We analyzed hundreds of reviews from Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Consumer Reports, and many other trusted car experts to find the most criticized vehicles on the market. Our team spotted patterns in what professionals consistently disliked and identified these 16 cars that repeatedly disappointed reviewers. As car enthusiasts ourselves, we rely on experts who drive hundreds of vehicles yearly since we can’t test them all. These are the cars that automotive professionals consistently warn consumers to avoid before signing on the dotted line.
16. Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (Exterior)
Weight concerns plague the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, adding nearly 650 pounds over the standard model. This extra mass leads to noticeable body roll around corners and poor weight distribution. The oversized sliding door rails collect dirt easily, and those tiny 16-inch wheels look out of place on such a large van. Road grime sticks to the dark lower panels, so you’ll be cleaning it often. Hit a bump and everyone inside will feel it, since the heavy battery makes the suspension struggle with even small road problems.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (Interior)
The battery takes away the useful Stow ‘n Go seats that make regular Pacificas so practical. If you need more space, you’ll have to manually remove the heavy second-row seats – not fun at all. The touchscreen freezes regularly, especially during navigation, and the front seats lack proper back support for longer drives. Hard plastics are everywhere you touch. The efficiency displays look fancy but show mostly confusing graphs instead of helpful information.
15. Volkswagen Taos (Exterior)
With just 6.4 inches of ground clearance, the Volkswagen Taos can’t handle much beyond smooth pavement. The base model’s weak halogen headlights make night driving difficult, and even careful washing leaves swirl marks on the paint. There’s nothing exciting about the body design – it blends in with every other small SUV at the mall. After rain, water sits in body crevices and eventually causes rust around the doors and panels.
Volkswagen Taos (Interior)
Road noise fills the Taos cabin on highways, so you’ll need to speak up during conversations. The digital gauges wash out completely in sunlight, becoming impossible to read. Back seat riders get squeezed with just 37.9 inches of legroom, much less than similar SUVs. The heater sends cold air to some spots and hot air to others. Cheap-feeling plastics cover the interior, and the thin rear seat cushions make even short trips uncomfortable.
14. Ford F-150 Hybrid (Exterior)
The F-150 Hybrid’s complex PowerBoost system creates more chances for things to break compared to regular models. Load it up and the front end visibly sags from the 700-pound battery weight. The brakes feel mushy due to the regenerative system, making smooth stops tricky. Towing capacity drops to 12,700 pounds, less than non-hybrid F-150s. Extra cooling systems clutter the front end design. The lower front bumper scrapes easily on driveways and parking blocks because of reduced approach angles.
Ford F-150 Hybrid (Interior)
The high-voltage system steals 13% of your cabin storage space compared to regular F-150s. Don’t expect amazing fuel savings – most owners see just 1-2 mpg improvement over standard EcoBoost trucks. The battery cooling fans make an annoying high-pitched sound at idle. The gear shifter often needs multiple tries to engage properly. Checking hybrid information requires taking your eyes off the road to tap through several screen menus. When packing for trips, you’ll notice the smaller bed capacity caused by batteries underneath.
13. Volvo XC60 (Exterior)
The thin paint on newer XC60s chips easily compared to older Volvos, revealing a cost-cutting measure hiding beneath the premium badge. An awkward radar sensor disrupts the front grille’s clean lines, while those standard 18-inch wheels appear comically small against the tall body. Though marketed as “adaptive,” the headlights blind oncoming drivers with excessive glare, creating highway hazards rather than improving visibility. When you’re loaded with groceries, you’ll tap your foot impatiently as the power liftgate creeps open painfully slowly, taking nearly 7 seconds to complete its journey. Even worse, those sleek roof rails are just for show unless you spend hundreds more on expensive cross bars the dealer conveniently forgets to mention.
