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    10 Least Reliable Cars

    Consumer Reports' surveys reveal the models with the greatest risk of problems

    2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee front driving
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    Photo: Jeep

    One of the main reasons people buy a brand-new car is the promise of a no-hassle ownership experience, free from the drip, drip, drip of service problems that set in as cars age. Nonetheless, CR’s exclusive Annual Auto Surveys tell us that some buyers will be taking their brand-new car back to the dealer’s service department sooner and more often than other car buyers will.

    The models featured here are predicted to be the 10 least reliable vehicles based on detailed data collected from members on more than 330,000 vehicles. (For more details, check CR’s Guide to Car Reliability.)

    More on Car Reliability

    Our surveys take a deep dive into the numerous things that can go wrong with a vehicle. We study 20 potential trouble areas, from nuisances—such as squeaky brakes and broken interior trim—to major bummers, such as potential expensive out-of-warranty engine, transmission, EV battery, and EV charging problems.

    We weigh the severity of each type of problem to create a predicted reliability score for each vehicle. To be considered for this list, we must have at least two model years of data in calculating the predicted reliability score.

    Based on that analysis, these models are the least reliable. They’re presented in rank order, counting down to the least reliable model. Each is shown with its reliability score on a scale of 1 to 100.

    For more details on each model’s reliability history, click through to their respective model pages.

    See our complete guide to car reliability and our reliability FAQ for more information on how we survey and analyze reliability data.

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    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.