Used Cars to Avoid Buying According to Consumer Reports

Buying a used car is inherently riskier than buying a new one. Sure, pre-purchase inspections and CarFax reports can give buyers some peace of mind, but in many cases, potentially costly problems can go unnoticed until weeks or months after a vehicle’s title has changed hands.

When unexpected problems arise, used car owners typically don’t have the option of returning their vehicle and instead have to shoulder the cost of repairs — and the weight of buyer’s remorse that comes with them.

New cars are much less likely to have unexpected problems, at least in the first few years, but purchasing a new vehicle is simply out of financial reach for most car buyers. In fact, nearly three times as many used cars are sold annually as new cars, according to Consumer Affairs.

Related: Best Used Cars Under $20,000 According to Consumer Reports

One way to reduce the risk of unexpected repair costs when buying a used vehicle is to know what to avoid.

While some car models have earned a reputation for reliability, others tend to have frequent and aggravating problems as they age, costing their owners both money and time. Eliminating these models from consideration can be a solid first step in finding that perfect used car.

How does Consumer Reports identify unsafe car models?

Consumer Reports is a non-profit organization that tests products, advocates for consumers, and surveys its more than 6 million members about the products they own and use every day, including cars. By polling its members about their experiences with their own vehicles, CR gathers information about how different models perform over time, what problems tend to occur with them, and how much it costs to fix those problems.

For each model year, CR sets a baseline of how many problems occur on average and how much the resulting repairs cost. Based on this analysis, CR has identified more than 50 used car models from various years that most dramatically exceed this benchmark, deeming them “used cars to avoid buying.”

Consumer Reports’ 2014–2023 Least Reliable Used Car Models

Most used car buyers are looking for something reliable but affordable.

If you’re shopping used and want to avoid buying a car that ends up costing more in repairs than it’s worth, eliminating the following vehicles from your consideration before narrowing down your search even further might be a good first step.

These are the used vehicles that Consumer Reports has identified as highly unsafe compared to their peers, based on survey data from millions of vehicle owners:

Four Audi models from three different model years made the list of used cars to avoid.

Alexander Koerner/Getty Images

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• Audi A3: 2019
• Audi A6: 2019
• Audi Q3: 2016, 2022
• Audi E-Tron: 2019

Buick

• Encores: 2015, 2017
• Encore GX: 2020

Cadillac

• Cadillac XT4: 2019

Four different model years of the Chevy Bolt made CR’s list of least reliable used cars.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Chevrolet

• Chevy Blazer: 2023
• Chevy Bolt: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
• Chevy Cruze: 2014
• Chevy Malibu: 2014
• Chevy Suburban: 2021, 2023
• Chevy Tahoe: 2016, 2017, 2021
• Chevy Traverse: 2018

Chrysler

• Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: 2018, 2021, 2022
• Chrysler Town & Country: 2016

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• Ford Escape: 2021
• Ford Escape Hybrid: 2020
• Ford Expedition: 2017, 2018, 2019
• Ford Explorer: 2016, 2020
• Ford F-150 Hybrid: 2021, 2022
• Ford F-250: 2019, 2021
• Ford Mustang: 2020

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GMC

• GMC Acadia: 2018
• GMC Yukon: 2016, 2017, 2021
• GMC Yukon XL: 2021, 2023

Six Hyundai models from 7 different model years ranked among CR’s used cars to avoid.

SOPA Images/Getty Images

Hyundai

• Hyundai Ioniq: 2020
• Hyundai Ioniq 5: 2022
• Hyundai Kona Electric: 2019
• Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: 2014
• Hyundai Sonata: 2017, 2018
• Hyundai Tucson: 2016, 2017

Jeep

• Jeep Cherokee: 2014
• Jeep Gladiator: 2020
• Jeep Grand Cherokee L: 2021
• Jeep Wrangler: 2018, 2020, 2021

Kia

• Kia Niro: 2019
• Kia Soul: 2021

Mazda

• Mazda CX9: 2023

Mercedes-Benz

• Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 2018

Mini

• Mini Cooper: 2018

Nissan

• Nissan Frontier: 2023
• Nissan Pathfinder: 2023
• Nissan Rogue: 2022

RAM

• Ram 2500: 2017, 2022

Rivian

• Rivian R1T: 2022

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• Tesla Model S: 2019, 2020, 2021
• Tesla Model X: 2018, 2022

In particular, a number of electric vehicles, including the Volkswagon ID.4 (pictured above), ranked among the trusted used cars.

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Volkswagen

• Volkswagen Atlas: 2021
• Volkswagen ID.4: 2021, 2023
• Volkswagen Jetta: 2014, 2021
• Volkswagen Taos: 2022
• Volkswagen Tiguan: 2018

Volvo

• Volvo S60: 2015, 2022
• Volvo V60: 2015, 2020
• Volvo XC60 Plug-In Hybrid: 2022, 2023
• Volvo XC90: 2016, 2019

Related: The 30 Most Trusted Car Brands in 2024, According to Consumer Reports

Tips for buying a safe and reliable used car

Consumer Reports’ analysis makes it clear which models and years to avoid when shopping for a used vehicle, but once the least reliable models have been weeded out, what’s the best way to sort through what’s left?

The average used car costs around $29,000 in 2024, so it’s more important than ever for buyers to shop carefully. One way to do this is to pay for a full CarFax report (which includes major events like collisions and repairs) for each vehicle you’re seriously considering, if the seller hasn’t already provided one.

Some mechanics recommend staying away from cars that have suffered major collisions, even if they appear to be fully repaired. These vehicles may have been structurally weakened, which may make them less safe in future crashes. Additionally, not all components of a vehicle are readily visible, so even if the car body and major components have been repaired, problems with smaller parts that have been overlooked could lead to complications down the line.

If you have a good mechanic who is willing to do pre-purchase inspections at a reasonable price, it might be worth negotiating to buy a package of four or five inspections for a slightly reduced rate. That way, you can bring in more vehicles to be evaluated, and a trained mechanic can give you a better idea of ​​whether any have serious problems and what might be the best value for money.

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