Volvo XC60 (Interior)
On frosty mornings, you’ll wait up to 45 seconds for the Sensus infotainment system to wake up – about the same time it takes to make toast. Since nearly everything operates through the touchscreen, simple tasks like adjusting temperature require multiple distracting taps while driving, taking your attention from the road. Initially comfortable seats fool you at the dealership but lack proper support during longer drives, leaving your back complaining after an hour on the highway. Meanwhile, the thick pillars and tiny rear window create dangerous blind spots that make lane changes a game of chance. The minimalist Scandinavian design looks clean in photos but eliminates helpful physical buttons in real life. To top it off, the storage bins throughout the cabin barely fit everyday items like phones and sunglasses, making you question Volvo’s reputation for practical design.
12. Rivian R1T (Exterior)
The Rivian R1T tips the scales at nearly 7,000 pounds – about as much as two Honda Civics stacked together – making serious off-roading more challenging than the glossy ads suggest. In winter weather, the futuristic electronic door handles often fail completely, potentially leaving you locked out in freezing temperatures. Look closely and you’ll spot inconsistent panel gaps, especially around the front trunk and gear tunnel doors, betraying rushed production standards. Many owners discover their expensive air suspension systems failing prematurely, causing the truck to sit awkwardly tilted like a sinking ship. The unusual oval headlight bar divides opinion sharply, with many finding it odd rather than innovative. When you actually take this electric truck off-road, mud quickly covers those essential exterior cameras, rendering your pricey driver assistance features as useful as sunglasses at midnight.
Rivian R1T (Interior)
The R1T’s over-reliance on touchscreen controls forces your eyes away from the road 37% more often than trucks with physical buttons – a dangerous distraction masked as innovation. Simple tasks that should take seconds, like adjusting mirrors, require navigating through multiple menu screens while driving. Despite the premium price tag, the vegan leather shows noticeable wear patterns after just months of use, making the $70,000+ investment feel questionable. Bluetooth connections drop with frustrating frequency, often requiring complete system restarts just to reconnect your phone mid-journey. For all its exterior bulk that challenges parking spaces, rear passengers find themselves surprisingly cramped on longer trips, with limited legroom that contradicts the truck’s massive footprint. The overall material quality, while initially impressive, simply doesn’t hold up against luxury competitors in the same price bracket, revealing corners cut beneath the tech-focused veneer.
11. Jeep Grand Cherokee L (Exterior)
The stretched proportions of the Grand Cherokee L create an awkward, wagon-like profile that sacrifices the balanced looks of the standard model. When the air suspension inevitably fails, owners face eye-watering repair bills averaging $3,200 once the warranty expires – enough to fund a decent vacation. Off-road capability suffers significantly with departure angles of just 21.5 degrees – 23% worse than regular models, making trail obstacles the L version could clear easily now potential bodywork-damaging hazards. Accessing the third row requires a complicated dance of multiple seat adjustments that quickly becomes tiresome for daily family use. On hot summer days, exhaust heat transfers directly into the cargo area, turning ice cream groceries into milkshakes before you reach home. Just when you need reliability most, the power liftgate often reverses direction mid-operation, failing to close properly despite multiple frustrated attempts.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L (Interior)
The third row that justified buying the L variant offers adults just 30.3 inches of legroom – less space than economy airline seats. Material quality noticeably deteriorates as you move from front to back, with premium soft-touch materials up front but hard, cheap plastics greeting third-row passengers. The UConnect 5 system impresses initially but soon reveals its true nature with random blackouts and dropped wireless phone connections that interrupt navigation in unfamiliar areas. Once you exceed 65 mph, wind noise intrudes so significantly that rear passengers struggle to hear conversations. That beautiful panoramic sunroof quickly develops annoying rattles, requiring frustrating dealer visits to fix. Daily family life becomes more challenging when the second-row captain’s chairs develop resistance on their tracks, turning every entry and exit into a test of patience and strength.
10. Nissan Frontier (Exterior)
The Frontier’s boxy shape might look ruggedly appealing in photos but creates excessive wind noise and poor fuel economy that you’ll notice with every fill-up. Inconsistent ground clearance from front to rear gives the truck an unbalanced stance, like it’s always slightly nose-diving. The disproportionately large grille looks awkwardly mismatched with the rest of the design, creating a front-heavy appearance. Even on higher-priced trim levels, the paint shows obvious orange peel texture that catches sunlight unflatteringly. Unlike competitors that offer thoughtful storage solutions, the Frontier’s bed comes with minimal tie-down points and no built-in organization systems, making cargo security a constant challenge. Adding insult to injury, the rear bumper steps are too narrow for work boots larger than size 10, creating a daily frustration for the very contractors Nissan claims to target.
