy within its class, plus it had a poor performance in the IIHS small-overlap frontal crash test.
17 Ford Fiesta
The subcompact Ford Fiesta offers agile handling that allows for a ride full of fun as well as easy control of the car. The interior is a fit and finish accompanied by high quality equipment and a relatively quiet cabin. Those who wish to take a ride on the rear seat have a hard time because they are cramped. Under the hood is a 120-hp, 1.6-liter engine paired with a five-speed manual and excellent fuel economy, though sluggish. However the six-speed automated manual isn’t any good either since it causes the car to stumble in stop-and-go traffic, Consumer Reports notes.
16 Nissan Sentra
With Nissan Sentra, major redesigns are done after every five years with a few changes in between. The most recent redesign brought out a quieter car that has been made possible with its less-intrusive CTV. Nissan Sentra offers a fairly responsive and secure handling though Consumer Reports says it delivers a stiff ride while the driving experience isn’t interesting at all. The sedan’s tall stance helps in accessibility of the cabin while the elevated driving position aids proper visibility and its rear seats are spacious. Some of the issues that Sentra has include slower acceleration compared to its rivals, a narrow cockpit and its front seats lack enough support. Despite the challenges, the car scored better in IIHS with safety equipment including the rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot warning.
15 Chevrolet Trax
If you are looking for an adventurous vehicle, then Chevrolet Trax isn’t ready to help you out on that. Trax, according to Consumer Reports, has a narrow and cramped cabin, which is basic with few incentives. It is powered by a 138-hp turbo 1.4-liter inline-four engine mated with a six-speed automatic, with the option of either front-or four-wheel-drive. The engine doesn’t deliver an impressive performance and returns a poor fuel economy.
When driving on this vehicle, drivers will be irritated by the noise from the engine, stiff ride, and occasionally bumpy gearbox.
Trax is a masterpiece featuring the generation next OnStar and MyLink infotainment systems. The $ 26,000 plus rated car is an ambitiously priced budget model which you'd rather spend on its rivals like the Subaru Forester.
14 Dodge Grand Caravan
Dodge Grand Caravan is definitely one of the best family vehicles in the domestic market, similar to its discontinued sister, the Chrysler Town and County. The old design is offered in a relatively lower price ranging from $26,250 - $31,750, which explains the kind of features you'll find. Consumer Reports lists some of the drawbacks such as the second rows are thin, low and uncomfortable at the same time which is actually annoying. The Caravan is powered by a 283-hp V6 engine which is no doubt powerful but has a poor fuel economy. Compared to its competitors, Dodge has a rougher ride at the same time its safety scores are nothing to be proud of. It performed dismally in the IIHS small-overlap front crash test.
13 Chevrolet Camaro
This car offers an excellent handling and sharp steering while its optional magnetic suspension does the job of keeping it composed over rough surfaces, hence guarantees your comfort in all surfaces. The base model of the Camaro is powered by a 275-hp turbo four-cylinder engine while the 3.6-liter V6 produces 335 horsepower. Under the hood is a powerful 6.2-liter V8 that has been extracted from a Corvette. The engines are mated with either six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox. Despite the good features in this car everything isn't 100 percent right. Consumer Reports says its visibility is atrocious, the rear seats are extremely tight, minor transmission issues and its driving system can also be tough to deal with.
12 Dodge Challenger
Enthusiasts might love the full Dodge Challenger with its rip-roaring SRT versions. This vehicle looks so stylish and cool, it won’t take a second before you fall in love with it. But not all that glitters is gold. Valley Chevy says the transmission is prone to wear and tear hence requiring frequent repairs and replacement which might be quite costly.
The fluid also frequently leaks out which is risky and might leave the car engine dry if not monitored.
The cruise control of the car is also a mess since it is prone to failure leading to some nasty driving experiences that nobody would want to be caught up in.
11 Mercedes-Benz GLC
A brand new Mercedes-Benz GLC will cost you about $49,105. The price won’t be much for a vehicle with a high profile status - one of the best compact luxury SUVs. The status didn’t come easy though as the SUV features an exceptional furnishing in the quiet cabin which also has the Mercedes counter-intuitive infotainment system. The front passengers enjoy comfortable and supportive seats which isn’t the same with the rear seats that are exact opposite of what we'd expect. The SUV is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine which produces ample power to keep the vehicle going. Some of the issues Consumer Reports says are likely to give problems are the brakes, steering or suspension and power equipment.
10 Jaguar F-Pace
The $49,105 Jaguar F-Pace holds the record of being the first Jaguar SUV that is based on a rear-wheel drive shared with the XF and XE. The F-Pace high speed has been enabled by its powerful 340 horsepower, supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. The engine has a problem of losing power faster though. All the engines are mated with an eight-speed automatic and 4WD. F-Pace is nimble and taut and provides amazing handling hence a lively ride. Despite the good quality, this SUV tends to have issues what with its stiff and choppy ride, Consumer Report notes. Additionally, the interior is fitted with comfortable seats but pathetic quality. The other drawbacks with the vehicle are infotainment which is always behind in time since it utilizes a slow and fussy touch screen, poor air conditioning system.
9 Ram 2500
Ram 2500 has a better ride with more towing and hauling prowess, which might be so seductive but there are more features that you need to look into before forking out $34290 to buy this truck. The truck is available in eight different trims including Sport, Power wagon, and Laramie.
