The 2000s was a period in the car industry that saw the rise of technology as the internet age set in. This created increased competition among the biggest names in the industry and allowed for the up-and-coming companies to reach more consumers.
Technology provided a new way to do business, and one of the results was a range of powerful supercars that the world had never seem. Conversely, this pressure weighed on some market players, leading to desperation and a number of folded brands. In the long run, this desperation led to some awful cars that customers just wouldn't buy.
Some of the companies that gambled on bad designs did not last long enough to even see the end of their dream cars. They struggled to make sales, and soon after, the companies went under until now, no one seems to remember they even existed. On the other hand, some of them were fortunate enough to make several sellers and, therefore, their cars live on to date. However, these are cars that overly unreliable, and no one should be seen driving them on the streets.
Even some of the established brands were caught up in a mess and made some poor decisions leading to cars that couldn't sell. From pickup trucks to SUVs and sports cars, here are some of the cars from the 2000s that everyone should avoid.
25 Jaguar X-Type
While most people will argue that Jaguar makes great cars, the X-type is just a different case. In fact, it is a disappointment to an entire family of cars known for great performance and stylish designs. The Jaguar X-type represented Ford's intention of creating an affordable luxury car. Ford acquired Jaguar in 1989 and therefore was the brains behind the Jaguar X-type. The idea to turn it from a front drive car into an all-wheel drive was a great engineering mistake. Though they managed to achieve a cheap version of a Jaguar, the customers felt grifted.
24 Hummer H2
The feeling about the Hummer H2 is unanimous among car enthusiasts: that it was greatly promising but poor in delivery. For anyone with the intention of buying this SUV, you would definitely be forgiven for falling for its deceitful military looks.
Its 6.0-liter engine will get you thinking that it’s a rocket but wait until you realize it takes about 11 seconds to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour.
If you are looking for off-road capability maybe this would work for you. However, you may still be surprised at how much you will have to cough out for this ride.
23 Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan had been consistent in its production and stood out among competitors regarding reliability, that is, until their third-generation Pathfinder. According to Consumer Reports, this car was faced with some faults including a range of recalls. Additionally, it's an old-school SUV and can't compare to its own fourth generation's design. Some of the problems that face this pathfinder include faulty fuel emission sensors, poor air conditioners, and poor build quality in general. If you think of the faulty airbags that led to its recall, you wonder why anyone would be driving this car.
22 Pontiac Aztek
The first appearance of the Pontiac Aztek was at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show. The greatest failure of this car was its ghastly body design. Most people felt that GM had lost it in the design of this car.
Though it was marketed as an off-road capable minivan and stuffed with a 3.4-liter V6 engine, this car was a mess from bumper to bumper.
To confirm public opinion about the terrible design, the automaker made a move for a redesign just five months after it was first introduced.
21 Suzuki XL7
The Suzuki XL7 is arguably much higher priced than it’s actually worth. For its base price, there is a wide selection of more comfortable and more luxurious SUVs out there. That said, the car has poorer interiors than even its preceding models. Most people would use this car for family transport and vacation because of its large space, but people who have had a ride in this car feel that it's hard to maintain due to frequent mechanical problems which increase ownership costs. Hence, if you intend to drive this car, be ready for the burden that comes with it.
20 Smart ForTwo
Small cars are good and economical, especially if you think of the Mini Coopers, but for the Smart ForTwo, the benefits of going small are minimal. Regarding its design, it will leave you feeling like it's a mini version of an SUV which is arguably not impressive. Fuel economy is one benefit of small cars, but with a consumption rate of one gallon per 36 miles, this car isn't actually all that efficient for its size. For such a small car, its handling and transmission problems are proof that the automakers failed miserably.
19 Chevrolet SSR
Chevrolet tried a design hack with the SSR but it didn't end up going well for them. The Super Sports Roadster was designed as a cabriolet pickup complete with a retractable hardtop.
The hardtop increased the heft of the car, making it a heavyweight, which also made it slow.
It recorded 7.7 seconds from 0-60 miles per hour despite having a 5.3-liter Vortex V8 engine with a rating of 350 horsepower. Its disappointment to car enthusiasts is evident from its low sale volumes of about 9,000. The car's chassis, shared with the Trailblazer, contributed to its weight significantly.
18 Jeep Liberty
According to Consumer Reports, the redesign of this model in 2008 did little to improve its driving dynamics. Consequently, the car remained boxy, noisy, as well as cramped, the complete opposite of the reputation Jeep has earned over the years. Part of its noise issues come from an engine that consumes a lot of fuel, making it a non-efficient option, as well. It has poor handling with a small interior that makes it bit uncomfortable. It is ranked lower than its predecessor and such a car is definitely one that doesn't deserve to be on the streets.
17 Ford Excursion
When Ford released the Excursion, they had all their customers with hardy jobs in mind. Ford said that it was directed toward the ranchers, farmers, and outdoor enthusiasts. It was quite heavy, though, weighing in at around 7,000 pounds.
Therefore, this car was capable of doing all the heavy carrying and a good fit for heavy carrying.