Nissan Frontier (Interior)
Tall drivers quickly discover the limited seat height adjustment forces their heads uncomfortably close to the headliner, creating a cramped driving position. Hard plastics dominate the cabin and scratch easily with normal use, showing wear patterns within months of ownership. Rear passengers must endure an unnaturally upright seating position due to limited legroom and an awkwardly angled backrest that makes longer trips genuinely uncomfortable. During daily commutes, the infotainment screen reflects sunlight directly into your eyes at certain times of day, creating dangerous visibility issues. Temperature control becomes a constant battle because the climate vents can’t be properly adjusted, creating hot and cold spots throughout the cabin. Finding a comfortable driving position feels like an unsolvable puzzle since the steering wheel offers minimal telescoping range, forcing drivers to choose between reaching comfortably or having proper legroom – but never both.
9. Volkswagen Jetta (Exterior)
Base model Jettas come with outdated halogen headlights that provide 15% less illumination than modern LED systems, turning nighttime driving into a squinting exercise. The thin body panels dent embarrassingly easily from minor impacts that other cars would shrug off without damage. Despite regular cleaning, the chrome trim stubbornly shows water spots, requiring constant attention to maintain appearance. Navigating tight spaces becomes a multi-point challenge due to the extended wheelbase that prioritized rear legroom over maneuverability. After just a few years of normal use, door hinges develop an annoying creak that announces your arrival before you even step out. Long-term owners watch in dismay as paint fades unevenly across body panels, particularly on red and blue models exposed to regular sunlight, creating a patchwork appearance that reveals VW’s paint quality compromises.
Volkswagen Jetta (Interior)
Hard plastics cover virtually every surface except the steering wheel, with a hollow, cheap feel that betrays obvious cost-cutting measures. The cloth seats not only stain with minimal exposure to everyday spills but also lack proper support for drives longer than an hour. Taller rear passengers must contend with just 37.2 inches of headroom, forcing an uncomfortable slouching position that makes road trips a literal pain in the neck. Winter commuters discover the climate system needs nearly 10 minutes to adequately warm the cabin – enough time to question your car choice while shivering. Road noise intrudes so significantly that you’ll constantly adjust the radio volume just to hear music clearly over the tire and wind noise. To complete the budget-car experience, items in the door pockets create an annoying rattle symphony because VW skipped the felt lining found in their higher-end models, reminding you daily of your decision to save money.
8. Jeep Grand Cherokee (Exterior)
The Grand Cherokee’s large dimensions create parking nightmares with its boat-like 18-foot turning radius, turning everyday parking into a multi-point exercise. At highway speeds, the hood visibly vibrates like a sail in the wind, revealing structural compromises that undermine confidence. Front cameras quickly become covered with road grime, rendering expensive safety features useless when you actually need them. After 30,000 miles, air suspension systems frequently develop leaks, causing the vehicle to sit noticeably lopsided like a sinking ship. Lower trim models come with weak halogen headlights that struggle to illuminate dark roads adequately, creating visibility concerns during rural driving. Despite Jeep’s claims of aerodynamic improvements, wind whistles loudly around the side mirrors at highway speeds, adding a constant soundtrack to longer trips that grows tiresome within minutes.
Jeep Grand Cherokee (Interior)
The back seat offers a cramped 38.2 inches of legroom – surprisingly less space than many smaller, cheaper SUVs on the market. Software updates turn into a frustrating experience as they often fail mid-installation, requiring inconvenient dealer visits to restore basic functions. The confusing gear shifter design leads even experienced drivers to select wrong gears, creating potential safety hazards in tight parking situations. Interior panels and trim pieces develop annoying rattles within months of ownership, revealing assembly quality issues that shouldn’t exist at this price point. Temperature consistency becomes an ongoing battle as the climate system creates noticeable hot and cold spots throughout the cabin. Despite its imposing exterior dimensions that challenge parking spaces, you’ll be disappointed to discover the cargo capacity with seats up falls well below class averages – a practical limitation that becomes painfully apparent during the first family vacation.
