Cars are a huge financial investment, and when you make a purchase so expensive, you expect your vehicle to be built to withstand regular use. However, even the best car brands can make mistakes, resulting in some vehicles being more reliable than others. Frequent breakdowns are not only frustrating but also significantly increase the annual cost of car ownership.

Whether you’re in the market for a new car or a used car, it helps to know which models are notoriously unreliable so that you can avoid them. Let’s look at the top ten least reliable cars of the last decade and figure out what went wrong.

2014 Ford Fiesta: Transmission Troubles

The Ford Fiesta is known as a pretty dependable ride, with a respectable 4 out of 5 for reliability from our partners over at  RepairPal. The 2014 model year, however, was unfortunately an exception to the rule, plagued with transmission issues that had plenty of owners in and out of the auto shop. On Car Complaints, the vast majority of them reported an intermittent shudder when taking off and strange noises when shifting.

Upon telling the Ford dealership what they were experiencing, they were told that this was a normal effect of the type of transmission the car uses, but it virtually made it undrivable. One owner’s problem went away after replacing an oil seal and realigning the clutch, but it reared its head again just 4,000 miles later.

2015 Jeep Renegade: Electrical Gremlins

Jeep is known for its rugged off-roaders, but the 2015 Jeep Renegade had plenty of electrical gremlins under the hood. Reports on Car Complaints show that the most significant of these caused the engine to not turn over.

One owner took their car to the dealership only for them to keep it for over a month because they couldn’t find a solution to the problem. The issue seems to be sporadic, with many Renegades starting up fine sometimes and not others. For some drivers, the car’s battery dies if it isn’t driven for just a couple of days, with no obvious reason as to what’s draining it.

2016 Dodge Dart: Engine and Transmission Woes

The 2013 and 2016 Dodge Dart models were subject to a whole slew of complaints from owners, with the 2016 model in particular experiencing significant engine and transmission issues. Reports on Car Complaints show that a number of 2016 Dart drivers experienced complete power loss while in motion — including on the freeway.

In some cases, this was due to low oil levels, with the second most common complaint being how quickly the car burns through oil. Some people claim their Dodge Dart can go from full oil to empty in just 30 days, which is a lot faster than the manufacturer’s recommended 6-12 month oil change cycle.

2017 Chevrolet Traverse: Steering and Suspension Failures

The Chevrolet brand is an American icon, but unfortunately, not everything it makes is up to par. The 2017 Chevrolet Traverse, for example, wasn’t particularly reliable, with a number of steering and suspension problems reported by owners.

According to s9me Traverse drivers, the power steering and coolant lines are in close proximity, allowing them to rub against each other and cause a leak that ultimately results in the loss of power steering. As for the suspension, one owner, in particular, reported the sudden failure of their steering rack and front suspension lower control arm mount bushing after just two years, which had both had to be replaced at a cost of $2,495.

2018 Land Rover Discovery: Air Suspension and Electrical Issues

In 2018, Land Rover missed the mark with its Discovery model, which suffered from a number of air suspension and electrical issues. This, of course, isn’t ideal for a brand so synonymous with luxury and reliability, with plenty of customers complaining about the frequency and cost of repairs. Electrical issues are wide-ranging, with some owners reporting that their key fob consistently fails to start their engine and others claiming that their engine shut off completely when out on the road.

2019 Nissan Altima: CVT Problems

The 2019 Nissan Altima’s CVT (continuously variable transmission) problems were so severe that a class action lawsuit was brought against the automaker in 2022. The lawsuit claimed that defective transmissions caused the cars to shake, jerk, lurch, judder, and stall, putting drivers at risk of incident.

This is all too similar to the issues experienced with the CVT in 2013-2016 models, which were ultimately recalled by the manufacturer due to a defect that could cause the car to lose power and potentially crash. Despite the lawsuit, the 2019 model wasn’t recalled for transmission issues, meaning anyone who experienced a CVT fault had to pay for it out of their own pocket.

2020 Tesla Model Y: Build Quality and Software Glitches

When it comes to electric vehicles, Tesla is undoubtedly leading the charge (pun intended). Still, the 2020 Model Y left a lot to be desired — especially where build quality and software were concerned. Owners reported a wide range of build issues, such as panel gaps and paint defects. On top of that, infotainment systems are also prone to malfunctioning. And if you can’t rely on an automaker to get such basic things right, can you really rely on the car itself?