However, its glory was short-lived, as consumers struggled to deal with its prevalent engine problems that on average cost about $3,000 to fix and especially affected Excursions with over 30,000 miles.
16 Maserati Coupe
The Maserati Coupe has quite some admirable qualities despite making it on this list. First, it is worth mentioning that it comes with a Ferrari engine. Under the hood of this stylish coupe is a powerful 4.2-liter V8 engine that gives out 350 horsepower. It is, therefore, a powerful car but its build quality is not up to par. It has high maintenance costs despite being stylish and yet it is still a favorite among the younger generation. A big turn off for this car was the most common problem: the car tended to catch fire.
15 Kia Borrego
This car didn't perform as well as the automaker had imagined and was ditched quite soon after it had been introduced. Under the hood, it was fitted with a 4.6-liter Hyundai V8 engine that could deliver slightly under 340 horsepower.
It was a fuel-consuming model for one that was dubbed as being fuel-efficient.
On average, the most fuel-efficient car in this model could manage 19 MPG with its top line, while the V8 engine offered only 17 MPG. The most prevalent problems with the Kia Borrego are transmission problems, specifically transmission locks and problems shifting gears.
14 Chevrolet Corvette C5
The Chevy Corvette C5 marked the end of a hardship period when Chevy was known for poorly-made cars. It was the last model that employed the disturbing pop-up headlights that most sports cars had at the time. It came with 4L60-E auto transmission just like the previous models and with its 5.7L V8 engine, it could produce 350 horsepower. Also, it was able to achieve a top speed of 175 mph. The car was, however, no match to its competitors, like the Dodge Viper's 500-hp V10.
13 Chrysler Crossfire
In terms of looks, style, and design, this car is a hit. However, under the sleek exterior lies a bunch of problems that any potential owner would rather stay away from as much as possible.
There is a range of defects that include engine, electrical, transmission, interior, lights, and suspension problems.
The most common problems in this car are electrically related, of which most emerge from overcharging of the alternator system. Though it shares much with the Mercedes-Benz upon which it derives its inspiration, this car is a mess on the road.
12 Saturn Ion
There were two types of the Saturn Ion, the compact Sedan and the quad-coupe and both struggled in the same ways. They were the second to last model before the company finally succumbed to competition and sunk for good. The key failures on this car were basically due to design, both on the interior and exterior. It had a boringly simple design for a sports car and a questionable interior which probably led to the ultimate failure of the company. Some of the problems you wouldn't even expect, like a key getting stuck in the ignition or the engine failing to shut off.
11 Pontiac G3
Due to the frustrations that the automaker had experienced over the Aztek, the G3 was born. However, not much effort was put in place when it comes to the design and styling of this car.
This is because it bore a close resemblance to the Chevy Aveo, which wasn't a great success in its own right.
Though Pontiac was overly ambitious, it only managed to make about 6,000 units in sales before GM did away with the entire brand. Higher mileage examples of this car come with a bunch of problems affecting both the engine and electrical system, but it is cheap, on the other hand.
10 Audi A6 Allroad
The German automaker Audi is famous for its luxury vehicles characterized by exquisite designs. The main features that distinguish the Allroad from the base model is its adjustable suspension, wider track, and better ground clearance.
Autoexpress.com states that though the Audi A6 ranked higher than Mercedes and BMW regarding drive power, its owners have reported more issues.
Additionally, it is a relatively unreliable car and comes with unreasonably high servicing charges. The brake system failure is the greatest problem with this car, which makes it a dangerous option and one that people should avoid at all cost.
9 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP
The Grand Prix is another line of cars from its brand that is a total let down. It was first introduced as a full-size car but over time, has changed in size, performance, and luxury. However, that is little effort compared to the poor build quality the car has adopted. Its storage capacity is wanting and for a car selling in the 21st century, it's a serious shame. As if that is not enough, the engine is awfully noisy for a commuter car with minimal power.
8 Lincoln Aviator
The Lincoln Aviator was a rebadged model of two other Ford products, designed from a collaboration between the Navigator and Mercury Mountaineer. It was great in design given that it was a combined effort from two of Ford's great SUVs.
However, it was Ford's worst-selling model and its inefficiencies may be the reason.
On the inside, this car was a disappointment for an SUV. It has a dismal interior layout and the driver's area struggled as well, which translates to poor driving comfort and makes this one of the cars you should avoid.
7 Subaru Baja
Subaru must have been confused on what they actually wanted to achieve with this model. The car was never good enough for a normal car but at the same time, it was too small for a truck. So first of all, the styling of this car isn't something any car owner would be proud of. Another problem about the Subaru Baja is that this car wasn't fuel efficient. Though the designers intended for the car to be different, it did not create a good appeal for customers. These are reasons why no one would want to be seen in such a car.
6 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a product of GM and has been in production from 2002. It has some great features, including well-made front and rear suspensions.
Even with its upgraded interiors, the mid-size SUV has some fault issue that its owners tend not to like.
Over time, it has been hit by a number of recalls ranging from all kind of problems including mechanical issues, defective airbags, and electrical problems, as well as transmission drawbacks. Also, fires were a common factor with this model, so beware just in case you have this car in your garage.