The car market has changed in the last few years, as consumers have veered from buying sedans to seeking bigger vehicles such as pickups and SUVs. With the rise in popularity of SUVs, car manufacturers used the sports utility vehicle styling features and combined it with passenger car platforms that are intended for light off-road use.
The coined term in the U.S. was crossovers, whereas other countries refer to those vehicles as SUVs. Many car pundits consider the 1948 Willys-Overland Jeepster convertible coupe as the earliest ancestor to the crossover, although the first crossover model was the AMC Eagle, released in 1979.
The crossover's ride, handling, fuel economy, and performance is similar to cars and it gained prominence by the mid-2000s in the U.S. consumers who wanted a sedan-like car that looks like an SUV.
Although crossover SUVs have made a name in the car market, these vehicles have perks and drawbacks like the rest of them. Several crossovers have proven to be unreliable and lack the performance that a driver would expect from a sedan or an SUV. Considering crossover SUVs have garnered a lot of attention and consumers want to purchase only the best, we compiled a list of crossover SUVs that have proven to give consumers problems.
25 2018 Lincoln MKX
The Lincoln brand might be the luxury division of Ford, but it has also provided its owners with countless headaches. Consumer Reports doesn't speak highly of Lincoln, as the MKX has landed at the bottom of the luxury SUV segment for reliability.
Owners reported problems with the electronic system, but Consumer Reports noticed the airbag recall among the vehicle's deficiencies. Consumer Reports gave the car a reliability score of less than 20, making it Lincoln brand's worst rating. The low rating should serve as motivation for Lincoln to improve.
24 2018 Jaguar F-Pace
The Jaguar brand has taken several hits from critics but rightfully so. Although the manufacturer has made numerous luxury vehicles, it has also provided consumers with exorbitant repair bills.
Jaguar has several defective models featured in dependability surveys, which continued with the 2018 F-Pace. Owners of the unreliable F-Pace complained about the touchscreen, issues with the drive system, as well as the subpar AC system. According to Cheat Sheet, the F-Pace was unprepared for its debut.
23 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Who better to ask about a vehicle's reliability than Consumer Reports? The watchdog has the consumer's best interest at heart and has featured other Alfa Romeo models in its "Least Reliable" list for several years.
Although the 2018 model is the debut vehicle, Consumer Reports has predicted that the car will be unreliable due to the early return of the Giulia sedan that the Stelvio is based on, as well as Alfa's reliability history. Maybe consumers should watch the Stelvio's performance from the sideline and jump in if the car has potential.
22 2018 Ford EcoSport
The first thing you should know about EcoSport is that you should pronounce it "Echo-Sport." Despite the name that doesn't make sense, what else doesn't make sense is for consumers to buy Ford's smallest crossover.
According to Car and Driver, the EcoSport is a Fiesta-based tiny crossover that is unsuitable for tasks outside a congested urban area, not to mention slow. When Car and Driver tested the car, the EcoSport failed to deliver good fuel economy despite having a turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
21 2018 Jeep Renegade
Jeep enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that the Renegade has a base price of $18,000 for the latest model. The part that won't sound so great is that the Renegade is one of the least reliable crossovers on the road.
USA News gave the car an overall rating of 7.8 out of 10 but a reliability rating of 2.5 out of 5. One of the aspects that redeem the poor reliability is the Renegade's off-road capabilities, as well as it smooth and agile handling. The interior is also impressive, but consumers shouldn't be surprised if they get stranded due to breakdowns.
20 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander
The Outlander is one of the biggest crossover SUVs and offers a third-row seating but is not more useful than its competition. The other problem with the Outlander is that Mitsubishi didn't build it or fit it out as well as the other top vehicles.
Consumers have an option of two gasoline fed engines, a four-cylinder or a V6, as well as a plug-in hybrid variant. According to Car and Driver, the Outlander is an overall mediocre package that doesn't inspire with its average style, dynamics, and build quality.
19 2018 Nissan Rogue
Buying a sedan or a pickup from a Japan manufacturer is a good idea, as the vehicles have proven numerous times to be reliable and affordable. Although the Rogue doesn't provide too many caveats, it also doesn't do anything well. The car has an appealing exterior and a spacious interior, but the four-cylinder engine doesn't provide any thrills.
The car also provides plenty of body roll during cornering, and the steering response is unpredictable. While traveling on a straight road, drivers may feel that the car is unstable and requires corrections at the wheel to maintain the course.
18 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Mitsubishi borrowed the Eclipse Cross name from its legendary sports car, but the crossover doesn't share its characteristics. The crossover doesn't provide the satisfaction that's worthy of having the Eclipse Cross title, as Mitsubishi went all out on the styling of the crossover but didn't do too much to the rest of the vehicle.
Car and Driver referred to the vehicle as an entirely average crossover that has more character than the Outlander, as well as a turbo-charged four cylinder engine. That's pretty much all that the Eclipse Cross has.
17 2018 Volvo XC90
The manufacturer is known for making some of the most reliable and comfortable vehicles. Although the Volvo brand hasn't received a tremendous amount of credit, Volvo owners have enjoyed vehicle reliability.
That was the case until the XC90 debuted onto the market. The XC90 showed its extravagant exterior and what appeared to be an excellent powertrain but failed to deliver. XC90 owners stated that they had problems with the electrical system and power equipment, not to mention the endless brake system problems.