2021 Kia Seltos: Engine Failures

In just a few years since its launch, the 2021 Kia Seltos has received many NHTSA complaints related to engine issues. Key problems faced by owners include faulty piston rings and excessive oil consumption. Piston rings failed as early as the 11,000-mile mark in some cases, and while a recall was issued, many customers say the problems persisted even after the work was completed. Kia appears reluctant to take responsibility for this, leaving owners to foot any subsequent repair bills.

2022 Ford Explorer: Drivetrain and Electrical Issues

Another Ford entry in our list of unreliable vehicles is the 2022 Explorer, with reports coming in of drivetrain and electrical issues, plus software glitches. When it comes to such an established automaker, you really would expect better, so it’s no real wonder owners are disappointed in their purchase. Not only is buying an unreliable car a huge inconvenience, but its resale value is also significantly reduced, meaning you’re most likely stuck with it for the foreseeable future.

2023 Hyundai Elantra: Steering and Brake System Problems

Lastly, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra is the most recent of unreliable vehicles. Released last year, some significant steering and brake system problems have come to light in that time, such as steering column noise and brake pedal failure. With a RepairPal reliability rating of 4.5/5 reliability score, it’s perhaps too soon for these issues to have had a wider impact, but they’re almost certain to eventually. It may be one to avoid if you’re a car buyer looking for a new vehicle.

Extended Warranties: Protecting Against Unreliable Vehicles

If you find your vehicle less reliable than you’d hoped, all is not lost: invest in a top-quality extended warranty, and you can drive with total peace of mind. With coverage in place when the inevitable breakdown occurs, your provider will pay for all repair bills, saving you hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars per year.

Every brand new vehicle is accompanied by a factory warranty or manufacturer’s warranty. This is a promise from the automaker that everything is built to last, and should anything fail due to manufacturer fault (within a predetermined number of years or miles traveled), it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. This is fantastic while it lasts, giving you complete confidence whenever you’re out on the road. But the moment it’s over, any repair bills are your responsibility.

Thankfully, you have a couple of options if you’d like to continue enjoying the coverage that you’re used to, with the first being a traditional extended warranty via a dealership. This effectively moves the expiry date on your factory warranty, giving you access to all of the same benefits for longer. This type of coverage is great in theory, but it’s expensive and restrictive. Worst of all, you aren’t eligible for a traditional extended warranty if your factory warranty has expired. Leave it just a moment too late and no longer available to you.

The alternative option is a vehicle service contract from a third-party provider like Endurance Warranty, which is universally preferred by car owners for a number of reasons. First, you get almost as comprehensive protection at an even better price point, usually with some added perks. Best of all, you can get a vehicle service contract regardless of whether you have an active factory warranty or not. All that matters is that you meet your provider’s eligibility criteria.

While they’re both designed to save you money on car repairs, an extended warranty is not the same as auto insurance. More specifically, an extended warranty or vehicle service contract is designed to protect you from repairs due to unexpected component failure. In contrast, car insurance is designed to protect you from repairs due to a collision or another such incident. The two work great together, however, so combine them and ensure you’re completely protected.

Rely On Endurance for Vehicle Protection

Even the most reliable vehicle will eventually break down. But while repairs are an inevitable part of car ownership, the bills don’t need to be. Purchasing a vehicle service contract or extended auto warranty is a good way to keep costs to a minimum, and Endurance is America’s most trusted provider.

Based in Illinois, we’ve been around for nearly two decades, helping drivers across the country save serious money. Our auto protection plans have almost everyone covered, whether you just drive to work and back, go on regular road trips, or even if you own a luxury car. We pride ourselves on our eligibility and flexibility, so if our base plans aren’t quite right for your individual needs and budget, we can customize a plan specifically for you.

With any Endurance contract, you’ll get access to useful standard benefits, including 24/7 roadside assistance (including towing, fuel delivery, and lockout services), rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption costs. Choose to activate our additional Elite Benefits package, which includes up to four tire repairs or replacements annually, key fob replacement, up to $500 in collision discounts, and up to $1,000 in total loss protection.*

When you make a repair claim, many vehicle service contract providers expect you to go through layers of middlemen first. However, Endurance is a direct administrator, which means our team will handle your claims directly with the repair shop. Our goal is to get you back on the road with as little hassle as possible.

Whatever you drive, we’re ready to offer you vehicle protection. Call an Endurance plan advisor at (800) 253-8203 to request a FREE quote, or shop online to see your plan recommendations and pricing now.

Visit our extended warranty blog for more articles on the most reliable car brands, such as Toyota, Honda, BMW, and more.