7. Dodge Hornet (Exterior)
The Dodge Hornet barely disguises its identity as a rebadged Alfa Romeo Tonale, lacking any meaningful Dodge design character of its own. A closer inspection reveals inconsistent panel gaps, particularly around the hood and doors – quality issues you’d expect from decades ago. After just one season in the sun, the plastic cladding around wheel arches fades noticeably, creating mismatched body trim that looks increasingly shabby with time. Highway drives become surprisingly noisy as the poorly designed side mirrors generate excessive wind noise that drowns out conversations. Safety becomes a legitimate concern during lane changes and backing maneuvers because of the tiny rear window that creates dangerous blind spots. Your confidence in the parking assistance systems quickly erodes when front sensors repeatedly trigger false warnings on normal features like speed bumps, causing unnecessary panic stops that have passengers grabbing for handles and questioning your driving skills.
Dodge Hornet (Interior)
European-style controls and layouts feel completely out of place in the Hornet, confusing drivers familiar with traditional Dodge interfaces and creating a steep learning curve for basic functions. The center console wastes valuable space with an awkward design that severely limits storage options for everyday items like phones and wallets. Climate adjustments become dangerous distractions as the touch-sensitive controls lack tactile feedback, forcing you to take your eyes off the road to confirm inputs. American backsides quickly grow uncomfortable on the overly firm seat cushions that reflect European preferences rather than American comfort expectations. Frustration mounts when the infotainment system responds with noticeable lag, with delays up to 2 seconds between screen changes that feel like an eternity when trying to make quick adjustments. Many drivers find themselves contorting into unnatural positions because the steering wheel blocks gauge visibility at certain heights, creating an ergonomic puzzle that never quite feels right regardless of adjustment.
6. Chevrolet Malibu (Exterior)
The Chevrolet Malibu’s design hasn’t changed since 2016, making it look increasingly dated alongside refreshed competitors that have received multiple updates. Merging onto highways becomes a white-knuckle experience with the underpowered 1.5-liter engine that needs a glacial 8.3 seconds to reach 60 mph – an eternity when trying to match traffic flow. The thin paint application quickly reveals its inadequacy as chips expose primer underneath after minimal use, creating rust-prone spots that require touch-up attention. Keeping the front end clean becomes a constant battle as the bumper’s numerous creases and crevices collect dirt and debris, requiring detail brushes for thorough cleaning. Daily driving brings regular scraping sounds as the extremely low front air dam contacts even modest driveway entrances, eventually creating unsightly damage. The unchanged wheel designs across multiple model years further date this neglected sedan, serving as a visual reminder of Chevrolet’s shift in priorities toward SUVs and trucks.
Chevrolet Malibu (Interior)
Rear passengers quickly discover the seats lack proper thigh support, creating an uncomfortable floating sensation for legs during longer trips. Bright sunny days render the infotainment screen completely unreadable due to glare and poor visibility, eliminating access to navigation and controls when you need them most. Temperature consistency becomes an ongoing issue as the poorly designed air vents direct flow unevenly, creating noticeable hot and cold spots throughout the cabin. Packing carefully becomes essential since the trunk hinges swing directly down into the cargo area, potentially crushing anything stored beneath them – a design flaw abandoned by most competitors. Material quality falls noticeably behind similarly priced rivals, with harder plastics and less attractive finishes throughout. The steering wheel buttons require increasingly firm pressure over time as they develop stickiness, turning simple tasks like volume adjustment into a test of finger strength reminiscent of trying to open a stubborn jar lid.
5. Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (Revisited) (Exterior)
The sliding door tracks become collection points for road salt and debris, leading to premature corrosion and potential failure mechanisms that affect daily operation. Front tires wear out significantly faster than on non-hybrid models due to the additional weight, creating an ongoing maintenance expense that offsets some of the fuel savings. Safety features become annoying liabilities when the overly sensitive parking sensors incorrectly trigger emergency braking for no reason, causing heart-stopping panic stops in normal driving situations. When your arms are full of groceries or children, you’ll wait impatiently as the sluggish power liftgate takes over 6 seconds to fully open – an eternity compared to competitors. The van’s substantial dimensions make it a tight fit in standard parking spaces, often requiring multiple attempts to center properly. Door seals deteriorate faster than expected, creating increasing wind noise after just a few years that makes highway drives noticeably louder over time.
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (Revisited) (Interior)
Accessing the third row becomes a daily struggle as the heavy second-row seats move roughly on their tracks, creating friction and resistance that frustrates both parents and children. The infotainment system develops a maddening habit of rebooting randomly while driving, interrupting navigation guidance and entertainment at unpredictable moments. Device charging becomes unreliable when the USB ports work inconsistently, sometimes failing to charge phones despite being properly connected. Driver comfort suffers from the awkwardly high seating position relative to the steering wheel, creating an unnatural arms-up driving posture on longer trips. The hybrid-specific displays appear impressive at first glance but provide confusing information with limited practical value for everyday driving. Despite being a family-focused vehicle, the overcomplicated center console wastes potential storage space with a design that prioritizes visual appeal over the practical organization families actually need.
4. Nissan Versa (Exterior)
Even basic safety takes a backseat as base models use outdated drum brakes on the rear wheels when most competitors now offer four-wheel disc systems as standard. Ground clearance of just 6.7 inches means you’ll hear scraping sounds on modest speed bumps and driveway entrances, creating wincing moments during normal driving. Highway merging becomes a genuine stress test as the weak 1.6-liter engine struggles noticeably on inclines, requiring full throttle just to maintain speed on moderate hills. Quality concerns become apparent each time the doors close, as body panels visibly flex from normal pressure, revealing the thin material quality underneath the paint. Trunk functionality suffers from the use of cheap prop rods instead of hydraulic struts, which intrude into the usable cargo space and can fall on items or fingers. Door handles quickly develop concerning looseness with normal use, requiring increasingly forceful yanking that leaves you wondering if they might detach completely at any moment.
Nissan Versa (Interior)
Conversations become shouting matches at highway speeds due to excessive road and engine noise that penetrates the minimal sound insulation. Basic comfort is an afterthought as base models lack fundamental amenities like center armrests or adjustable headrests found in most competitors. Rear passengers endure genuinely uncomfortable seating with just 31 inches of legroom, forcing knees up into an awkward position that quickly becomes painful. The cloth upholstery acts like a magnet for stains and odors, absorbing spills and smells that become permanent reminders of past accidents. Finding a comfortable driving position becomes an exercise in compromise since the steering wheel adjusts up and down but not in and out, forcing awkward arm positions for many drivers. Sunny day visibility turns challenging as the hard plastic dashboard reflects sunlight directly into your eyes, creating a constant battle with glare that makes safe driving more difficult.
3. Mitsubishi Mirage (Exterior)
Power deficiency defines the Mirage experience, with its three-cylinder engine producing a mere 78 horsepower – less power than many motorcycles and the weakest of any non-hybrid sold in America. Body integrity concerns become immediately apparent when panels dent from simply leaning against them while washing or loading items. Highway driving turns stressful as even moderate wind gusts above 30 mph push the lightweight car noticeably off course, requiring constant steering corrections to maintain your lane. The comically small 14-inch wheels look completely out of proportion with the body size, resembling temporary spares rather than proper wheels. Road noise invades the cabin constantly as the thin metal body panels provide minimal sound insulation from the outside world. Weather protection deteriorates over time as door seals compress permanently after just a few years, creating water leaks during rainstorms that damage interior components and create musty odors. For those who are tired of reading about cars to avoid, perhaps you might want to turn your attention to these cars that you could buy, based on good speeds and fuel efficiency.