16 2018 Jeep Compass
While the Wrangler will provide endless fun off-road, and the Grand Cherokee will provide comfort on the road, the Compass is the black sheep of the family. Consumers can't take it off-road, but at least the vehicle has a resemblance to the larger, mid-size Grand Cherokee SUV.
One of the features that separate the Compass from the other crossovers is the floating roof design and a sleek nose. Consumers can outfit the Compass in a Trailhawk guise, providing some off-road capability. Apart from that, the Compass is average, as it has a weak powertrain and a bland interior.
15 2018 Ford Escape
Considering that Ford hasn't made significant changes to the Escape since 2012, the latest model is the same as its predecessors. Ford stated that the new model is destined for 2020. In the meantime, the new Escape fosters aged styling and a tight interior.
Ford has offered three engines, though consumers can pair only the two up-level turbocharged four-cylinder options with all-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. The highlight of the vehicle is the easy-to-use Sync 3 touchscreen infotainment system.
14 2018 Dodge Journey
Despite the Journey not being the most popular crossover, it has managed to linger around the market. The Journey boasts an aging design and mediocre dynamics, not to mention that Dodge has made minor updates to the vehicle since it debuted.
The entry-level powertrain remains the 173 horsepower inline four engine coupled with four-speed automatic transmission. The Journey also comes with a V6 engine that is capable of pumping out 283 horsepower and has a six-speed automatic transmission. Although the vehicle is stale, it provides a roomy cabin.
13 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
The Equinox has been in production since 2004, but consumers who don't want to experience headaches should avoid the first generation. The 2005 model has proven to give owners gasket problems. It seems that the reason for the innumerable gasket problems is due to the poor design of the engine cooling system.
According to Autowise, proper maintenance and reserved driving styling won't help. Consumers who are adamant on owning an Equinox should opt for the newer models, as the older models are troublesome.
12 2018 Nissan Pathfinder
What started as a mid-size SUV became a crossover. Some of the older models have proven to be reliable SUVs, but the new ones contain a few flaws. Pathfinder owners will be delighted to push the vehicle, as it has a powerful engine, but the ride is rough, and the interior is unimpressive.
The other feature that lowers the Pathfinder's value is the dull handling. Apart from the few subpar features, the new Pathfinder is unreliable. Consumers who want to risk $30,000 to own the new Pathfinder might find themselves at the repair shop more often than they expected.
11 2008 GMC Acadia
If you want to own a crossover that provides a faulty transmission, then look into the 2008 GMC Acadia. The Ford Explorer is notorious for having a faulty transmission, so it shouldn't come as a surprise the first generation Acadia experiences the same since the Ford 6-speed automatic transmission is in the vehicle.
Autowise has stated that it's usually the 3-5-R wave-plate that gives in, which requires a complete transmission overhaul. Consumers who want the 2008 Acadia should ask owners if the car's been subject to transmission repairs.
10 2014 Kia Sorento
Kia has struggled to make a name for itself in the SUV market, and one of the reasons is the Sorento. The main problem with the Sorento is the engine cooling. Consumers who wanted Kia to honor its warranty had to save their oil receipts, which the second generation Sorento owners had to learn the difficult way.
Sorento drivers were shocked by the amount of oil that the car burnt. What made the situation worse was that it didn't matter if owners had a four-cylinder or a V6 engine, as the Sorento's engines were prone to failure. If engine replacement isn't your thing, then you might want to avoid the Sorento.
9 2018 Mazda CX-9
Mazda, usually, ranks high on the reliable list, but the car manufacturer dropped six places in 2017. The CX-9, which was the SUV redesigned for 2016, pulled the Mazda brand down, as the car proved to be the worst in its class.
Owners of the car stated that they had problems with in-car electronics, the brake system, and body integrity. The perennial Fiat- Chrysler SUVs performed better than the CX-9. Maybe the 2018 model served as a reminder for Mazda that it should not take its eyes off the prize. Perhaps, the 2019 model will be better.
8 2015 Buick Encore
The Encore is small, but Buick wanted the consumers to know that the car can perform just as well as its bigger rivals. According to Car and Driver, the Encore is a pocket-size Enclave and has several big Buick SUV features. The cabin is quiet and posh but can seat only four people.
If you want a fuel-efficient crossover, then the Encore is the obvious choice, but don't expect the 1.4-liter turbo engine to pump out a lot of power. The engine can push out only 138 horsepower and struggles under heavy loads. Encore's ride is smooth, but it doesn't match up to its rivals.
7 2018 Toyota C-HR
The C-HR stands for Coupe High-Rider, which is Toyota's attempt to bring the emerging crossover style from the luxury realm to the mainstream. The hidden rear-door handles make the car look like a two-door.
Although you can't call the C-HR's styling boring, the car lacks in other departments. The car's acceleration is slow but offers a smooth ride and numerous safety features such as forward collision warning, emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Besides that, the C-HR is average in every form.
6 2018 Honda HR-V
When you purchase a car from a Japan-based manufacturer, you know that you've purchased a vehicle with a high probability of providing you reliability. Honda based the HR-V on the Fit hatchback, so consumers shouldn't be surprised that the car's cabin is flexible and has multi-way folding rear seats and up to 59 cubic feet of cargo space with those seats folded flat.
The drawbacks of the vehicle is that Honda tuned the chassis for a soft ride, and the steering feels remote, not to mention the disappointing engine performance. For the 2019 model, Honda fitted an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto infotainment system.