It also comes with a standard 5.7-liter V-8 engine making 383-hp while the 6.4-liter V8 engine packs 410 hp.
Before you buy it, Consumer Reports warns that it has leaks in air suspension, a faulty display screen that can lead to a disaster, unnecessary worries and expenditure. Another issue with this truck is the fact its four wheel drive is kind of a hell to engage.
8 Ford Focus
Ford Focus comes in various models which include a sedan, hatchback and electric version. While driving this car, you will definitely realize that it feels solid and sophisticated. The interior sports high quality material with a quiet cabin. Focus gets its powertrain from the new 123-hp, 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo is slow and returns 29 mpg which is the same as that in 2.0-Liter. The sporty version is considered to be faster and fun with thrilling sounds, while the 350-hp turbo four-cylinder delivers a new high-performance 4WD RS. However, Consumer Reports says it has poor reliability, and at low speed the transmission becomes sudden. The driver also has to put up with a narrow driving position compared to its rivals.
7 Volvo XC90
The XC90 is a competitive three-row SUV that came in the market with some trouble spots which Consumer Reports listed, including its electric system, power equipment and in-car electronics. All versions of this vehicle's engines use an eight-speed automatic, plus the car has commendable handling, although its ride is stiff. The air suspension is optional which makes the ride a bit better, plus the interior is quiet, with plush and comfortable modern seats. However its unintuitive touch screen is frustrating to use as the functions like audio, phone, and navigation are controlled through it.
6 Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade has been mentioned in several lists when it comes to reliability, or the lack of it. Consumer Reports lists its major trouble spots to include power equipment, transmission, and the climate system.
The ride is also stiff and it doesn't stop or handle like other cars in its peer group.
The interior is also not as roomy as the exterior may fool you to think that way, plus the second-row seats are so uncomfortable, with a cramped third row. However, it has a powerful 420 horsepower V8 engine with impressive tow capacity.
5 Tesla Model X
The $110,700 rated Tesla Model X is designated by its battery capacity and performance and is known to be more showy than it is practical. This car has rear doors that open up and out of the way hence allowing for easy access to the rear seats, but they take long to either open or close. Model X has a huge windshield that extends up and over the front-seat occupants resulting to an airy and futuristic cabin. It comes in an option of five, six, or seven passenger seats but the issue with the seating is that the second row doesn’t fold hence interfering with the car’s utility. The car is quick and has good handling together with comfortable ride but Consumer Reports says its noise isolation isn’t that good. Other trouble spots listed include the climate system, paint and trim, and body hardware. For the price it costs, people may expect more.
4 Nissan Versa Sedan
With a base price of $12,995, what would you expect on a car built to be America’s cheapest car? The only thing expected from such cars is cheap features that replicate its price. The subcompact sedan features an interior which is cheap accompanied with a noisy cabin, according to Consumer Reports. Its 109-hp 4 cylinder engine drones as Versa gains more speed and its continuously variable automatic transmission makes the engine noise worse. Nissan Versa has a secure handling though it misses precision making the car feel clumsy. The driver will experience a stiff ride with short quick pitches hence making the car feel jumpy.
3 Acura ILX
Acura ILX has fallen short of bargain-luxury-sedan standards according to Consumer reports. It is powered by a 2.4-liter four- cylinder engine paired to an eight-speed automated manual gearbox. Before you take out your wallet to buy this car, keep in mind that Acura hasn’t addressed the car's stiffness, jumpy ride and its handling which isn’t sporty but mundane.
The car’s cabin is noisy while its transmission takes long to respond making the car wait off the line.
Once underway, its transmission delay in downshifting making engine delay in provision of power. Another setback is the lack of lumber support for it's driver seat together with its counter-intuitive infotainment system. With all the setbacks, safety is guaranteed with equipment such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane keep assist.
2 Infiniti QX60
Infiniti QX60 is a midsized SUV that offers a spacious, quiet and well furnished interior. Despite the good qualities, the seven seater QX60 lacks the bulk of full-sized SUV. It’s no secret that vehicle is comfy, but Consumer Reports says it lacks agility hence making the vehicle feel corny. Infinity features a 3.5-liter V6 engine, with a continuously variable transmission which provides enough acceleration and returns great gas mileage. The crossover features three row seats with a child seat installed in the second row, but the its cushion is low hence compromising passenger thigh support and seating posture. With new upgrades done on the vehicle, its V6 acquired more 30 horsepower with a raised towing capacity.
1 Mercedes Benz GLA
Mercedes, the German Automakers have built a name as one of the world's best luxury car producers and with the GLA that hasn’t been disputed, though it comes with some complications in it. GLA has an unrefined seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, translating to uneven distribution of power, Consumer Reports notes. This quality makes the vehicle feel sluggish at first then later power poops in abruptly. GLA offers nimble handling but with a stiff ride and a noisy cabin. As if the problems weren’t enough for this vehicle, it also has poor visibility mostly to the rear but the headroom is secure. GLA’s safety features include forward-collision mitigation system. Optional features include the Automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Despite the fact that the infotainment is complicated, the good news is that it can connect to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Sources: consumerreports.org, forbes.com, valleychevy.com