Mitsubishi Mirage (Interior)
Every surface showcases cost-cutting with cheap, hollow plastics bearing visible manufacturing lines that couldn’t be bothered to be hidden. The three-cylinder engine sends vibrations throughout the entire cabin at idle and during acceleration, creating a constant buzzing sensation felt through the seats and steering wheel. Seat comfort becomes a genuine issue after just 30 minutes of driving due to inadequate padding, making longer trips physically painful. Climate control proves woefully inadequate as the air conditioner struggles to cool the cabin when temperatures exceed 90°F, turning summer driving into a sweaty, uncomfortable experience. Conversation becomes nearly impossible at highway speeds with noise levels reaching 78 decibels – literally as loud as having a vacuum cleaner running next to you while driving. Winter driving safety becomes compromised when the ineffective rear window defogger fails to clear condensation in humid conditions, creating dangerous visibility issues precisely when clear sightlines matter most.
2. Kia Optima (Exterior)
The discontinued Optima lingers on dealer lots like forgotten inventory despite being replaced by the K5 in Kia’s current lineup, making it instantly outdated the moment you drive off the lot. Nighttime visibility suffers considerably with base models’ halogen headlights providing poor illumination compared to the LED systems now standard on competitors. Loading larger items becomes a frustrating exercise as the trunk opening measures narrower than the cargo area inside, limiting what you can practically fit despite adequate interior space. Close inspection reveals paint quality issues with orange peel texture visible on flat surfaces, betraying rushed application processes. The abundant chrome trim follows outdated styling trends abandoned by current designs, making the car look like it’s wearing last decade’s fashion. Keeping the exterior clean requires extra effort as the front end collects road debris in its many recesses, demanding detailed cleaning to maintain appearance.
Kia Optima (Interior)
Tech limitations become immediately apparent with the outdated infotainment system lacking wireless phone integration now standard in newer models, forcing you to use cables in an increasingly wireless world. Comfort deteriorates over time as seat cushions flatten noticeably with use, losing support and revealing poor-quality foam underneath. Taller rear passengers must contend with the sloped roof design that forces an uncomfortable slouching position due to limited headroom. Temperature consistency remains an ongoing issue as climate control creates noticeably different zones throughout the cabin, with some areas too hot while others remain too cold. Material quality falls visibly below the standards found in current Kia models, highlighting how much the brand has improved since this design. Road vibrations reveal quality compromises as hard plastic trim pieces develop increasingly annoying rattles that grow louder with each passing mile, serving as a constant soundtrack of deterioration.
1. Chrysler 300 (Exterior)
The 300’s fundamental architecture dates all the way back to 2005, making it a dinosaur by automotive standards with underpinnings old enough to be getting their driver’s license. Performance and efficiency suffer from excessive weight exceeding 4,000 pounds, resulting in poor handling and fuel economy of just 19 mpg combined – numbers that belong to a different era. Safety concerns emerge in crash tests that reveal outdated structural designs with poor small-overlap results that wouldn’t meet current development standards. The styling hasn’t changed significantly in over a decade, looking increasingly out of place among more modern designs – like wearing a suit from 2010 to a current fashion event. Ride quality suffers from poor sound insulation that allows 4-5 decibels more road noise than modern competitors, creating a constant drone during highway driving. Parking challenges become a daily frustration due to the cumbersome turning radius, transforming even basic parking maneuvers into multi-point exercises that test your patience and spatial awareness.
Chrysler 300 (Interior)
The infotainment system runs on hardware now two generations behind current Stellantis vehicles, with visibly slower responses and dated graphics that feel increasingly obsolete. Seat comfort suffers on longer drives due to cushions that lack proper lumbar support, creating back discomfort that worsens over time. Basic controls require a learning curve as dashboard functions sit in unintuitive locations, requiring drivers to hunt for common functions that should be immediately accessible. Material quality creates a confused impression with nice touches up front but embarrassingly cheap finishes in back, revealing obvious cost-cutting targets. Cargo loading becomes a constant puzzle despite the large 16.3 cubic foot capacity, as the awkwardly shaped trunk opening limits what can actually fit through the aperture. Nighttime convenience suffers from dim interior lighting that makes finding dropped items practically impossible without using your phone flashlight, turning a simple search for keys or a wallet into a frustrating excavation.
